[vrussell]

Time for an update... We had the well people out and they dropped a camera down the well and video taped the whole thing. The well is cased with 6" PVC pipe. Water at 60' and was clear until the 70' level. At the 70' level the pipe is fractured - sharp edges and broken at a sharp angle. They were able to move the camera around the break and get it down to 80' where it ran into more obstruction that they could not get through. The break is in an area of clay that you could see clearly with the camera. Lots of sediment, staining on the casing, ugly white floating things, etc. Not sure what is below that point, but at least we have a good idea of what is going on.

It appears that the well was not put in correctly from the very beginning. They said the PVC casing was probably "hammered" into place and was fractured at that time. Surface water run off was able to filter directly into the well through the broken casing and caused the sediment issues and probably lead to the bacteria problems.

Well people chlorinated the well heavily (shocked). This should get rid of the nasty eColi organisms. We now have the option of trying to place a 100' liner in the well and hope that they can "seal" the break OR we can drill a new well. They don't sound very optimistic that the liner is feasible due to the sharp breaks and "junk" in the well. More than likely we are going to drill another well and hope for the best.

Thanks for all your replies, suggestions and information!

[Goodpasture]

Frankly I would not even attempt to "fix" the existing well. I know it is costly, but getting one put in place that you know is right from top to bottom and the peace of mind that that will generate is priceless. I would always be concerned about a lined casing....particularly in a clay that could, at some point, dry out, causing heaving and penetration of any sort of liner. At what point does the eColi return, and how often are you going to shock it just so you are assured you aren't poisoning your family?

Bite the financial bullet, and go with the new well

[john nelson]

Goodpasture is right plus it could cost as much or more to sleeve the well properly. They would have to pump cement or bentonite into the fractured area. If you do drill a new one, be sure and plug the old one properly, it could ruin the new one.
John

[vrussell]

You guys are the best! We did decide to have the new well drilled - for the same reasons that you brought up Goodpasture. They will be out hopefully next week to get it done right.