Help with Well Dig

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Newtothiss

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By "low key", I assume you mean discreet, and that the noise of a pump would be out of the question?

I don't know what the area is like, but the ground water I've dealt with IS RELENTLESS!

Stay safe.
Ain't no bottle worth your life..
 

mrcure

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By "low key", I assume you mean discreet, and that the noise of a pump would be out of the question?

I don't know what the area is like, but the ground water I've dealt with IS RELENTLESS!

Stay safe.
Ain't no bottle worth your life..
You got it! I would rather not use a generator to be discreet. I'm hoping that due to locality in the mountains that I'll have a fighting chance against water table, but I have no idea.

Thanks man!

Just curious, have you ever bailed out a well? Any tips or things to watch out for? The well I'm in has at least 5 feet of bricks/mud stacked below me and plenty of water as well.
 

Newtothiss

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Never bailed one out, no.
Almost fell into bunch! Did fall into one that was thankfully nearly full of braches and debris.

My groundwater experience is only with shallow water tables. And once I hit a certain point, I was just permanently digging soup.

Just be mindful of the condition and stability of what you're digging in/around.
Perhaps take a strongly anchored rope with ya, in case of collapse?
 

willong

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The well I'm in has at least 5 feet of bricks/mud stacked below me and plenty of water as well.
If those bricks "stacked below" are a continuation of the well's intact lining, that's one thing; and you might be safe to continue.

However, if by "below" you are indicating that bricks are tumbled into the well bore (the sidewalls having sloughed in) then it sounds highly dangerous to proceed. In that case, please heed what Newtothiss said: No bottle is worth your life.
 

Newtothiss

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I've only had it happen 1 time, but cave-ins/collapses suck and are frightening (and potentially fatal).

It's really easy to get in retard tunnel vision mode, especially if you hit a good vien and just HAVE to dig MORE!!

Be smart
 

embe

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Seems to me, that if a spot is located below the water table, you'd exhaust yourself with buckets and pumps since a well was prposely dug to be below the water table.
 

mrcure

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Well, after some time away for a lot of reasons related to normal life, I have decided to fill in the pit for another day/digger. It was too deep to reasonably keep digging solo with all the water I would have to bail out along with buckets of dirt and brick and no good ladder to use. I have a ways to go before I should be tackling these types of digs by myself.
 

Newtothiss

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Well, after some time away for a lot of reasons related to normal life, I have decided to fill in the pit for another day/digger. It was too deep to reasonably keep digging solo with all the water I would have to bail out along with buckets of dirt and brick and no good ladder to use. I have a ways to go before I should be tackling these types of digs by myself.
I don't care how seasoned you may be, taking on some things, while solo, is just dumb..


I am in no position to lecture, as I do plenty of risky and unwise things, but I very much understand what I'm potentially getting myself into.

Just use common sense (NOT COMMON ANYMORE), prep for the worst, identify and mitigate risk as best you can.
Right tools for the job, blah, blah, blah...

I'm done.
Sorry of this came of preachy..


I was concerned when you didn't post for a while though (considering this well)...
 

mrcure

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@Newtothiss not preachy at all. I tend to overdo things and push myself way too far so yours and everyone's advice here for the time being was totally warranted.

The feeling of others worrying about my whereabouts and also the potential for a child or animal to fall into the open well was tearing me up inside so I had to fill it in for now. Once I get a better pulley system (buddy) I will be back at it. So far I've not had much luck finding a digging partner in this state of TN who is in sync with my new work schedule (off Wednesday-Friday) but I'm going to keep looking.
 

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