Cavalry
.338 Win Mag
My property was all settled farmland 150 years ago but they came to their senses and gave up about 100 years ago and let nature take its course. There were multiple homesteads in that time, all are now gone, only the basements and dug wells survive. Any of my neighbors with "old" houses have dug wells of a similar vintage, never water problems.
I have one such well about 150' from my house. Its about 12' deep 4' diameter, stone lined usually 3-4 feet of water in it. The well was open for many decades before I bought my house, so I scooped out a couple feet of muck and covered it back up. On occasion I have pumped garden water out of it. It recovers quickly with that high demand and has never gone dry. I would consider it a viable source for household use.
Onto the problems;
-Its not in the best spot. Not far but not exactly near either if it came down to carrying water. Power and pipe could easily be brought over, a DC motor run on batteries (with mechanical backup of course). In the winter if I was to put up a pumphouse, its out in the open and not defensible or concealed.
-The well needs significant restoration. It has no curb or sealed cover. By today's standards it would not be sanitary as the rock at the top is not sealed to prevent ground water from entering. Not as big as a problem, but it would need a good scrubbing and a chlorine shock to kill the moss and bacteria.
- I believe that homestead sits on clay which is why it has good water. Its a quick transition to sand at my house, I have been 10+ feet down and there is no water table, during any time other than spring thaw.
Things that could be done;
-Rehab well. Minimal cost, mostly labor. Pipe and power could be added later after well is "good"
-Replace that well (known good site) with a modern version. I have a 5' diameter 15' long, 11 ga stainless tube with a cap on one end. Plasma cut some weep holes in the bottom foot or two, dig a hole and pop it in.
- Drive a point well in the sandy soil very close to the house. I think it would be easy going, but I do not know how deep I would need to go to have uninterrupted water. Point wells dont have nearly the same capacity as a dug.
I have one such well about 150' from my house. Its about 12' deep 4' diameter, stone lined usually 3-4 feet of water in it. The well was open for many decades before I bought my house, so I scooped out a couple feet of muck and covered it back up. On occasion I have pumped garden water out of it. It recovers quickly with that high demand and has never gone dry. I would consider it a viable source for household use.
Onto the problems;
-Its not in the best spot. Not far but not exactly near either if it came down to carrying water. Power and pipe could easily be brought over, a DC motor run on batteries (with mechanical backup of course). In the winter if I was to put up a pumphouse, its out in the open and not defensible or concealed.
-The well needs significant restoration. It has no curb or sealed cover. By today's standards it would not be sanitary as the rock at the top is not sealed to prevent ground water from entering. Not as big as a problem, but it would need a good scrubbing and a chlorine shock to kill the moss and bacteria.
- I believe that homestead sits on clay which is why it has good water. Its a quick transition to sand at my house, I have been 10+ feet down and there is no water table, during any time other than spring thaw.
Things that could be done;
-Rehab well. Minimal cost, mostly labor. Pipe and power could be added later after well is "good"
-Replace that well (known good site) with a modern version. I have a 5' diameter 15' long, 11 ga stainless tube with a cap on one end. Plasma cut some weep holes in the bottom foot or two, dig a hole and pop it in.
- Drive a point well in the sandy soil very close to the house. I think it would be easy going, but I do not know how deep I would need to go to have uninterrupted water. Point wells dont have nearly the same capacity as a dug.
