Actually the problem is not in the well so much as the lack of rainfall and the subsurface strata here at the Aerie. June was pretty dry (I'm not sure just how dry because I didn't get the rain gauge set out until July 1) and July has produced only 1.85 inches of rain, 0.85 having fallen in some heavy T-storms over night. Average precip in this area is 4.4 inches in June and 3.3 inches in July. We are well below those numbers. Sure, others across the valley got much more rain than we did at the Aerie, but that doesn't help us at all.
The subsurface is mostly slate/shale with clay mixed in. Now, the slate/shale combo allows for lots of water through all the cracks and layers but the clay is so damn fine that it easily moves through those cracks and into the well. It stays suspended in the water due to its tiny particle size and enters the house system even through a 5 micron filter. There is a 1 micron filter available and that will be our next purchase--as soon as I can find them! There is no odor or taste problem with the water so a chemical filter (at $35 per cartridge) isn't necessary. Wally World has 1 micron cartridges at $17.50 each--when they're in stock.
We thought we were lucky to have found a lot that had all the amenities (well, electricity, septic) in place. Looks like we'll have to invest in improving the well, however. It will cost us to have them set up their rig ($600), pull the pump (which will probably have to be replaced if we go down much further), punch the well down another 75-100 feet ($15 per), and probably add more casing to line the system. Still, it will be cheaper than drilling a new well.
A few years back i had to have a well drilled for the Bolt Hole up in the Adirondacks. The first 100 feet or so was through glacial moraine--mostly sand and a few boulders--and produced some surface water. The next 300 feet finally went through rock--mostly granite. Yeah, it went down about 450 feet and cost mucho dinero but that water is the purest, sweetest tasting stuff! I should bottle it and sell it.
2 comments:
could be you just need some rain. I reckon me and sweetthing could head north..seems everyplace we go the rain follows...
Actually, Guy, I propbably could do the trick by taking out my fishing tackle. Usually works when I want to go to Quebec for pike and walleye, although this last trip was relatively dry, come to think of it.
Maybe I should wash the truck? Nah.
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