Complete Well Drilling and Groundwater: From Aquifer to Tap
⟁ cover painted for this edition — the source module carried no illustrations
Complete Well Drilling and Groundwater: From Aquifer to Tap
Access to clean groundwater is foundational to settlement. This campaign covers groundwater science, well types, drilling methods, hand pumps, and water quality testing.
Chapter 1: Groundwater Basics
Term
Definition
Significance
Water table
Top of saturated zone
Depth you must reach for water
Aquifer
Underground layer that holds/transmits water
Your water source
Confined aquifer
Aquifer between impermeable layers
May produce artesian flow
Unconfined aquifer
Aquifer with water table as upper boundary
Most common shallow wells
Recharge zone
Area where surface water enters aquifer
Protect from contamination
Static water level
Water level when not pumping
Determines pump depth
Drawdown
Drop in water level during pumping
Determines pump capacity needed
Well yield
Gallons per minute produced
Must meet daily needs
Indicator
Suggests Water Nearby
Reliability
Vegetation (willows, cattails)
Shallow water table
Good
Low-lying areas, valleys
Water collects
Good
Springs nearby
Aquifer outcrop
Very good
Neighbor's well depth
Similar geology
Very good
Geological maps
Aquifer locations
Excellent
Dowsing/divining
Traditional method
Unreliable (no scientific basis)
Chapter 2: Well Types
Well Type
Depth
Diameter
Method
Yield
Cost
Difficulty
Dug well (hand)
10-30 ft
3-6 ft
Shovel, pick
Low-moderate
Very low
High (labor)
Driven well (sand point)
15-50 ft
1.25-2 inch
Hammer pipe into ground
Low-moderate
Low
Moderate
Bored well (hand auger)
15-100 ft
4-8 inch
Hand or power auger
Moderate
Low-moderate
Moderate
Drilled well (rotary)
50-1,000+ ft
4-8 inch
Drill rig
High
High
Professional
Drilled well (cable tool)
50-500 ft
4-8 inch
Percussion drilling
Moderate-high
Moderate
High
Spring development
Surface
Variable
Excavation, collection box
Variable
Low
Low-moderate
Sand point (driven) well: 1) Assemble well point: screened point + pipe sections. 2) Start hole with post-hole digger (2-3 ft). 3) Place well point in hole. 4) Drive with fence post driver or heavy hammer (protect pipe threads with drive cap). 5) Add pipe sections as point goes deeper (thread together). 6) Check for water periodically (pour water down pipe; if it drains away, you've hit water table). 7) Drive 5-10 ft below water table (ensures water during drawdown). 8) Attach hand pump or suction pump. 9) Pump until water runs clear (develop the well). 10) Maximum practical depth: 25 ft for suction pump (physics limit), deeper needs submersible or hand pump.
Chapter 3: Hand Pumps
Pump Type
Max Depth
Flow Rate
Difficulty
Maintenance
Cost
Pitcher pump (suction)
25 ft
3-5 GPM
Very low
Low
Very low
Deep well hand pump
200+ ft
1-3 GPM
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate-high
Rope pump
100+ ft
1-3 GPM
Low
Low
Very low
Bucket and windlass
Any
Slow
Very low
Very low
Very low
Solar pump
200+ ft
1-5 GPM
Moderate (install)
Low
High
Rope pump construction: 1) Continuous loop of rope with pistons (rubber washers) every 3 ft. 2) Rope passes through PVC pipe (rising main) inside well casing. 3) Bottom: rope loops around guide wheel. 4) Top: rope loops around drive wheel (hand crank). 5) Turning crank pulls rope up through pipe. 6) Pistons push water up the pipe. 7) Water exits at top through spout. 8) Simple, cheap, effective to 100+ ft depth. 9) Can be built from locally available materials. 10) Used extensively in developing countries.
Chapter 4: Water Quality
Contaminant
Source
Health Risk
Test Method
Treatment
Bacteria (E. coli)
Surface contamination, septic
Gastrointestinal illness
Culture test
Chlorination, UV, boiling
Nitrates
Fertilizer, septic, animal waste
Blue baby syndrome
Chemical test
Ion exchange, reverse osmosis
Arsenic
Natural geology
Cancer, organ damage
Chemical test
Specialized filters
Iron
Natural geology
Taste, staining (not toxic)
Visual (orange staining)
Oxidation + filtration
Hardness (calcium/magnesium)
Natural geology
Not harmful (scale buildup)
Test kit
Water softener
Lead
Old pipes, solder
Neurological damage
Chemical test
Replace pipes, filter
Turbidity
Sediment, clay
Indicates contamination risk
Visual
Settling, filtration
Well protection: 1) Locate well uphill from septic systems, animal areas, chemical storage. 2) Minimum distances: 50 ft from septic tank, 100 ft from drain field, 100 ft from animal yards. 3) Well casing must extend 12+ inches above ground. 4) Seal annular space (gap between casing and hole) with grout or bentonite. 5) Grade ground away from well (surface water drains away). 6) Well cap must be watertight (no insects, animals, surface water entry). 7) Test water annually (bacteria, nitrates at minimum). 8) Chlorinate well if bacteria detected (shock chlorination).
Chapter 5: Well Maintenance
Task
Frequency
Purpose
Method
Water testing
Annually
Detect contamination
Lab test (bacteria, nitrates)
Pump inspection
Annually
Prevent failure
Check operation, seals, pressure
Well cap inspection
Quarterly
Prevent contamination
Check seal, screen, condition
Flow rate check
Annually
Detect declining yield
Time to fill known container
Shock chlorination
As needed (bacteria detected)
Kill bacteria
Pour chlorine solution, flush
Pump replacement
10-20 years
Worn components
Replace pump or rebuild
Reference Card
Protect the wellhead (the most common source of well contamination is surface water entering at the top; seal it). 2. Distance from contamination (minimum 100 ft from septic drain fields, animal yards, and chemical storage). 3. Suction pumps max at 25 ft (atmospheric pressure limits suction to about 25 ft; deeper wells need different pumps). 4. Test annually (bacteria and nitrates at minimum; contamination can develop without visible signs). 5. Sand point wells are DIY (a driven well point is the simplest well to install; works in sandy/gravelly soil to 50 ft). 6. Develop the well (pump heavily after installation to clear fine sediment; this improves flow and water clarity). 7. Rope pumps work everywhere (simple, cheap, maintainable with local materials; effective to 100+ ft). 8. Groundwater is filtered by earth (water that has passed through soil and rock is usually cleaner than surface water; but always test).
