Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Selecting a site Using a well to maintain water level

I have a good well located about 1200 feet from my 8 acre watershed pond. The ground level at the well and my pond water level are about 730 feet elev. I would have to pump the water over a small ridge that goes up to about 760 feet elevation.

Is it feasible to use this well to maintain my water level and what type of pump and delivery pipe do I need?

Thanks

DRW,

It would take over 200,000 gallons of water to raise your lake one inch (probably your daily evaporation rate during the summer). For a 24 hour period, that breaks down to 8000 gallons per hour or 130/GPM. Will your well handle that much demand? How much money do you want to throw at this project.

I don't know for sure about the well capacity. It came with an adjacent property I just acquired. I intend to test it but the neighbors in the area tell me it is a "good" well.

I don't know how much I am willing to spend yet, but I have already spent too much money on this project so going over budget is no longer an issue until the bank says it is.

BarO,

In further response to your cost question - are you talking about one time set up cost or the month to month cost of running the system? I am assuming that one or both are going to be high based on your earlier response.

Also, is it even feasible to expect a well, even a good well, to produce 130 gpm?

Thanks

DRW, I am not a water well expert, but the existing casing size on the well will probably not handle the demand (130 GPM)unless the well was originally drilled for field irrigation. Depending on the well depth/water static line/water recovery rate, the pump cost plus electricity could be significant in order to pump that much water on a 24/7 basis.

You may have to rely on Mother Nature.

I think Mother Nature will be able to handle it. Topos indicate about 100-120 acres will be draining into eight acre pond. Also, the existing runoff ditch/dry creek bed is 4-5 feet deep and about 6 feet across on average. I am just looking for options in the event of a summer drought like we are experiencing now.

I have a 1 acre pond that dropped almost 5 feet last year due to drought. Rain filled it up this year and I put in a well to keep it that way. I have a 20-25 GPM pump feeding it. We haven't had near the heat we normally have here, but we have had some hot days. Running the pump all day long, I keep up with the evaporation rate. Over several days, the pond does come up slightly. I really do not get runoff as my ground is all sand around it. Torential rains have runoff, but most rains just go into the sand. I would say take my pond times 8 and my pump times 8 and you will be in the 160 GPM range if you do not have rain to fill it up.

Sounds like I am going to need to pump alot of water to keep up with extended periods without rain.

I am probably going to go forward with the pond and hope I get enough runoff. I have staked out the dam site and plan to start clearing monday. If I can figure out how to do it I will post pics as we progress.

DRW

at better than 10:1 watershed - I'd sure roll the dice and expect good things....but that is here with my conditions...I dont know your soil or rain averages.