Artisian Wells
- Thread starter dmh
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New Member
I have the same problem at my house just trying to find out something, hopefully good news not bad like I need a new well
Does anyone know what the average life is for an artisian well?
I have been at my house now for about ten years and this evening, my water stopped completely and then started to come out and has air bubbles in it along with brown water. i dont know what that means.
Thanks[/QUOTE]
Does anyone know what the average life is for an artisian well?
I have been at my house now for about ten years and this evening, my water stopped completely and then started to come out and has air bubbles in it along with brown water. i dont know what that means.
Thanks[/QUOTE]
Artesian wells will last as long as they have as much fresh water coming into the aquifer system as they do going out. Sounds like the water level in your aquifer is now below your pump. The state just keeps handing out well permits like they were halloween candy with no accountability to existing homeowners.
If you know which aquifer system you are in, you can go to the USGS website and find the trending of groundwater systems in Southern Maryland. Then go to a real estate broker in some state that knows how to manage its water resources.
If you complain, all they will tell you is that your well was inadequate in the first place, so tuffsky whatever.
If you know which aquifer system you are in, you can go to the USGS website and find the trending of groundwater systems in Southern Maryland. Then go to a real estate broker in some state that knows how to manage its water resources.
If you complain, all they will tell you is that your well was inadequate in the first place, so tuffsky whatever.
I looked on that website and I didnt see any area that would be close to me. I am in charles county, brandywine and i saw calvert, but nothing by me! My water is coming out like a stream of water now, with no pressure whatsoever and a couple of air pockets in between. I do have a home warranty on the house, but they dont cover putting in new wells and only cover anything else up to 300.00. Hopefully the service company will be able to come out sooner than later because I have a almost 2 year old here.
Thank you for your comments.
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If you are in St. Mary's County, you should notify the St. Mary's Environmental Commission by letter that your well is going dry. They are trying to get a grasp of the problem. Also contact Sen. Roy Dyson.
If you are in Charles County Contact your State Senator and delegates.
The problem is that too many growth permits are being issued on the aquifers and they are being sucked down. Charles, Northern Calvert, Northern St. Mary's, and Ann Arrundel counties have an epidemic of dry wells and salt water intrusion and the MDE is refusing to stop permits.
If you are in Charles County Contact your State Senator and delegates.
The problem is that too many growth permits are being issued on the aquifers and they are being sucked down. Charles, Northern Calvert, Northern St. Mary's, and Ann Arrundel counties have an epidemic of dry wells and salt water intrusion and the MDE is refusing to stop permits.
OldHillcrestGuy
Well-Known Member
Im in northern St. Marys at the county line with Charles, in my development (about 60 homes) so far this year they have replaced 8 to 9 wells. Most of the homes are 30 years old and back then they only had to go about 250 feet to get to the water, my well was replaced 12 years ago and they went over 500 ft.. The new ones being drilled are also going 500 or more to get to the aquifier that has the water.
dnh if your house is over 20 years old, its proably only drilled about 250 ft. and that aquifier your getting your water from ,I hate to say it, is proably drying up.
dnh if your house is over 20 years old, its proably only drilled about 250 ft. and that aquifier your getting your water from ,I hate to say it, is proably drying up.
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desertrat
0_0
There was an article in the Post, I think two weeks ago that said Charles Co. would need a new source of water by 2010. The aquifer is dangerously depleted because of all the "growth" in that area.
No, my house is only 10 years old. I picked the land and had the house built. I just dont understand it. I am waiting for the warranty people to call me to come out and look at it. Funny thing is though, this morning, after alot of air pockets came out, the pressure seemed to be returning. I have no clue what this means. I beleive I am semi close to you. I am right off of 381 and Dr. Bowen Road, you are probably about 5 miles from me. We are in a small neigborhood, only 30 houses.
Does anyone know if artisian wells replenish when it rains?
Dead Eye
T.P.F.er
An artesian well is free flowing because it is driven by hydrostatic head (the water source is higher in elevation than the outlet point).
If you were to pump an artesian well at a rate faster than it flows, you might temporarily deplete the water near the outlet but if you stop pumping the well will in time resume flowing.
Only if the upstream source dries up will the well stop flowing.
Are you sure its Artesian ? Iv not heard of one being used for home tap water in many decades for new construction. Artesian wells are ground water from up a hill were there is a natural pipe of stone or something that brings the ground water traped up the hill to you. Most artesian wells DONT have a pump at all and if they do its only to increase the pressure as an artesian is hydrostatic head pressure driven by mother natures gravity.
If you were to pump an artesian well at a rate faster than it flows, you might temporarily deplete the water near the outlet but if you stop pumping the well will in time resume flowing.
Only if the upstream source dries up will the well stop flowing.
Are you sure its Artesian ? Iv not heard of one being used for home tap water in many decades for new construction. Artesian wells are ground water from up a hill were there is a natural pipe of stone or something that brings the ground water traped up the hill to you. Most artesian wells DONT have a pump at all and if they do its only to increase the pressure as an artesian is hydrostatic head pressure driven by mother natures gravity.
OldHillcrestGuy
Well-Known Member
I think the year was 2030 not 2010.
As long as the nursing home Im in has water I'll be happy when the female attendent gives me my spong bath.
desertrat
0_0
I've heard artesian missused so often I just tend to ignore it.
I think the year was 2030 not 2010.
As long as the nursing home Im in has water I'll be happy when the female attendent gives me my spong bath.
I never could remember dates.
itsbob
I bowl overhand
10 years, could be your pump is dead..[/QUOTE]
I spoke to the company that originally installed it and they seem to think the same thing. They said that the pumps usually last about ten years. My brother in law is a home inspector by trade and he came over today and said he thinks it may be the pressure tank (I think that is what he said, I know it had to do with the pressure something). Either way it is going to cost, the pump is estimated to be around 1500.00 and the pressure thingy should be cost somewhere around 1000.00 and my warranty company will only cover 300.00 and they dont have anyone in their system that will come out to where I live, so I have to pay out of pocket and hope to get the 300 reimbursed back to me.
And the way I am looking at it, if its not the pump that is broken now but instead it’s the pressure thingy and if the pump usually goes after ten years, I guess once I replace the pressure thingy, the pump will be due to break soon. So I almost home it is just the pump just to get it overwith.
The well company said they doubt it would be drying up at this time because my well is drilled at 470 feet and they havent heard of one drying up in only 10 years (keeping my fingers crossed). I only hope that the flow I had this morning will continue until monday because that is the first day they are available to come out. Otherwise I might just be one stinky person if I go 5 days without a shower!
Thanks to everyone with their suggestions.
I spoke to the company that originally installed it and they seem to think the same thing. They said that the pumps usually last about ten years. My brother in law is a home inspector by trade and he came over today and said he thinks it may be the pressure tank (I think that is what he said, I know it had to do with the pressure something). Either way it is going to cost, the pump is estimated to be around 1500.00 and the pressure thingy should be cost somewhere around 1000.00 and my warranty company will only cover 300.00 and they dont have anyone in their system that will come out to where I live, so I have to pay out of pocket and hope to get the 300 reimbursed back to me.
And the way I am looking at it, if its not the pump that is broken now but instead it’s the pressure thingy and if the pump usually goes after ten years, I guess once I replace the pressure thingy, the pump will be due to break soon. So I almost home it is just the pump just to get it overwith.
The well company said they doubt it would be drying up at this time because my well is drilled at 470 feet and they havent heard of one drying up in only 10 years (keeping my fingers crossed). I only hope that the flow I had this morning will continue until monday because that is the first day they are available to come out. Otherwise I might just be one stinky person if I go 5 days without a shower!
Thanks to everyone with their suggestions.
itsbob
I bowl overhand
I spoke to the company that originally installed it and they seem to think the same thing. They said that the pumps usually last about ten years. My brother in law is a home inspector by trade and he came over today and said he thinks it may be the pressure tank (I think that is what he said, I know it had to do with the pressure something). Either way it is going to cost, the pump is estimated to be around 1500.00 and the pressure thingy should be cost somewhere around 1000.00 and my warranty company will only cover 300.00 and they dont have anyone in their system that will come out to where I live, so I have to pay out of pocket and hope to get the 300 reimbursed back to me.
And the way I am looking at it, if its not the pump that is broken now but instead it’s the pressure thingy and if the pump usually goes after ten years, I guess once I replace the pressure thingy, the pump will be due to break soon. So I almost home it is just the pump just to get it overwith.
The well company said they doubt it would be drying up at this time because my well is drilled at 470 feet and they havent heard of one drying up in only 10 years (keeping my fingers crossed). I only hope that the flow I had this morning will continue until monday because that is the first day they are available to come out. Otherwise I might just be one stinky person if I go 5 days without a shower!
Thanks to everyone with their suggestions.
I think the combined price of $2500 is still considerably cheaper than a new well.
You can do the pump yourself, if you're up to pulling out 450+ feet of hose and wires out of your well to get to it. The pump itself isn't that expensive, then it's just a matter of removing the wires from one and putting it on the other.
desertrat
0_0
450' of water filled plastic pipe is pretty heavy. Don't drop it.
Your new well is in the aquia. It too is going dry and you will be chasing it downward.
Not only that, but you should expect an increase in saltwater. As the areas to the south of you pump more, the Aquia pulls brackish water in from the Potomac (Sworn testimony of Maryland Geologic Survey).
Here is a PAX NAS study done recently with USGS. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5266/pdf/sir-2006-5266.pdf
Not only that, but you should expect an increase in saltwater. As the areas to the south of you pump more, the Aquia pulls brackish water in from the Potomac (Sworn testimony of Maryland Geologic Survey).
Here is a PAX NAS study done recently with USGS. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5266/pdf/sir-2006-5266.pdf
itsbob
I bowl overhand
This report presents a map showing the potentiometric surface of the Aquia aquifer in the Aquia Formation of Paleocene age in Southern Maryland during September 2002. The map is based on water-level measurements in 94 wells. The highest measured water level was 38 feet above sea level near the northern boundary and outcrop area of the aquifer in the central part of Anne Arundel County, and was below sea level just south of this area and in the remainder of the study area. The hydraulic gradient increased southeastward toward an extensive cone of depression around well fields at Lexington Park and Solomons Island. Another cone of depression occurred in northern Calvert County due to pumpage at and near Chesapeake Beach and North Beach. The water level measured in this area has declined to 55 feet below sea level. The lowest water level measured was 169 feet below sea level at the center of a cone of depression at Lexington Park.
I'd say if his well is at +400 feet, he's in good shape, and not in danger of his well being 'dry'... I still think it's more a mechanical than a hydraulic problem.