Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Question about wells

Has anyone ever built a pond by using a well as the water source? I have seen a couple in kansas, beautiful clear blue waters, and just turn your pump on when the water is low. I am thinking about going this route, can anyone offer any advice on how much wells generally cost, or if there are any rules and regs about this. Thanks!

Boomer, it's all local. Cost, regs, whether it will work, etc.

Whereabouts are you located, so the locals can pipe in?

Central Kansas, thanks!

Salina area?

I have tried and tried to get a well dug for my pond in Gainesville texas but because the oil and gas people pay so much more than any one else I am on the back burner. Trying to get anything done around here that the gas people are also doing is hard. The answer to your question can only be answered by finding out how deep your water table is in your area. It can vary greatly within just twenty miles. If you have to go over 300ft the costs go up dramatically because you have to buy a larger pump and drill a bigger hole to get the same amount of water you would from a shallow well. For instance a shallow well may only cost 20 dollars a foot whereas a deep well may cost 80 dollars a foot for the same amount water. so a 700 foot deep well would cost 56grand and a 200 foot well would cost only four grand for the same amount of water.

Thanks James! I am in the Newton area Jim. I think the water table in central kansas is fairly high, we have a huge aquifer called the "ogallala"
I am very interested in using a well for a pond, they make such a beautiful blue lake, always fresh and full, not to mention the lanscaping you can do with you pump, a rock water fall is one I have seen. Any more input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Boomersooner,
Not all wells are the same. Water quality varies around the nation. I have actually seen some water wells create muddy conditions in ponds. It seems dissolved minerals in some aquifers tend to "grab" minute soil particles and hold them in suspension. But, where you are, your well will likely lead to results you expect.
Another issue which people contend is volume of water. For example, my water well services all eight of our ponds. But, each pond overflows into the next, so the water is used several times, over and over. If the well has to supply all eight at once, it couldn't do it. To that end, make note that one acre, one inch deep, is 27,000 gallons of water. Find out how much water you can reasonably expect from your well and project how it will impact your pond. For example, 35 gallons per minute will easily support replacement water for a 3-4 acre pond during hot, dry months. But, 35 gallons per minute would take about 3 months to fill that pond from empty. And, that's assuming you have clay soils which don't leak and zero evaporation.
So, I would do some math, figure out how big you wish your pond to be and then calculate the volume of water needed to fill and support the pond. Ask your well driller what to reasonably expect from the aquifer. He may be assuming you want a well for household use. Those wells are usually smaller holes, smaller casing and smaller pumps. Tell him you want to fill and maintain a pond of "x" size and that you need "x" gallons per minute. That will get both of you on the same page.

We are in the process of building a new house. We currently have a two inch well that supplies around 10gpm. I am talking to a well driller about a 4 in well with a ¾ hp deep well pump that can supply 25 to 35 gpm. My hope is to supply my house and supplement our pond with the same well. Then add a boaster pump to the 2 inch well for yard irrigation. The price for a 4 inch well at 80 ft( we have good water at 30ft) is around 3700.00 that can give us up to 40 gmp with a 1hp pump. The problem is bypassing the air tank to give open flow when we want to add to the pond. I have explained what I want and he said he would get back to me in a few days with a plain that will supply my house and pond with a est, of price and flow rates based on similar wells. His first suggestion was an agricultural( 4in) well just for the pond(at 35 to 50 foot deep) and irrigation with a submersible pump for around 2500.00 and boast the 2 inch well for my house. It seems the water that we drink verses what they spray on fields is at different levels and it may be cheaper to go this route.

Boomersooner,

Do yourself a big favor and jump on I 35 and head South to the Mulvane exit (estimated drive time 45 minutes) and check out my pond. Were going to be working on the fishing deck all weekend long and some minor repairs on the wells that supply water to the pond. E-mail me for a phone number and directions.

Thanks for all your advice guys! Jim, I will definately do that, thank you very much? Have you been out to El Dorado or Cheney lately? I have been cathing a ton of wipers and white bass at Marion this last few days. Thanks agian for your offer, I will e-mail you when I can come down and when you have time to talk with me. Thanks!

James,
you may want to give custom water co., in montague,tx a call. He did my well in pilot point,and got to it pretty quick.

Boomersooner,
check your e-mail

Boomersooner, I don't know about well costs where you live, but I can tell you what mine costs. I had a 4" well put in next to the pond, it's 100' deep and it costs $ 2,500.00, the worst part was getting electricity to it, that cost $ 3,200.00. So, my total was $ 5,700.00. That's more than it cost to dig the pond!!

Boomer
I bought a drill rig second hand and dug my own 4" well.Went down 100'and cased it with 4" pvc(well casing)and saved a ton of money.My well pumping water cost less than 1500.00.If you want more info let me know,Ill gladly share all the mistakes you DONT want to make.Its real easy once you figure out what not to do.It took 2 1/2 days from start to finish and not working real hard.
Tom G

Tom,
I would take any and all advice you could give me. Jim has been very helpful, all perspectives are good to hear. I probably couldn't buy my own drilling rig, the old lady would think I had really lost my mind!! How much does backhoe or dozer work generally cost, probably digging a pond in level ground will be what I need to do, no hills or natural banks. Thanks!

Boomer,
Sorry I didnt get back to you sooner but things have been hectic here.About the rig,it cost me 500.00 bucks and I dont think I spent much more than a 1000.00 all told,drill casing,pump pipeand bladder tank.I just installed my bladder and am building the house for it today.Its a great feeling to walk out and turn the facet on and have water.Its producing 2 1/2 gals a minute witch is pretty good where Im at.If you can find a used rig remember you can sell it when youre done and get your money back!!As far as advise I cant type that good,call me at 254-578-1192.Im kinda hard to catch cause I dont babysit the phone,but early sun mon is best.
Tom g

I got curious about this and looked on EBAY. Take a look at www.Rockmasterdrills.com. Lots of info available.

Thats just about the same rig Ive got.Forget the garentee,when you break the stem and loose the bit 65ft down they wont send you another one.I have one that deep in a LOST hole.They give lots of info but dont tell you what NOT to do,and they have lots of drill stem and bits for sale.I found a bit company in Texas that made me a bit for half price and got faster too