A lot of homeowners have their own well on their property. In fact, over 15 million families have chosen to include one inside their boundary. There are many reasons for this. From lowering your water bills and becoming self-sufficient to thinking about your health and what you are drinking, a do it yourself water well can be the way to go. This a project that does not have to involve bringing in expensive professionals. Instead, grab your own tools and get started. We are going to show you how.
What are the Benefits of a Do It Yourself Water Well?
Are you wondering whether you really need a water well at your home? A lot of households had to have their own water well due to not having access to city water mains. But, this is now not the only reason why people are choosing a do it yourself water well. There are a lot of other advantages for families across the country. So, let’s take a closer look.
Lower Water Bills
Do you hate paying for large water bills? This is a problem when you are using a lot of water in your home. From running faucets and having baths, all of these things cost money. But, instead of cutting down your activities and being water conscious, you can choose to create a do it yourself water well. This is going to mean that you have your own water source and you will not have to pay these large bills anymore. You will be self-sufficient and not have to rely on a water source that costs a lot of money.
Enjoy Natural Water
It is no secret that city supplies can have a lot of chemicals in it. The water is often purified and you will find chlorine and fluoride in it. If this is something that you do not want, having your own water well is recommended. This is a good way to enjoy natural aqua and be more conscious about what you are drinking. It also means that you can enjoy a better taste too since it will be softer and contain fewer additives. You can in control of the water your house has access to whether that is for drinking or bathing.
A Fun Project
Taking on an outdoor project like a do it yourself water well can be exciting. Not only can you be self-sufficient, but you can also feel a lot of satisfaction from creating your own water source. You can save money on bringing in the professionals and work on something in your own time. You can spend time with your family and build a do it yourself water well in your free time. Think about it as bonding time and creating something that you are going to use every day at your home.
How to Create a Do It Yourself Water Well
Now, it is time to discuss how you can create your own do it yourself water well. This is a project that can take some time but it will be worth it. So, here are some steps you need to consider for this one.
Know the Law
First of all, you want to ensure you are creating a do it yourself water well by the book. In other words, you want to make sure that you are following the local laws and building it properly so that you do not get into trouble.
Every state is going to have its own rules when it comes to drilling a well in your property. For instance, you may have to obtain a permit for this project if you are having to drill deep down. So, check out what the local laws are first. Small and shallow projects are unlikely to need a permit. But, bigger projects might need permission before you can start. Knowing the rules in advance will make sure that your hard work is not wasted and you can enjoy peace of mind.
Choose Your Do It Yourself Water Well Spot
Next, you are going to want to choose the best spot to build your well. We have some important tips to help you do this. First of all, you want to keep your do it yourself water well away from anywhere that could contaminate the water. For example, stay away from any muddy areas in your yard or locations near septic tanks. Waste can come through the soil and affect your water source. The last thing you want to do is get sick from your new drinking source. It is recommended to start drilling around 50 feet away from anything that might cause contamination.
You also want to know where any electricity or gas lines are when it comes to your property. The last thing you want to do is hit and damage them in any way. Calling your utility companies can be a good way to check this and ensure you are choosing a spot away from them. This way, you are going to know where any underground cabling is and choose a free and ideal spot.
Use a Hand Auger
The first step is going to be digging down into the ground. This can be a hard part of the project. This should be around 4 feet to begin with for a shallow do it yourself well. For this task, you can use a hand auger. This is affordable to buy and you can manually drill holes into the ground. You rotate it down with the handle and by applying some force. Hopefully, during the research of your property, you will know how far down you have to dig to.
Be aware that you can hit rocks with a hand auger. The digging can be quite a strenuous task and you should take breaks for this part of the project. Spacing out this part of the project over the course of a few days is recommended.
When you see that the soil is wet and muddy, this means that you have found moisture and a source of aqua. This could be as much as 17 feet deep or more on your property. It just depends on the location of your home.
Get Some PVC Pipes
Next, you are going to want long PVC pipes to extract the water. They will be inserted down into the hole you have created with the hand auger. But, before you do this, you want to drill a lot of holes in the bottom of the PVC pipe. This is going to allow water to enter the pipe so that it can be used for your do it yourself water well. You also want to put a cap on the base of the PVC pipe. This will help to keep out dirt and debris.
In order to create the length that you need for your do it yourself well, you may have to join several PVC pipes together. It can also be beneficial to add a foot valve on the inner water pipe to allow the water to go up and not return back down.
Once you have the PVC pipes ready, it will be time to insert it into the hole you have dug down into the ground. You can use pea gravel around the pipe to hold it in place and use some of the soil you have to fill in the top of the hole and to make it look neat.
Insert Inner and Smaller Pipe
You are going to have an inner water pipe that is contained within the PVC pipes. This is going to bring up the water so that you can collect it from the pump and use it in any way that you want. Once this is positioned all the way down the PVC pipes, you can connect to the water pump.
Try Out the Pump Handle
Now that everything is connected, it is time to try out your do it yourself water well. You can use the water pump with the handle. At first, it is normal to get a lot of mud and dirt and it can be quite tough to press down the handle. You will have to try out the pump for several days until it stops running through mud and dirt. Eventually, you will get to enjoy clear water, you just have to persevere for a while first.
Carry Out a Quality Test
When you have your do it yourself water well up and running, this is can be exciting. You will be ready to make sure of the clean water you are creating on your property. But, before you start drinking this water, it is best to test the source first. You want to ensure that it is clean and free from contaminants or bacteria. After all, the last thing you want is to get sick. So, there are quality test products that you can purchase to test the source from your well. Pay attention to the results.
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