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Discussion Forum

new drive point well, need guidance

Dale Olson | Posted in General Discussion on August 1, 2010 07:50am

Hi everyone,

For the last two weekends I have been helping my brother driving a well point.  Neither one of us have any experince with driving a wellpoint.  But do have knowledge of jet pumps ect.

So far we rented a jackhammer and drove the well to 18 feet.  That is 3′ wellpoint plus 15’of pipe.  We had enough ground pressure to have about a 6-8″ fountain of water coming out of the drive cap 1/16″ hole.  Since it was my brothers well and money, all decisions were made by him.   He got advice to drive deeper so we drove another 5′ approx.  Hit somthing really solid, and had no water flow.  So now at about 23′ we pumped down water to flush and hopefully clear away some soil build up on the point.  We got advice to pull it back up.  We did get the well to flow out of the1 1/4 inch pipe again.  But never enough ground pressure to create the small fountain with the drive cap on, like we had at 18′.

So we started to pull the well back up using two handy man jacks.  Got roughly 18″ pulled up and stuff broke at connection nearest surface. Changed pipe and could move no more with handy man jacks.  Then we regrouped for the next weekend, used hydrolic jakes to pull  up, and broke joint closest to surface twice.

But did get it back up..

So currently approx. 17′ in the ground, one foot out (18 total), ball valve, 3″  nipple, check valve, then pvc (no more than 24″ w/90 going to pump.

The pump will take prime but takes 10-15 minutes.

Soil conditions are heavy, clay ect.  Located in central MN, near Detroit Lakes, MN

We are not sure what to do or change if anything, system maybe just need more flushing.  Would like input/advice.

Look forward to some input from the experts.

Thanks in advance!

Reply

Replies

  1. DanH | Aug 01, 2010 08:11pm | #1

    How far down you should need to go very much depends on where the well is located.  In some areas up there, lakeside, you'll get plenty of water 5 feet down, if you don't mind getting a little fish pee with it.  Other places you may need to go down 50 feet.

    I've only heard of using driven well points ("sand points") in that area in sandy soil.  Clay soil isn't much good for a well in any case -- you want to find a layer of sand/gravel to have the point end in, and to do that you need better info on the soil structure.

    Might be time to pay someone.

    1. Dale Olson | Aug 01, 2010 08:45pm | #2

      new drive point well, need guidance

      Well, location is about 125' from lake shore, approx 15-20 feet above lake surface.We have the point in the sandy,gravel part  of the soil.  At least we think so from how easy it pulled up at the level, as well as the sound and feel of the pipe when turning in clockwise witha 24" pipewrench.

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