Shallow well troubles

[krocken980]

I've been trying to put in a shallow well for irrigation. The shallow water table in my area is likely 12-18 feet. I first tried a sand point, with an 18 pound t-post pounder that made it about 9 feet down then stopped, I ran some water down and was able to pound it another foot then it stopped completely. Not sure what it hit, I wasn't able to turn the point anymore. Tried pulling it out with a 2 ton car jack and it maxed out. Tried a couple more times and the pipe broke with threads still in the coupling.

Still determined, I've been trying to wash down using some of the 1-1/4" galvanized steel pipe that had broken threads, I cut some teeth into with an angle grinder. I washed down 4 more holes that all hit something real hard about 8-11 feet down. When rotating back and forth I could feel the teeth sliding over something hard and mostly smooth. Only one felt like it was gravel that I still couldn't get through, not the sand/clay material from the top 10 feet. When I pulled the pipe out the steel teeth were fairly dulled.

I'm wondering if I should keep trying in different spots to see if I can get past whatever is down there. Of if some other technique may be better. The adjustable hand auger that can be extended with 3/4" pipe seemed interesting but I'm not sure it would get through whatever hard pack I'm hitting.

 

[Valveman]

It is called a "sand point" for a reason. It really only works in sandy formations. If you hit rock, gravel, or hard pan you will not be able to drive or wash in a sand point. It takes some power, weight, and the right bit to drill through hard pan or rock. I would drive a small locator rod until I found a place with no hard material. Otherwise, you will need a good rock drill rig.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[krocken980]

Not sure what kind of locator rod I could use to probe down more than 10 feet, it's smooth sailing with the wash down method for about 8-10' after I dig out the first couple feet of sand/rocks its just soft clay until the hard pack. Maybe a full length of rebar?
I did some more digging, the hard formation will bend the teeth in on my 1-1/4" steel pipe if I pound it in at all, and it seems to stretch all of the lower flat area of my property. I'm at the bottom of a large hill and there are very large boulders jetting out of the ground all over, going up the hill a bit (where there's even more boulders) I couldn't dig down more than 2-3 feet without hitting some granite boulder that wouldn't budge. I believe I've just got some shallow bedrock from the hill continuing down.

 

[Valveman]

As an old well driller I can tell you, it is all smooth sailing until you hit something hard. Sorry!