Chucky_ott
Active Member
I am currently getting water from our lake with a jet pump. We only use the water for toilet, bathing, and washing dishes. Other than a 1 micron filter, there is no additional treatment. We use bottled water for drinking. It's worked for us for 30 years.
Our lake is shallow and the water intake is just a few feet under the water surface. We have fish of course, but ducks and geese all swim close to the intake. Even though we've never been sick, I'm sure the water has some coliform. It is also slightly yellow, likely due to decomposing leaves and whatnot. There's also the issue of weeds and algae growing around the intake.
Even though it's unlikely I'd ever use it for drinking, I'd like to make the water safer for washing dishes, and perhaps brushing our teeth. This would also be good when we have guests and they accidentally drink the tap water.
As such I'd like to use a U/V filter to kill any bacteria (not sure if the slight water discoloration would affect that).
I'd also like to remove the water intake from the lake and instead use a shallow well about 10ft in from the lake. Elevation from lake water surface is about 3ft. Soil is sand and stones (up to 2" in the first 3ft).
I already used a post hole auger to dig a 8" hole and hit water at 3ft. I'll need to get an extension if I want to dig deeper. Or use one of the many methods shown on YouTube on how to dig a shallow well.
So my question is about the shallow well, and the best type to use.
Would it be better if I just use a 4" or 6" PVC casing as deep as I can go (10ft maybe) and fill the bottom and exterior of the pipe with gravel. Then use a drop pipe with foot valve like I'm doing now.
Or try to use a sand point in the hole which would then be filled with sand.
Being close to the lake and with the sandy soil, I'm expecting the flow rate of the well to be adequate.
My preference would be just a casing since it would allow me to remove the drop pipe in the fall.
Comments/Suggestions ?
Thanks, Chucky
Our lake is shallow and the water intake is just a few feet under the water surface. We have fish of course, but ducks and geese all swim close to the intake. Even though we've never been sick, I'm sure the water has some coliform. It is also slightly yellow, likely due to decomposing leaves and whatnot. There's also the issue of weeds and algae growing around the intake.
Even though it's unlikely I'd ever use it for drinking, I'd like to make the water safer for washing dishes, and perhaps brushing our teeth. This would also be good when we have guests and they accidentally drink the tap water.
As such I'd like to use a U/V filter to kill any bacteria (not sure if the slight water discoloration would affect that).
I'd also like to remove the water intake from the lake and instead use a shallow well about 10ft in from the lake. Elevation from lake water surface is about 3ft. Soil is sand and stones (up to 2" in the first 3ft).
I already used a post hole auger to dig a 8" hole and hit water at 3ft. I'll need to get an extension if I want to dig deeper. Or use one of the many methods shown on YouTube on how to dig a shallow well.
So my question is about the shallow well, and the best type to use.
Would it be better if I just use a 4" or 6" PVC casing as deep as I can go (10ft maybe) and fill the bottom and exterior of the pipe with gravel. Then use a drop pipe with foot valve like I'm doing now.
Or try to use a sand point in the hole which would then be filled with sand.
Being close to the lake and with the sandy soil, I'm expecting the flow rate of the well to be adequate.
My preference would be just a casing since it would allow me to remove the drop pipe in the fall.
Comments/Suggestions ?
Thanks, Chucky