Sand point well?

coolcall | Posted in General Discussion on January 24, 2003 05:58am

Has anyone here ever used made a “sand point” well. My understanding is it is just a pointy perf pipe that you pound/bang/curse into the ground 20 feet or so and then pump out some water for maybe a garden or something. and how do I go about finding out how far down the water may be? guessing from the local topgraphy may I am but? I am just guessing?

Replies

spinnm | Jan 24, 2003 07:27am | #1
How old are you? I've done this, tho I was younger and in better shape. I live in an area where there is plenty of shallow water, tho the shallow taste is not so good. Wanted an irrigation well.

It looks like what many people use to drive fence posts. Handle on either side....6" pipe with something heavy at the end...can't remember what. Rented it from a company that sold irrigation/well/pump/pipe supplies. Get a sand/point and start attaching pipe with screw-on fittings. Pound a while, get a drink, pound some more.

Went down to what we were told was the proper depth. No water. Talked to people. Well point plugged. OK. Rented a mongo compressor. Blew it out. Looked down the hole. Don't do that! What you need is dry ice under pressure to blow it out. OK. Got dry ice, put it in, capped the hole. No luck. Talked to a well driller. How deep are you? 32'. Dummie, water there is 37'. OK, pound to 37'. Got all the water the pump and 2" could produce.

Would I do it again? If I had to. Did I like it? No way and that was....hmmm....when I was 35.....probably kill me today. Makes for a great story tho.

ShelleyinNM
BUIC | Jan 24, 2003 07:59am | #2
SBPERKI pretty much hit it on the head for you. As far as knowing how far down to go, ask around, locals will know the water levels in your area. Good Luck.... BUIC
junkhound | Jan 24, 2003 08:15am | #3
Be sure others in your area are already operating a sand point and at what depth as others said.

Also tried one decades ago when young and dumb, tried to drive it thru hardpan with a 500# weight on a rope and capstan. Didn't know any better from just reading books. Simply squashed the 2" sch 40 pipe and stuck the point in the hardpan about 8 ft down - gotta have a very specific type soil for a drive point to work, almost quicksand.