Thanks everybody for your help! I posted last week about low water pressure and a pump that was running continuously. We determined that it wasn't the pressure tank and thought it was maybe a hole in the pipe above the pump. Once it was pulled up, there was no hole and the well guy tested the pump, it was losing water out the top. The well guy said it was a junky pump, this new one is supposed to be better. So, almost $700 later we have a new pump and water pressure. The really good news is that the water in the well was only 6 or 8 feet below ground level.

I don't have time to keep up with all the postings here, but I'm enjoying this "place".

-- Michelle (kellycalves@soon.com), November 06, 2001

Answers

Michelle, if your water level is that close to ground level, you might want to consider getting one of those 'Old Fashion' hand pumps. My father in law has one, just in case the electricity goes out, and it has sure come in handy. We live in hurricane cuntry, and a few years ago one came through. Living in the country, we get out power back last. Several neighbors, including us, used the hand pump to get water. Sure helps when the critters need water too. The one I am talking about is those red ones with a handle that you see at flea markets and such. They are shallow well pumps, but can punp quit a bit of water. He keeps a gallon of water handy to prime it with, "just in case" it goes unprimed. We wanted one on our place, but DH drilled several times, but our water was too deep. Thank goodness for the creek that is nearby. ("Just in case")

-- Bear (barelyknow@aol.com), November 06, 2001.

If your water is that close to the surface you are very suseptable to ground water polution. Are there livestock close by? Ecoli comes to mind right off. Gas, chemcials, etc can reach your water table very easily. You might want to have it tested if you haven't already.

-- Rickstir (rpowell@email.ccis.edu), November 07, 2001.

If you have a drilled well ( some folks call them artesian wells ) I would not be too concerned about any surface water getting into in. When the well is set the driller has to seal the joint between the casing.. the steel pipe sticking out of the ground and the rock ledge he drilled into. It is a good idea to have the water tested just to be sure though. When a new well is first put into service a gallon of clorox bleach is usually poured down it and the water run for twenty four hours ( at a trickle). Having had the pump replaced now would be a good time to put some clorox down it to kill any bacteria that may have come in with the new pump and any crud that may have been dislodged from the casing.

-- Ken (kenjan@nh.adelphia.net), November 07, 2001.