Has anyone purchased/used a Hydradrill to dig a water well? It seems like I saw a thread where someone had purchased one, but that was several months ago. My husband and I are considering purchasing one but I would like to hear from someone that has used the equipment before. Thanks in advance for you answers.

-- Sharon in Texas (sking@drought-ridden.com), February 08, 1999

Answers

Sharon, my dad purchased a used ond several months ago, he also lives in Texas, north east Texas. I flew in to help him in the endevor, it turned out to be quite a task. Everything went well until we hit sand at about 15 feet, the sand kept caving in and therefore sticking the bit, the key is to use a special powder to mix with your drilling water that will seal the wallsof the hole, the powder turns the water into a thick coagulant type mud, it is a must. We instead bought bensinite another type of powder that the big riggs use but it just was not thick enough to stop the sand, and you will probably hit the water sand. I suggest buying Hydradrills powder its expensive but worth the price if your going to buy the drill anyway

-- moose (tkh@earthlink.net), February 08, 1999.

I bought the hydra-drill rig and drilled a 70' well. I went down 100' but hit very hard rock. I have a rock bit, but decided on the 70' layer of water sand I hit was adequate. It is quite a task the first time, but managable. I bought the kit with everything you need that includes the powder the above gentleman was talking about that is a must. You will end up investing 4-$5,000 into your well. I put a hand operated pump on mine. Make sure you get the "Basic Steps" manual they provide to take you through the entire drilling process. It also comes with a video that is helpful. LOL.

-- James Chancellor (publicworks1@bluebonnet.net), February 08, 1999.

I bought a deep rock hydradrill about twenty years ago. Drilled several wells down to about 100 ft. About every two years the jet pump would clog up and I would have to pull the one inch pipe with the jet. Both drilling the hole and pulling the clogged jet take a lot of effort. The second or third time the jet clogged and I tried pulling the jet, it would stick in the 2 inch outside pipe and break off. Had to drill another hole. Other problems required drilling more holes - bad water, iron ore, sand. Jet pumps are inefficient, loose their prime too often and do not pump that much water at greater depths. 8 years ago, I decided to drill a hole big enough for a 4 inch casing and a submersible pump. Got down to 65 ft. (pumped about 2500 gal.into hole to get that far) and the drill bit came off because they did not crimp it properly. I don't think I will try it again. Dug and cemented two cisterns that hold 8000 gals of rain water. Still ran out of water in the droughts of 96 and 98. Bought water from a small town few miles away. Because of Y2K, I am in the process of digging and cementing the walls of a well (five foot diameter) that will have a pump installed in a casing starting at the 70 foot level. Lot of work also but I can get the water out with-out eletricity if need be and also use the well to keep our eggs, goats milk and perhaps meat cool. You did not say how deep you need to go to 'good' water and that hydradrill is real work past 100 ft. We like the rainwater system and if you live away from air pollution, I would recommend it. We don't let the water faucets run like our city relatives do.

-- AmatuerDigger (CentralTexas@hardway.com), February 08, 1999.