Originally Posted by FishinRod
Dang it, I was afraid the power company would want to charge you an arm and a leg.

So definitely on to Plan B. Sounds like a well beside the pond is probably your best option.

Fixing the windmill is certainly one option. Is the windmill tower still there? If so, that is one of the expensive components of pumping with a windmill. Is the windmill rotor and gearbox still there? That is the other expensive component. (Sometimes you can get a good used one at a farm auction.)

I think you will be disappointed with the flow rates of the submersible pumps. If your depth to water is less than 25' (usually), then you can utilize a surface jet pump. These are far more efficient, and you are more likely to be able to move enough water to keep your pond full.

If your existing well is shot, then you obviously need to drill a new one. However, I think it might be cheaper over the long term to build a "sump" for your well head. If your "producing" water level was at 25' depth, you might be able to dig an 8' deep sump, so you were only lifting water from 17'. It is much more efficient to "push" water, rather than "pull" water. In that case, you might be able to easily operate a large flow rate jet pump on your solar system and move the maximum water available from the well perforations.

If you do reach the point of drilling a new well, discuss all of these items with your drilling contractor. He will have excellent local knowledge of the most efficient ways to pump for a given aquifer depth and flow rate.

Sorry for the long discussion, it was the only way to throw out many of the items you need to evaluate to complete your supplemental water project.

Great information Rod.

The head on the windmill was gone when I moved here. I talked to the previous owner today about it and he said that it flooded where the windmill was and ruined the well.

They also told us when we bought the place that the creek never went dry, their family had owned the property since the 1930's. The creek stopped running the year we bought the place in 2001. When it went dry I had the neighbor clean out all the small trees and dig a couple of small holes about 1/10 acres each with a peninsula between them for training retrievers. Water only runs through the property during significant rain events but there are holes of water that never go dry.

I've only seen water over the area where the windmill was once since we've lived here but will have to look into what would need to be done to prevent a high water event from ruining a well if I drill one.

We've changed it dramatically. Here's what the area where the pond looked like in 2001.

[Linked Image]

Here's 2010, the blue and red lines are the deepest parts of the pond.

[Linked Image]

Here's June of 2024, the only time water has went out the emergency spillway.

[Linked Image]

2 Acre, Completed July 2022, CC,BG, Sept. 2022, LMB June 2023, GSF, YBH invasion in 2022. BG, CNBG, RES, 2025, TP seasonal.