Wells - Do they have overflows?
Artie
I found a flow of water coming out of some tile pipe about six feet off of
the back corner of my house. I thought it was my gutter outlet that had
gotten plugged, but since it's been running for days now with no rain, I
can rule that out. After digging up two 14" sections of the tile pipe, I
found a 1" PVC pipe end sticking out of the next section of pipe. That's
the water's source.
I turned my well pump off for a few hours and closed the valve on the well
side of my pressure tank with no change.
This pipe is putting out maybe 1qt. per minute and is about 20' away from
and coming from the area of the well.
Is this normal? Should I be concerned? All I really know about my well is
that it has a Goulds 4" pump.
Thanks all.
Artie
visible).
David Efflandt
> I should add that the well head is buried (there's nothing but grass
> visible).
Sounds strange. Shouldn't there be something above ground to let air in
if the water level draws down while pumping and let that air out when the
pump stops? Any idea how far down the normal water level is in the well?
Maybe it is an artisian (flowing) well. Are there any springs nearby?
The cottage my parents used to have on Rock River in Wisconsin had an
artisian well, and springs in the creek would melt the snow and keep
watercres green all winter. I also saw a municipal well in nearby Fort
Atkinson when a pump was pulled and water was flowing up and out of the
open well casing.
--
David Efflandt - All spam ignored http://www.de-srv.com/
Pop Rivet
assuming it's not a hand-dug well or shallow well (25' or so
deep), then you likely have a spring or artisian well as
another suggested.
A properly dug and installed well will not have an
overflow in my experience but I'm no expert by any means.
Wells have to be deep enough to reach an underground flow of
water, but if that flow can reach the surface, then the
well's not deep enough because that would mean if water can
get out, dirt/germs can get in. Around here they test the
pressure and if it's trying to rise in the shaft, they can't
pronounce the well to specs. Our paticular well is about
120', most around here are around 90', which is what they
quote to most of the time.
Are you sure you haven't either uncovered a normal spring
or some sort of a drain to bypass part of the house, or
someting similar?
My advice, if this is really coming from the well shaft,
would be to check with your local people, but don't know who
to call. Here, I'd start with a couple of well services, to
see what they think.
Pop
"Artie" <art...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:40a57e57$0$21725$9a6e...@news.newshosting.com...
Harry K
> I should add that the well head is buried (there's nothing but grass
> visible).
Sounds like a drain tile to drain off (sub)surface water around the well head.
Harry K
Bob
"David Efflandt" <effl...@xnet.com> wrote in message
news:slrncabn3v....@typhoon.xnet.com...
> On 15 May 2004 02:39:34 GMT, Artie <art...@comcast.net> wrote:
> > I should add that the well head is buried (there's nothing
but grass
> > visible).
>
> Sounds strange. Shouldn't there be something above ground to
let air in
> if the water level draws down while pumping and let that air
out when the
> pump stops? Any idea how far down the normal water level is in
the well?
Why would you want to let air in and out?
Bob
David Efflandt
When you pump from a well, it can draw the water level down (faster than
it seeps out of the rocks). If you do not let air in, it can create a
vacuum in the well. When the pump is off, the water gradually rises back
to its static level. Although, I am more familiar with larger municipal
wells (part time college job with well driller), so it may not be as much
of a factor for small home wells.
There may be no need to let air into a flowing well, if flows more water
than being pumped.
Dan Hartung
> I found a flow of water coming out of some tile pipe about six feet off of
> the back corner of my house. I thought it was my gutter outlet that had
> gotten plugged, but since it's been running for days now with no rain, I
> can rule that out. After digging up two 14" sections of the tile pipe, I
> found a 1" PVC pipe end sticking out of the next section of pipe. That's
> the water's source.
>
> I turned my well pump off for a few hours and closed the valve on the well
> side of my pressure tank with no change.
>
> This pipe is putting out maybe 1qt. per minute and is about 20' away from
> and coming from the area of the well.
I find it strange that water would be redirected from 20' away to just
6' away from the house. Seems abnormal practice to me, unless there's a
significant difference in height, so that the water coming out will flow
away from the foundation.
I'm not that familiar with wells, but I do know that wells tap natural
water sources which can change over time. It may be worthwhile to have
an expert take a look and tell you whether you're getting the same
amount of water pressure as the system was designed for. If you're
getting more, I would be concerned, as the new source of water could be
as a result of some sort of construction or changed underground stream,
and the water you're getting may not be of the same quality. So have it
thoroughly tested at the same time.
Are you in an area where there's new development, especially at a nearby
higher elevation?
Artie
I'll prolly call someone if the flow doesn't subside soon.
Andrea & Bill Lee
them used in low-lying areas where the underground water flow is fed from
above. There is a small amount of pressure underground on the water as it
moves from the higher area to the lower, and with the convenient pressure
release that a well provides, the water comes up the pipe. One family I know
ran the overflow pipe to their gardens lower in the property and the water
runs most (if not all) of the year.
There are some concerns with this system in that ground water could
contaminate, but I was told that one just has to build the system properly.
Again, I am no expert and have only seen the system operating, and was told
that it had been inspected and tested repeatedly.
Bill
"Artie" <art...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:40a57e57$0$21725$9a6e...@news.newshosting.com...
Bob S.
> I should add that the well head is buried (there's nothing but grass
> visible).
Couple of questions: Do you have a basement in your house? Could the
water be coming from a sump pump? The clay pipe suggests it's ground
water drainage from around your foundation.
Also, where is the well pump controls and pressure tank for the well?
Even though the well head may be hidden, the rest of the well
equipment has to be somewhere. How about a pressure relieve valve from
the well or water heater?
Bob S.
Bob
A vacuum in a well would just help draw in more water, wouldn't
it?
Bob
Gary Slusser
"Bob" <bobno...@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:Bjwsc.111632$xw3.6445341@attbi_s04...
Yes but the pump won't move much water if there is a negative pressure on
its inlet.
Gary
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