I drilled my own water well - it wasn't that hard

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

I ordered the Hydra-Drill (a drill your own water well system). I ordered enough to drill 200' down, although I found plenty of water at 70 feet. A commercial driller wanted $8,000 to drill one in my back yard. I have invested about $3,200 in my well and rig that I can use to drill more wells and recover some of the cost. My neighbor wants a well in his yard. I quoted him $1,000 plus materials. He was elated. I will recover my cost in about 3 wells. I checked with the city I live in and there was no city ordinance against drilling your own well (just don't hook it up to the city's water supply system). I also ordered a hand-pump to go in it ($615).

www.deeprock.com (for the Hydra-Drill) - they also sell handpumps Ellenski@Pacbell.net is where I bought my handpump (not associated with the Hydra-Drill people.

-- James Chancellor (publicworks1@bluebonnet.net), September 16, 1998

Answers

I'd get the water tested!

I read recently about an epidemic of arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh caused by use of untested water from tube wells. Also about major problems with chlorinated hydrocarbons and benzene that were simply tipped onto the ground during the 20s and 30s. These are all cumulative poisons. Not all groundwater is fit to drink, even if its not polluted by human activities.

-- Nigel Arnot (nra@maxwell.ph.kcl.ac.uk), September 17, 1998.


Please call Miss Utility before you drill. You might drill right through a gas line, electric cable, or even a water main.

-- Buddy Y. (buddy@bellatlantic.net), September 17, 1998.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ