more at www.drillyourownwell.com This is an example of a Mud Pump Water Well Drilling Setup utilizing a Portable Mud pit. This particular well was dug 24 feet the first day and the next weekend we made it to 49 feet.
That is one of the best down to earth video's I have ever seen . I am sure that you have helped many people . Just the best !! I am in the HDD and auger boring business . You have made things so simple. Great job !
+dawmlw Horizontal Directional Drilling It is a process where you can install any type of utility under an roadway , creek/river , or any such thing . There are many youtube videos on the subject . Thanks again
Drilling a sprinkler well in Gulf Shores this month. I have seen many wells done by pros and always thought it wouldn't be that bad to DIY. These vids are great!
Nice detailed video! On the website you have this instruction about the Bentonite: "To mix the bentonite, set up a five gallon bucket near the drill site. Put about three gallons of water in a 5 gallon bucket and pour in the bentonite while you are mixing with a drill and concrete mixing bit." How much Bentonite do you pour in the 3 gallons of water? And how often do you pour such a bucket in this during drilling?
I found Inside PVC Joyner Connector for Schedule 40 PVC Pipe that could be utilized on the inside of pipe much more efficient than the outside pipe couplings , there's less of a chance of fine sand collapsing and building up on the outside of the pipe and having it stuck in the boar then if you are to use and outside the pipe coupling Joiner , outside the PVC pipe coupling can act similar to a Brass Hose Barb/Rigid preventing the pipe from sliding out , I was able to slide a pipe even if left overnight ... not a problem , what sand is worse than dry concrete .
That looks like a good setup , where i live in the northwest its all gravel some rocks bigger than a hat and the gravel goes down several hundreds of feet.
Between all the videos, I tried the 2 hose method and found I could only get 14-16'. So I checked a few more of your methods and the website and found the trash pump video. I now have a 37' well, all I have to do now is hook up to my irregation and a few other planed projects. I build swimming pools for a living so I was able to scrounge up a few fittings and spent about $130 total. I will end up spending about $500 - $800 I think by the time I'm done. Between a new well pump (I'm using a 1hp hayward pump which I have to throttle down with a valve), pressure tank and so on. 2 Saturdays and about 12-14 hours total I have a well that produces clean, clear FREE water minus a few bucks for power. I'm thinking about a 1 year return to break even and then I'll save on my overage. Good luck to anyone who tries this. 4" pipe 6' deep 40' of 2" pipe 40' of 1 1/4" pipe 5' well screen 1 1/4" 2" trash/water pump 20 lbs of bentonite drilling clay Misc fittings
Michael Hollis Congratulations Michael! One year 100% ROI is spectacular. If you post a video or send me pictures, I'll be happy to put it in the "Success Stories." I'm thrilled it worked for you.
dawmlw Thanks, between the pool, irregation, my rentals and many other needs for water I end up with an overage of about $700-$800. I still can't believe how well this water well produces. Still working on getting things plumbed in. I wish I took more pics but I do have a few to send you.
Congratulation Michael. I assume you used a jet pump with the packer/ejector in the 2 inch pipe (and that you left the 2 inch pipe in the ground). So did you drop the 5' 1 1/4 inch screen to the bottom of the well, and then pull the 2 inch pipe up 5' to expose the screen? Also, how far up from the bottom of the well was the water table? Using a non-mud pump method, I successfully drilled a 43' well with 2 inch pipe. Once I hit the aquafer, the water pressure went into the aquafer and the clay/sand seeped in and grabbed my pipe. I'm now trying to drive a 1 1/4 inch PVC well point further in past the end of my 2 inch pipe, but it's going nowhere. I tried drilling using a 1 inch drill pipe, however as soon as I pull the pipe out, the sand in the aquafer collapses, and it won't let me push the well point in :-( I'm so close I can taste it.
I'm glad you like the videos! You can leave the drill in the hole if you are using bentonite and it is unlikely the hole will collapse on it. It is a risk, though. Regarding legality - In most places a homeowner can drill his own well but you just have to check with your local government.
Thank you for sharing this video on the use of the mud pump. Please can you tell me the dimensions of the portable mud pit and the diameter pipe that you used to channel the water into it from the drill hole. I want to fabricate my on set up. Regards Paul.
I attempted digging a well in a remote area where I don’t have water to flow down into hole to wash cuttings out. I used a twist auger to dog down. I hit water at around 14 feet or so. Once I hit water I couldn’t pull out the shavings. If I could get water there with a 250 gallon tote and pump, could I continue to cut with auger but wash shaving to top just by pumping water into hole? Or if I put bentonite/water mix into hole could I pull shaving out with auger?
I worked for a professional company dewatering an undground path so that a 5 foot diameter pipe could be put under ground from a river to the pumping station for a town water supply. We used 2-2/2 inch 20 foot steel pipe sections with a special drill head made for positive and negative flow. I was the luck lad to carry and hold the 20 foot steel pipe sections vertically by hand while the pipe slowly drilled its way into the ground. Any rocks that got in the way gradually got pushed aside when the surrounding area around the drill head cleared enough space to push them away. We did these wells every 15 feet or so on both sides of the excavation area and had a 600HP portable pump doing the job of water supply and suction.
It won't be quite as strong. Usually, it is fine. It is just that when you are putting a joint 30 feet under the ground you don't want it to break so I always use primer.
Great video. I have tried jetting and only got to 22 feet and not enough returns to bring cuttings up. Next is to try your method. I have a large garden and the price of water is crazy. East Texas north of Houston. Thanks
I've really enjoyed your well drilling videos and I think I'm ready to tackle one myself. I live in the sandhills of NC so I'm looking to go down about 25' to 30'. I plan to use your mud pump technique. Could you please give me some dimensions of your portable mud pit. Thank you so much
Mine is 24 inches wide by 48 inches long. Please check out the website listed in the description for additional information. Good luck with your well! Try a practice hole first. In that sand you will get stuck quickly if you don't use bentonite.
Hey, I like your method of drilling! Can you make a video of the water you're pumping out of these wells? And perhaps the flow rate you are achieving? Thanks!!!
There are several photos posted by users of water being pumped. The flow rates vary radically by location but are typically in the range of 4 to 5 GPM for a three foot 1.25 inch screen.
Just ran across your videos today. Your time , effort and detailed commentary is "Well" appreciated. If I had to guess your previous occupation, I'd guess you were an offshore drilling engineer, project manager, tool pusher, driller, mud-logger, etc... Anyway... Not only an excellent job on your well drilling achievements but also on your documentary production skills as well.
+Quis ut Deus I'm glad you like the videos! I'm just a guy who found a way to drill a shallow well cheaply and put up a website. no background even close. Thanks!
If your ground water level is 25 feet or higher a shallow well or suction pump will work. If your ground water is deeper then you will need a jet and a jet pump or a submersible pump. Water can only be sucked up from 25 feet or less no matter how much power you have. It is an atmospheric thing. You can push it from any depth.
Hello dawmlw..Thanks for your video..Just started my well..change a couple of things..will see how it works out..Being my trash pump has a strainer on suction line I did not install screen in portable mud pit..but did separate with 2 x 6 on edge..I have my guide tube down..and hopefully will start drilling today..I made my own drill bit..using the same concept as on your web site..on mine I used a 2" x 2 1/2" swage will give me a little bigger hole hope this works..Robert
dawmlw ..Good morning dawmlw..yesterday the drilling went smooth ..hit a dead tree at about 17' and at 18' started hitting what appeared to be a good course water sand ..could not find the betonite so I bought a liquid poly-gel made by ECONOMY MUDPRODUCTS CO. HOUSTON,TX..Of course I'm just guessing how to use it..Anyway me and my wife stopped at 26'..we are both in our 70's it was an exciting day..when i started pulling drill pipe out ...pulled it up about 18" and the hole must have caved in because it would not go back down..pulled it out for the night..Then measured down to the water it was 9' from the top of the ground..will measure again this morning ..And also look for your email address ..Thanks Robert
this is really cool! !! Thanks for sharing. I live in Pensacola and noticed you filmed this in my area. Could you possiable point me to where I can get that drill bit fabrifabricated sooncated. I need a well for my farm and doing it myself will be a big help. thanks
Good videos. Have helped me work out ground water depth . How to deal with it .and how to utilise it too . Also these drills are cool . I did wounder if it could be done with pvc pipe .
Yeah I've seen a few made . I was going to put the end from a hole cutter on it minus the drill bit in centre the sort of thing you cut lock holes in doors or holes for pipes etc . I plan to add more holes for water to pass threw .
It is in south Alabama. As far as where to drill, I'm sorry but I can't help you there. It is kind of impossible to miss where I am. It is really cheap so if you live in a flat area, it is worth a try.
Well i'm Down 56' so far and still going, hit hard pan type material which slowed progress quite a bit but i made a Steel bit that i bolted to the end of the Pipe (2") so we'll see how well it works.
Fascinating video, and very tempted to "have a go".. My only concern is that where we live here in the U.K, we are on very chalky ground, which is fine, but with the chalk comes lumps of flint - some times very large..What happens if, having got so far down, one stumbles across a large rock or flint..? Also-when you say a "mud pump"- is that what the pumps are sold for, or can I use a conventional water pump capable of handling solids..? Thanks for your help,,Regards,David.
David, I'm glad you like the video. Please be sure and check out the website. This technique will not drill through rock. Sorry. A mud pump is sometimes called a trash pump. A semi trash pump will work too. They are made for pumping water with mud, small sticks, leaves, etc. Be sure and use one that has a cast iron impeller. The sand that comes up in the drilling process will quickly eat up a plastic impeller. Good luck on your project!
+Peter Draper Peter, unfortunately I don't know. I bought it from a company that went out of business and there is no nameplate on it. It has a flow rate of 100 GPM which is more than you can use. Just get any good small trash or semi trash pump and you will be fine.
Where are you drilling that well GA? Tow or city i got a piece of property in waycross ga looks kinda sand and lil clay how far deep you usually have to go thanks alsome video great work
Ingenious - you can use so cheap materials(!) and do it yourself. Some of your techniques can be used for piles for a house, or tall lighting posts... Thanks for YOUR VIDEOS
It could have been better but I just used a plasma cutter to quickly notch the pipe. For the larger pointed bit I cut two small triangles and one large and quickly welded them to a pipe union. I plan on working to get further down and will post more progress later
Thank you for making these videos. You explain things very well. I feel I am getting a good education based on your experience. You have already tried a lot of different ways to do things so we don't have to repeat your mistakes. I am trying to learn all I can to decide if your methods can be used here where there is bound to be gravel. Will a mud-pump work to bring up gravel? Up to what sized gravel, in your experience? In my case I have just paid a crew to reopen a well on my ranch in the Southern Baja Peninsula in Mexico. I hadn't used the well in five years. It is located in deep sandy loam on a desert prairie with dry creek-beds every half mile or so coming down from the mountains. Five years ago there was plenty of water in my well at 24 meters. Now there is none at all at even down to 40 meters. We figure the water table is been over-pumped nearby to supply a phosphorus mine about 20 miles away. I will be looking for another site to locate a new well. I have been water-witching the property and find lots of indications of water under the dry stream beds where it shouldn't be too deep, but there is bound to be gravel and possibly some rock underground. I will have to drill to find out. All around is soft sandy loam soil many meters thick where your method of drilling should work well but the water will be much closer to the surface in the creekbeds. The water I need is probably deeper than I can go with PVC. I am considering starting with 6-inch PVC and then 4-inch, to get a head start and go deeper. Has anybody emailed about having tried that yet?
Linda, A mud pump will bring up gravel. Regarding the four and six inch diameter wells - they are nearly impossible to do with a hand drilling rig. You can drill a two inch hole and then ream it out to four inch with enough patience. I just don't see how six inch is possible.
Do you recommend flushing by using the drill pipe once done with drilling immediately before inserting the well screen or rather by using the well screen after inserting it? Any idea how wide of a hole to expect in sand by using a 3" drill pipe and a bit like yours? Thank you.
Just dump your drilling fluid and start circulating only water when you get to the depth where you are going to set your well screen. I'd recommend using a two inch pipe which makes slightly wider than two inch hole.
What about a 4" casing? Could you make the metal cutting blade like 5, 6" and use a 6" return pipe at the top, going back to the mud pit? Then come back and set a casing? I think I'm about to go build a mud box right now...
Great system.. Do you know if their are any people in central Florida...that can / will do this job?If so what would you believe to be a fair cost...to have a well drilled like this?
CHOO-CHOO WEEKES Sorry but I don't know of any commercial drillers that are using this technique. You can't drill for someone else without a license. All the licensed folks use the expensive rigs and charge more. I wish I could be of more assistance.
Great and informative video. The only thing I would change is to replace the screen in the box with a dam that is an inch lower than the water level. That way all the cuttings will drop to the bottom on the inlet side and only water will flow over the board used as a dam to the outlet side. Eventually the inlet side will completely fill with mud but you will still be pumping almost mud free water. This assumes that you continue to add water as the level decreases.
3G Green Good point 3G. I basically agree. It needs to be a little lower than 1 inch below the water level to allow for varying water levels but the screen is not optimal.
24 feet is about the maximum I can put back down. That is why I quit at that point. I know I can put it in with help and I think I can do it by myself. I'm about to try here in an hour or so. I may have to break it into two pieces and glue it back up. I'll let you know.
I am trying to find out what brand and model number of that mud pump. Been looking but can't find anything similar. Need one for making my own well. Thanks. Barry
Quik Gel (bentonite) when mixed with water into a slurry, solidifies the sides of the hole so it doesn't collapse onto the drillpipe. Stop using it when you get down to where you are going to ultimately put the well screen because it also stops water from flowing into the well.
Probably not far but I don't know. You might try contacting Bill who is listed under, "Another Home Driller" on the website listed just under the video. He lives in Tampa and has drilled a bunch of them there.
I just tried a 2" and 1" version of this today with a smaller water pump(1" clean water, raised high on the far side of the mud pit). Before my stem started to leak up the sides I was impressed with the results sinking a 1" test hole 10ft in about 20 min. I dont have much water to work with , so this method is great! Now...how to make sure my stem seals better..if thats possible..
I could be mistaken, but I think the surface area of a 2d 2x2" is exactly 3.14x of a 1x1". Now we can just wait for a 'math person' to comment! Thanks again :)
This is covered in detail in the website listed above. The short answer is you will need a "shallow well" pump - a suction pump assuming your ground water level is less than 25 feet. Thanks for looking at the video!
Do you have a model number for yours? A link would be better. At least I could see a picture of what I am looking for. All I can find for drillfab is large industrial drilling equipment
Can always add a little dehydrated lime to improve your quik-gel properties not bad I've drilled all my life unconsolidated mostly some rock not bad for homemade setup. NW Corner OH,NE Corner IN & Southern edge MI lots of water Michindo aquifer Maumee Valley River Basin & Great Black Swamp area !
Thanks for all your informative videos. Once you have reached desire depth with the drilling pipe, do you just remove it and then run your permanent suction pipe down to the same depth? I will be using this method but I want to make sure I follow your process as intended.
Yes, you do. When you get down to where you will be setting your well screen, quit using bentonite for the last 10 feet or so. Then remove the drillpipe and put the wellscreen pipe back down the same hole.
how many feet to I need to drill. I am Just north of tampa. 5 miles from the coast. any ideas? I want to drill something for sprinklers and filling the pool?
I was able to drill a well to 58' using his techinque and it worked fine. I decided to go deeper, so I built a bigger rig on trailer. This should give some of you some more ideals..Check out what I built
It is difficult. You can make an estimate based on information from your neighbors and maybe your county agent. The USGS site may provide valuable info as well. The only sure way to find out I know of is to drill a hole and let it settle overnight. Then measure it.
Physics says that you cannot suck beyond 30 feet. You have to have a submersed or deep well jet pump to go beyond about 20 feet. Deep well jets have two pipes that go into the well.
Also... Saw another video where another youtuber did this on the cheap using his neighbors water hose with success. Since most homes have about 40PSI, I am wondering if I can accomplish this with a cheap SeaFlow 55 5.5 GPM 60PSI 12 volt pump? Wonder if this little pump will be able to handle sand and drilling mud mix (benzonite) in the supply .. btw, did not see you using bezonite?
Could you use this technique to drill a 100-foot or 200-foot deep hole, 6" or 8" in diameter? I'm thinking about a geothermal, closed, vertical ground loop.
very informative thank you for sharing i just bout a motorized hydra drill used and after watching your video on my way after the parts to build this, beautiful : )
How deep should a well be before its safe for drinking water. I ask because I have an area on my property that I think I'll hit water at about 25 feet, maybe less. Just wondered how far down do you got to get before the natural filtration system of soil will properly clean soil. And yes always get it tested as well :)
I need a video to show using this method and then your encounter a BFR (big rock). Sure you could move over a little but then you have to wonder in you but the same rock or a different BFR. Here in Texas, anywhere you drill, you are almost guaranteed to hit a big rock.
Great Video. Very informative. By the way, your surrounding area, looks more and more like part of a fairway, as if you're in a golf course, especially as the days go by slowly during this COVID-19 lock-down.. Are you?
You can check with your neighbors who have wells and they can probably tell you. If not, the county agent may be of help. Also the USGS has some info posted. But you make a good point - the only real way to drill/wash a hole and see. Thanks for watching the video! Who's Barry?
