water well drillers

northwoods1 · December 30, 2010, 09:56:27 AM

It can actually be a lot cheaper to drill in rock because you don't need casing which is very expensive.

SwampDonkey · December 30, 2010, 10:16:56 AM

It's funny, our little small village about 5 miles away has two or three drillers for the whole area for 50 miles in any direction.

doctorb · December 30, 2010, 11:41:10 AM

Anybody use divining rods to determine the site of their wells? I've got a story!

Doctorb

Jeff · December 30, 2010, 11:47:46 AM

I can do it. My dad was one of the best around and witched wells all over Michigan. I can do it, but dad could tell you how deep. He could find drains and tile in basement floors, almost anything underground that "flowed" electrical, gas or water.

doctorb · December 30, 2010, 02:11:13 PM

I can do it too. I read an article about it and it worked - twice for me. As a scientist I have no explanation for it, but Iam a believer. maybe a new thread? Doctorb

Raider Bill · December 30, 2010, 02:25:44 PM

I've had some success but I use a piece of PCV and bent copper wire.

sandhills · December 30, 2010, 02:32:54 PM

Don't know much about water witching but I can find anything buried in the ground and what direction it's running with 2 pieces of copper wire. It probably isn't that unusual but I have been with people that can't, so I stop them on the spot I found and all I have to do is lay a hand on their shoulder and the wires will turn. Don't have a clue how this works but I had to demonstrate it for a friend that works for a gas company, his job is locating lines, he believes me now :D. I don't have a clue as to the depth of anything or what it is, just know somethings there, and I've also always thought I'm the best ground God ever created, dad always told me I could get shocked by looking at an electric fence, he's not far off. ;D

doctorb · December 30, 2010, 02:38:23 PM

After I bought my first house, a little 2 bedroom cape cod, my well ran dry. Turns out it was a dug well, not drilled, and about 60 feet deep (or so they said). So we got the county to show us where not to put the new well (septic concerns) and then had to choose a site.

Luckily, I had just read an article on water witching in the Baltimore Sun. They used coat hanger wire and 16 ounce pop bottles. I tried it. When I walked over the old well, they crossed. So I was impressed about their ability to detect water, but not necessarily water volume. I really tried again and again and they crossed reproducibly at that spot. My brother was in town later that day and I told him of this phenomenon. He tried it and it had the same result.

Intrigued, I headed to the front yard to pick the spot for the new well. I found a place with a strong crossing signal that would occur no mater how I approached it. I put a penny on the lawn, well hidden in the grass at that spot.

My brother did not accompany me on this search. He was in the house and did not know the location I had selected. He tried at about dusk so he could not see the penny. Yep, he picked the exact same spot. I drove a stake in the ground there, and the drilling started 2 days later. Got 15.4 gallons per minute at 165 feet.

Same type of thing happened at my current house, with less volume but no well troubles, like my neighbors. I am a believer and I don't think you need some innate power to pull this off.

Doctorb

SwampDonkey · December 30, 2010, 04:20:39 PM

I'm a skeptic myself, I could dig most anywhere here and find water. And some of those jokers also have some local knowledge which increases their chances. I found that artesian from evidence not magic. ;)

doctorb · December 30, 2010, 05:16:54 PM

Don't blame ya' for bein' skeptical. I would be too if I hadn't experienced it more than once. It's not logical, so it's tough to swallow as being true and reasonable. Nevertheless, I would do it again in a heartbeat if i needed to drill a well. Doctorb

Mooseherder · December 30, 2010, 05:31:21 PM

Do you think it would work to find a Sprinkler PVC pipe that is underground about a foot deep?
They have water in them.
I have a couple runs that I capped off a few years ago that I thought was overkill for watering my yard.
Would like to put some heads on them now for better coverage.(should have gone with my first instinct)
Most of us have sprinklers systems down here to keep green grass.
I have done 3 systems at other houses and enjoy doing them.
I'm not sure where the lines are buried and couldn't find them when digging. :

pineywoods · December 30, 2010, 06:37:39 PM

Some people got it, some don't. I can't find didly, but I have a good friend who can find the same spot time after time while he is blindfolded. Been my experience that more women have the ability than men. I've seen copper wires, coat hanger wire, and forked willow limbs used.

sandhills · December 30, 2010, 08:29:58 PM

Mooseherder, only one way to find out. I'd try walking across an existing line that you know is there, if it works on that one it should on the ones you've lost track of. I've never tried it on pvc lines but I can locate old clay sewer pipes as easy as anything metal or electric.

Mooseherder · December 30, 2010, 08:33:53 PM

I know where it is within 5 feet. :D
My one hole was getting a little wide and I decided to quit for the time being.

northwoods1 · December 30, 2010, 08:50:07 PM

Quote from: Jeff on December 30, 2010, 11:47:46 AM
I can do it. My dad was one of the best around and witched wells all over Michigan. I can do it, but dad could tell you how deep. He could find drains and tile in basement floors, almost anything underground that "flowed" electrical, gas or water.

I had a friend that would take 2 coat hangers and take them apart and bend them into an L shape one in each hand. He could hold them out in front of him and make them turn left or right at will and it had nothing to do with manipulating the wires it all was some "unknown" force I would call it. I could hold them in my hands and they wouldn't do anythig, but if he put his hand on my shoulder they would begin to turn this way or that. He could use them to find water. With water is not as much where as it is how deep. Water witching is not magic it is just something some folks can't understand and explain scientifically, but nonetheless it works there is no doubt about it.

sandhills · December 30, 2010, 09:55:16 PM

Yep Northwoods, that's all I do, always figured it had something to do with magnetism. A neighbor of mine uses the bottles and forked sticks, I'd like to watch him sometime, he's supposed to be very good at it.