Replies

1. 
   DanH | Nov 21, 2009 04:39pm | #1

   What do you mean by "holding well"? Do you mean a cistern, eg, to collect rainwater? Or is it some sort of crude drainage sump?

   A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. --Jimmy Carter
2. 
   JimB | Nov 21, 2009 05:32pm | #2

   Sounds more like a cistern than a well, as DanH suggests.  Could be a dug well with a smaller pipe coming through the floor.

   If it is, in fact, a well, don't use it to dispose of anything which is a sure way to pollute ground water.

   If it is a cistern, it might be useful as a source of water for yard, garden and washing cars.

1. 
   DanH | Nov 21, 2009 11:10pm | #4

   If it's a cistern it would be wise to determine where it's being filled from.
   A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. --Jimmy Carter

1. 
   JimB | Nov 22, 2009 01:24am | #5

   True.

   I made the assumption that if a cistern it's mostly likely supplied by gutter drains, but that's not necessarily so.  Might already be gray water, even. 

   In any case, as you imply, better to know where the water's coming from before planning to use it.

1. 
   DanH | Nov 22, 2009 03:01am | #7

   Yeah, and if there's water coming in that should be stopped before the thing is sealed.
   A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. --Jimmy Carter

3. 
   Piffin | Nov 21, 2009 07:25pm | #3

   first find out if it is a cistern for holding water or a real well. A camera on a cable ( forget what they are called, but a lot of plumber shave them) an help spect it.

   If awell, you DEFINITELY do not want to use it for grey water as that will introduce pollutants to the water supply all around you.
   As a matter off fact, I would not use anything in the bassement for grey water. The stench will not be pleasant as it rises thru the house.

   If a holding tank, you could pump it out and fill it with grout or sand and just grout the top

   If a well, just put a sanitary cap on it and keep it as is. Never know when you might need your own water again.

    

    

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4. 
   mike4244 | Nov 22, 2009 02:53am | #6

   My sons house had a well under the kitchen.This house was built in 1845 when I suppose it was common. I had a concrete truck with sand fill it to within 4" of the top.Then capped it off with a 4" concrete slab.Not positive if it was a water well or a cistern.

   mike

5. 
   RedfordHenry | Nov 22, 2009 03:17am | #8

   Dug wells in basements were once common.  I can think of at least a dozen homes in NH and VT where I have seen this, though never a house as young as yours.  Was the current house possibly placed over an old foundation?  How old are the neighboring homes?  Water is generally abundant in VT, so unless you are up on a mountain, I can't think of anyone ever having a need for a cistern (maybe in New Mexico, but not in VT). 

   Never-the-less, it is likely just a dug well and the level of the water in the well is a perfect indicator of the depth to shallow ground water.  You could fill it with sand/gravel or even concrete to eliminate the possibility of someone using it to dump something that shouldn't be dumped down there.  Otherwise, if the slab is in good shape, and the steel casing can be capped, I would just cap it.

   If you were inclined, you could use it for the garden, lawn, washing the car, etc., but you should still cap it and plumb it properly for such uses.

   Not sure what you mean by using it as grey water (unless you mean using it to water the garden).