semipro
New Member
After a recent thunderstorm with some nearby lightning strikes we noticed we had well problems. At first some of the symptoms seem unrelated but now I'm wondering and could use some input.
Our pump (2 HP) will now only run for about 15 secs and then it trips the thermal breaker in the control box. I've monitored the current going to the pump motor and it hangs at around 12 amps initially which is per spec but then it quickly climbs to the 30's and the breaker trips. I can reset it later an the pump motor will run again for a short time.
Also, we now hear the sound of dripping water at the top of the casing where we heard none before. We also noticed a slug of dirty brown water coming through our system right after the storm. I de-energized the well pump and shut all valves to see if the pressure in the pipe between well and tank dropped. It did not decrease over a period of about 4 hours, staying at 28 PSI. I also drained the tank and system completely to depressurize the pipe as much as possible and noticed no change in the dripping sound at the well casing top.
Put things together I'm starting to think a lightning strike damaged our motor and/or pump and the casing. The slug of dirty water may have resulted from soil entering the well through the casing breach. I've looked down the well with very bright light but see no water leaking in anywhere including the pitless adapter. Depth to water is about 200' so I can't see all the way down.
Am I thinking correctly here or am I off track?
Edit: well my wife got sick with a stomach problem last night and I'm feeling pretty rough today with similar symptoms. I'd hoped the casing leak was deep enough that pathogens wouldn't make their way into our water supply. I'm thinking now that I was overly optimistic.
Our pump (2 HP) will now only run for about 15 secs and then it trips the thermal breaker in the control box. I've monitored the current going to the pump motor and it hangs at around 12 amps initially which is per spec but then it quickly climbs to the 30's and the breaker trips. I can reset it later an the pump motor will run again for a short time.
Also, we now hear the sound of dripping water at the top of the casing where we heard none before. We also noticed a slug of dirty brown water coming through our system right after the storm. I de-energized the well pump and shut all valves to see if the pressure in the pipe between well and tank dropped. It did not decrease over a period of about 4 hours, staying at 28 PSI. I also drained the tank and system completely to depressurize the pipe as much as possible and noticed no change in the dripping sound at the well casing top.
Put things together I'm starting to think a lightning strike damaged our motor and/or pump and the casing. The slug of dirty water may have resulted from soil entering the well through the casing breach. I've looked down the well with very bright light but see no water leaking in anywhere including the pitless adapter. Depth to water is about 200' so I can't see all the way down.
Am I thinking correctly here or am I off track?
Edit: well my wife got sick with a stomach problem last night and I'm feeling pretty rough today with similar symptoms. I'd hoped the casing leak was deep enough that pathogens wouldn't make their way into our water supply. I'm thinking now that I was overly optimistic.
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