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I have a fairly deep well with an enclosed pumphouse. When I opened the door just to peek in, I had about 8 inches of clear water in the self contained pumphouse. Pump is running fine. Obviously something is not right. Any thoughts on what might cause this. There does not seem to be any sign that water is flowing in, i.e., no turbulence or perceived water flow.
Any thoughts from the experts before I call in the pump police?
I have a fairly deep well with an enclosed pumphouse. When I opened the door just to peek in, I had about 8 inches of clear water in the self contained pumphouse. Pump is running fine. Obviously something is not right. Any thoughts on what might cause this. There does not seem to be any sign that water is flowing in, i.e., no turbulence or perceived water flow.
Any thoughts from the experts before I call in the pump police?
Yes, call a driller. Sounds like a hole in your casing. Do not drink the water. Get a 5" PVC. Beware of anyone that tells you a hole in the casing can be fixed. They will "try", and you will owe them money. Of course, if they get the new well job the will give you some off.
A couple of years ago my well went "artesian" on me when I left an irrigation line too close too long (we live in a desert area but near enough to a river that the water table is less than 20' down). For me the solution was to extend the casing about 3' off the floor (was only about 6") (yes I know that is not to code, there are a lot of things in "this old house" that ain't to code, I work around it..) and put a new pump/motor on a stand so it's up higher than the pumphouse door.
Offhand I would suggest there is little risk in putting a submersible sump pump on a hose, drop it in and pump out the water, see if you can figure out where it's coming from. It may be from a pipe leak, may be coming in through the walls, I'd make an attempt to figure out where it's coming from before doing anything more expensive.
Suggest you take Driller's advice on not drinking the well water till you find out/fix the problem!
A couple of years ago my well went "artesian" on me when I left an irrigation line too close too long (we live in a desert area but near enough to a river that the water table is less than 20' down). For me the solution was to extend the casing about 3' off the floor (was only about 6") (yes I know that is not to code, there are a lot of things in "this old house" that ain't to code, I work around it..) and put a new pump/motor on a stand so it's up higher than the pumphouse door.
Offhand I would suggest there is little risk in putting a submersible sump pump on a hose, drop it in and pump out the water, see if you can figure out where it's coming from. It may be from a pipe leak, may be coming in through the walls, I'd make an attempt to figure out where it's coming from before doing anything more expensive.
Suggest you take Driller's advice on not drinking the well water till you find out/fix the problem!
In Michigan that would be "failure to control a flow". The driller would be responsible. Yes, after years.
You are saying that if a well goes artesian, the driller of the well would be held responsible, years after the fact, even though the artesian incident was (apparently, I am not 100% certain) caused by me leaving an irrigation line running too close to the well, or are you saying that UP Ron using a submersible pump to clear out the water would be failure to control flow and the driller could be held responsible for him doing that?
The "failure to control a flow" was on your well.
I think Ron's well has a hole in the casing, not a flow. Of course just on the forum it is hard to tell. The fact he has a pump house tells me he likely has a 2" well. Those are generally very old.
The "failure to control a flow" was on your well.
I think Ron's well has a hole in the casing, not a flow. Of course just on the forum it is hard to tell. The fact he has a pump house tells me he likely has a 2" well. Those are generally very old.
Thanks for the info. Thankfully my well (which is very old, was a dairy farm operation - water into the barn first, then to people) casing was not the problem. It was the accumulator tank in the pumphouse that was rusted through. Tank replaced and everything OK. It certainly could have been a lot worse.
But now you have me worried. What is the likelihood of casing failures in an old well? 50/50? 70/30? I always welcome your insight on such matters.
Thanks for the info. Thankfully my well (which is very old, was a dairy farm operation - water into the barn first, then to people) casing was not the problem. It was the accumulator tank in the pumphouse that was rusted through. Tank replaced and everything OK. It certainly could have been a lot worse.
But now you have me worried. What is the likelihood of casing failures in an old well? 50/50? 70/30? I always welcome your insight on such matters.
It is just a mater of time......sorry. It is meatal. The is why the PVC is better. A lot will depend on the water in your area.
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