Limitations

Where I currently live, we drilled for water, found it at 80 meters (approx. 260 feet). We used a professional drilling company with a mobile rig. They were starting to feel uncomfortable when we passed 70 meters (approx. 225 feet). I got a clear understanding that about 100 meters (or 325 feet) would be their maximum. They also said that in certain kinds of rock, it was harder to drill, so that the depth would be reduced. In fact, they tried to persuade me to stop at 30 meters (100 feet) and use dynamite in the bottom of the hole to get the water flowing.

To be on the safe side (if you have the money to burn), I would drill for water before buying the property, or find another area. Or maybe the locals can help - after I had drilled, the local farmer told me that if we had drilled at an angle of approx. 30 degrees to the North, we would have gotten water much faster, since that is the direction of the rock layers, drilling down between two layers. A good plan would be to drill two different deep rock wells. I believe I can only have one kind of pump per well, so one could be fitted with an electric pump (plus store spares) and the other with a manual pump (also storing spares).

Offered by Jan.

If you have the well professionally drilled, the driller will be able to inform you of the specifications for pumping the water. If wind power is strong enough, you should strongly consider it as this will be the most abundant resource we will have in the future. Generating electricity to run a pump would be very wasteful, unless that is the only way to gain enough power to bring the water up.

Offered by Roger.

There is an excellant article in the current issue of Home Power magazine (800) 707-6585 about a 900 foot solar powered deep well pump, though a wind turbine could be used as well. There are many sources listed in the article. Authors: Mark and Ellen Coleman, (505) 751-5946; Golden Genesis, Inc. (800) 544-6466, are the first two references listed.

Offered by Steve.