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View Full Version : Water well caved in. How do I fix it


Sam_Welch61
May 28, 2010, 09:21 PM
I have a water well approx. 160' that was drilled by a jake leg driller. It was drilled in the early 80's. I did not put it into production until 91 and had pretty good water for a couple of years. It started smelling of sulphur and the taste became bad so we went on public water supply. I have used this well for my garden since then without any problems other than it started pumping a lot of sand. This year it would not pump and the pump is stuck ( submersible ). Would it be worth getting a compressor and trying to blow it. Will this work. I've talked to a couple of well companies and they just want to drill another well. I don't have the money for that and am trying to salvage this one if possible. Thanks.

hkstroud
May 29, 2010, 03:28 AM
What would yo do with the compressor? When you say the pump is stuck, do you mean that it will not run or do you mean that you cannot pull it out?

speedball1
May 29, 2010, 05:35 AM
If the water table has fallen so low that the dirt caved in you are just about out of options.
About all you can do is drill your present well deeper in hopes of getting back into the water table or drill a new one.
Please explain what's meant bvy, "The pump is stuck". Have you attempted to pull it?
Let me know, Tom

Sam_Welch61
May 29, 2010, 07:38 AM
Yes. I've tried to pull the pump out and it appears to be stuck in sand. It will not pump water so I am making the assumption that it caved in. I know that there are no screens in the well. I've done a lot of electrical and plumbing work on wells but I'm not sure I understand the construction of one. I've been told that blowing it would possibly free the pump and open then water cavity.

speedball1
May 29, 2010, 07:45 AM
I've done a lot of electrical and plumbing work on wells but I'm not sure I understand the construction of one. Let me help you out on that. Here are the different types of installations.
Good luck, Tom

Sam_Welch61
May 29, 2010, 11:53 AM
Let me help you out on that. Here are the different types of installations.
Good luck, Tom

Thanks. Should the casing go to the water table and then have screens. This well only has about 40' of casing. I say this because I've pulled it before and it felt like I hung the casing about 40' down. Had to wiggle with it to get it on up.