Alternative to a well?

[Gellar]

We have been in the process of designing a home, but one of our biggest hiccups is currently the well. 3 well drillers have all said they need to go down 650 feet to get good water. The low bid has been 30,000. There is a well on our land about 1/4 mile away from the build site that is old, but works. Everyone has recommended not to use it. About 200 yards and downhill there is an old spring that seeps water year round, but does not flow because cattle are always stomping in it. Would it be possible to dig the spring and build a smallish, 1-2 acres, pond and bring water to a filtration system? I would fence the cattle out of the pond if I did that.

 

[Deleted member 22670]

Can you get a cistern and fill it from the already established water source on the property? What's wrong with the old well?

 

[Nameless Range]

I’ve got a cabin with a well depth of 680 feet.

30 grand and more is a lot of money but I would just pay it. In the long run it would be way less of a headache.

 

[Southern Elk]

Will this be your full time home? If so I’d drill the well.

 

[dcopas78]

If they have to go that deep for good water, chances are that any water close to the surface probably has lots of problems in the form of various minerals or organics dissolved within the water. Carbon filtration can remove lots of organic chemicals that would cause odors or tastes, but will miss metals that may be contained in the water. Usually metals require chemical sequestration to be removed. Filtration equipment could be just as expensive as having the well dug, especially over the long run.

 

[kansasdad]

Water treatment professional in post #5. Listen up

 

[Gellar]

Can you get a cistern and fill it from the already established water source on the property? What's wrong with the old well?

it’s old, my father in law cannot remember a time when they did fill a cattle waterer with it.

 

[Gellar]

I’ve got a cabin with a well depth of 680 feet.

30 grand and more is a lot of money but I would just pay it. In the long run it would be way less of a headache.

I’m thinking I’m just going to have to buck up and take it!

 

[Gellar]

Will this be your full time home? If so I’d drill the well.

yes it will be full time.

 

[Gellar]

If they have to go that deep for good water, chances are that any water close to the surface probably has lots of problems in the form of various minerals or organics dissolved within the water. Carbon filtration can remove lots of organic chemicals that would cause odors or tastes, but will miss metals that may be contained in the water. Usually metals require chemical sequestration to be removed. Filtration equipment could be just as expensive as having the well dug, especially over the long run.

. The limestone bedrock is very shallow in our area. All the drillers said it had to be that deep because to get good water they have to drill below the level of the Mississippi River which is about 1 mile away and 550 feet below our elevation.
I was thinking with haveing the filtration system the cost of upkeep would outweigh the cost of the well in the long run. Thank you!

 

[Gellar]

Water treatment professional in post #5. Listen up

sound advice, thank you.

 

[dcopas78]

. The limestone bedrock is very shallow in our area. All the drillers said it had to be that deep because to get good water they have to drill below the level of the Mississippi River which is about 1 mile away and 550 feet below our elevation.
I was thinking with haveing the filtration system the cost of upkeep would outweigh the cost of the well in the long run. Thank you!

That definitely makes sense. We do things similar here with our groundwater treatment plants along the Ohio River. They drill well below the river bed to allow for the river substrate to filter the water prior to pumping from the aquifer for treatment. Let nature do the work for you, so to speak. This eliminates a lot of the organics that cause issues.

 

[Gellar]

That definitely makes sense. We do things similar here with our groundwater treatment plants along the Ohio River. They drill well below the river bed to allow for the river substrate to filter the water prior to pumping from the aquifer for treatment. Let nature do the work for you, so to speak. This eliminates a lot of the organics that cause issues.

thank you for your help.

 

[Nick87]

Regardless I'm jealous, your building a house in the driftless area. Which side of the river?

 

[Gellar]

Regardless I'm jealous, your building a house in the driftless area. Which side of the river?

On the Iowa side. Allamakee County.