Gravel near the well pipe (house, to move, backyard)

[Ksteven]

Hi there,

We recently bought a house in the Poconos. Well water and well pumps are new to us. Because most of the backyard is dirt, we want to put down a small area of pea gravel (8x10’ ish) for the firepit/Adirondack chairs. How far should we keep this area from the well pipe? Are there any issues with putting the gravel near it (the weight of the gravel on top of the buried components etc.)?
I appreciate any help!

Kasey

[jimazee]

Originally Posted by Ksteven

Hi there,

We recently bought a house in the Poconos. Well water and well pumps are new to us. Because most of the backyard is dirt, we want to put down a small area of pea gravel (8x10’ ish) for the firepit/Adirondack chairs. How far should we keep this area from the well pipe? Are there any issues with putting the gravel near it (the weight of the gravel on top of the buried components etc.)?
I appreciate any help!

Kasey

(IMO...strictly a layman here) Probably not a problem as gravel probably isn't that much heavier than dirt in small doses and (as far as equipment goes) your well is at least a couple two three hunnert feet deep and there' not much in the hole til you get down there.

Many well drillers and plumbers will leave business contact info somewhere on or near the equipment when they're installing, assuming replacement or service calls will result. This equipment is often in the basement. Find a name, call 'em and ask. If no names look in the book (well look online?) and find a couple nearby businesses or even ask neighbors if they know who did theirs.

[Wells5]

Is it a shallow well or a deep well? Did you have the well water tested before you bought the property?

[Ksteven]

Originally Posted by jimazee

(IMO...strictly a layman here) Probably not a problem as gravel probably isn't that much heavier than dirt in small doses and (as far as equipment goes) your well is at least a couple two three hunnert feet deep and there' not much in the hole til you get down there.

Many well drillers and plumbers will leave business contact info somewhere on or near the equipment when they're installing, assuming replacement or service calls will result. This equipment is often in the basement. Find a name, call 'em and ask. If no names look in the book (well look online?) and find a couple nearby businesses or even ask neighbors if they know who did theirs.

Thank you! Did not know about the contact info. I’ll check when we are out there next.

[Ksteven]

Originally Posted by Wells5

Is it a shallow well or a deep well? Did you have the well water tested before you bought the property?

I don’t know how shallow or deep it is. It may say on the sellers disclosure but I never thought to look for that. We did have the well water tested and it came back with no issues.

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by Ksteven

I don’t know how shallow or deep it is. It may say on the sellers disclosure but I never thought to look for that. We did have the well water tested and it came back with no issues.

Most wells have a steel well casing that is driven into the bedrock. Therefore it creates a seal. My well was an experimental plastic casing that does not seal great; I have to use a sand and gravel filter. But they only used those about 40 years ago and then they found out they had problems.

I would think that you would be fine. But try to keep your wood ashes away from the well; you don't want to take any chances. I would say the same for using products like Roundup and pesticides next to your well.

Is your firepit the kind that you have to remove the ashes? If it is then you would simply have to move them away from your well. Many gardeners like to mix wood ashes with compost since they are alkaline. You can read more about it online.

[Wells5]

Originally Posted by Ksteven

I don’t know how shallow or deep it is. It may say on the sellers disclosure but I never thought to look for that. We did have the well water tested and it came back with no issues.

If your well is shallow, you will have a jet pump in your basement. If it's deep, the pump will be deep inside the well and all you'll see is a tank. If the well is deep, surface conditions won't affect the quality of the water.

[ki0eh]

I would not think there would be much concern with having a pea gravel sort of patio near the top of the well. The surface should drain away from rather than towards the well casing (the pipe that sticks up). Don't put the fire pit on top of the well or have the dog do its business right there though.

If you have a well, you may also have a septic system. The pea gravel patio may cause more problems there than with the well.

[fisheye]

Actually I want to thank the OP. While I was checking out his problem; I spotted a solution for my problem I have had for forty years. Now all I have to do is see if there is anybody in our area that does the bentonite well casing grouting! They didn't have that when our well was drilled 45 years ago. There is a chance I could have a well that is free of sand and gravel!

[westchesterian]

As ki0eh said, I'd be more concerned with installing a patio or the like over the septic system. I have seen normal cars crush septic tanks or basically sink into the leech field. Be careful.