Digging a Well.

Ludi · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 3:28 pm Post subject:

I'm going to build a gravel and charcoal filter for our cisterns, if I can learn to make proper activated charcoal....

OldSprocket · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 5:08 pm Post subject: Water sources

I use a cistern with 3-part filter: sediment, carbon, ultraviolet. I MAY not need the filter, but I'd rather be safe. The water could be clean today, then -- after the next time I connect the downspout -- it could be filled with critters.

I looked into making activated charcoal; it's steamed at high pressures. What I didn't understand then is that this just cleans the charcoal, breaking the bonds with the contaminants and washing them away. This makes the carbon more available to bond with future contaminants. Perhaps you know about all this, but it was new to me.

The_Virginian · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Jun 19, 2004 Posts: 1528

Drilling or hand digging are not the only options, for a shallow well in soft ground a drive point type well would work, and be much cheaper DYI:

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/dwg/sandpt.htm

http://peacecorps.mtu.edu/Wellpage/driven.html

http://www.deanbennett.com/sand-blocker-well-screens.htm

Some more info. on DRILLED wells from the experts:

http://www.lifewater.ca/
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ararboin · Heavy Crude Joined: Oct 12, 2004 Posts: 239

I had a well dug on my building site last fall. Hit two dry holes at the building site (clay), then went down close to the river and got a good flow (20gpm) at 40', where they had to stop because going any further would run into bedrock. Downside: water line from the well to the house site, ran over 700'. Total cost about $10K.

EnviroEngr · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 7:39 pm Post subject: Cisterns

Borrowing from the other thread:
http://www.peakoil.com/post54426.html#54426
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