[Selia Reeves]

Folks I bought a house that is one of the oldest in the country. Smack in the middle of the kitchen ( Which was the exterior, is a dry well. I have taucght about saving it and using as some sort of "basement storage round hole in the groung" or alternatively filling it in. In both cases I would have a water table issue since I still have water coming in. Any ideas on 1. If I was saving it fixing and using it how do I stop water from filling in. 2 If I decide to fill it in how do I stop water or the water table from rising if we just back fill.

Thanks

[speedball1]

This is a new problem for me but I'll give it a shot.

1. If I was saving it fixing and using it how do I stop water from filling in?

How deep a dry well are we talking about? You would have to install a sump pump to keep it dry.

2 If I decide to fill it in how do I stop water or the water table from rising if we just back fill.

Since I don't hear any complaint about the water table leaking into your home I assume that it's well below your floor line and would be no problem if you filled in in and patched the hole. Good luck, Tom

[hkstroud]

I don't want to be too nit picky here but you have a well, not a "dry well". A well is a hole in the ground where water accumulates for your use. A dry well is a hole that has been filled with gravel or some other porous material, into which you put water to disperse into the surrounding soil. Of course you could have a well that is dry, but obviously yours is not.

If you want to fill it in you should use soil similar to the surrounding soil, or a mixture of sand and clay. Of course, you must compact this as you fill it or it will settle over time. The compacted soil will keep the water from accumulating. No way to save it and use it for storage unless you want to pump it dry, pour concrete in the bottom and then brick up the sides. Probably still leak. Probably best to just cap it with about 4" of concrete.

[speedball1]

Listen to Harold,
He has more experience with wells then I do. In my area dry wells do sometimes have water seepage. I can dig down 5 feet and hit water in my back yard. Regards, Tom