Easy SHALLOW WELL DRILLING Howto DiY drill 25 ft shallow well 

A master plumber told me to NEVER EVER use Teflon tape on the suction side of a pumping system. The tape has a tendency to strip off the threads as you tighten the coupling leaving an opportunity for air induction at the joint. You will never know it has been compromised but will suffer from lack of draw and some cavitation at the pump and possibly loss of head above the foot valve. I experienced that very problem but didn't know it until I put in a pressure tank and all my joints on the suction side of the pump started dripping when the pump was not running. I busted it all apart and used some liquid pipe dope suitable for the application and have been bone dry ever since. Hopefully this little tip will help someone avoid the problems that I had.

I know this is 3 years old but it seems leaving the 2 inch pipe in would be better, certainly easier. Thanks for the video!

Thank you, your video is a proof of concept I have been thinking for awhile.

This was very helpful seeing each stage of this. It got confusing a couple of times but running back over it I think I have the steps down that I could do this. Really appreciate it any time someone takes time to video a project. I'm gonna try to tackle this before it gets hotter...in the 80's and 90's now. Oh well...pun intended. Jesus bless you much for your help.

Nice vid! exactly what I want to do at my house for lawn and garden watering. Thank you!

Great vid! I’m giving this a shot this winter for some irrigation

If you use a six inch pipe with a T on the top, you can reclaim your water in a drum while you drill. Then you can add bentonite to your water to make "mud" which will lift your cutting out easier, and you'll be able to fit a 4" pipe down. When you put your 1" down the 4", you have room to dump pool filter sand around your screen and make your well last a lot longer. Pull the 4" pipe up to the top of your screen, and run hose water down the 4". Sand will settle and hold the pipe up. No need to pull any pipe out. Pour a bag of cement around the pipe at the top, and its fixed in place.

Watching these videos make me want to attempt it again. This time I would use galvanized pipe and a jack hammer. I believe I could drive it down 40-50 ft. I could use 3/4” pvc and water beside it to clear the path and even make it easier.

Love this. Thank you

Thanks for info, have a great day

Nice that you have sand to go through. Good job!

It always looks so easy on video. Here along the upper texas coast I hand drilled a couple of wells and lost a couple more trying. To start with the soil here is very hard clay with some small gravel after about five feet down. I tried the pvc with the notches in the end and it simply wore off the teeth. I had to take a steel 2" coupling and attach that to the end of the drill pipe. In my soil it takes all day to drill down 30' and if you stop the pipe moving it seizes up and you can't break it free. No removing it after drilling But with luck you can pull it up five or so feet to get your 1&1/4 pipe down below the end. The problem is at that level you're at the bottom range of most pumps so you get a very reduced flow. On mine it's four gallons or less per minute. You have to get at least a 2" line down with screen to use a jet pump to bring the water up in a higher volume. I needed more water to keep an acre and a quarter pond full and it tends to evaporate at a higher rate than four gallons a minute during dry summer months. On your pvc gluing you will have better connections if you use the cleaner on both pipe and coupling and let it dry for a couple of minutes and then apply the glue to both surfaces and put together quickly. Putting the glue over wet cleaner simply weakens the glue.

Great explanation I think I can do this thank you.

Thanks for sharing from 🇬🇧👍

I like the pressure washer idea. I did mine with a standard garden hose. I was in water bearing sand at about 8’. I ended up with a 27’ well that has never run dry. It’s just irrigation but its clear and smells and tastes fine.

That 1 inch slid down wonderfully.

Jerry Garcia! I missed you. Welcome back.

In a perfect world this works. Not in my world. Two pipe wrenches on each side you twist and turn.

When you are sinking the 2" pipe it would be easier to use two pipe wrenches facing the opposite directions so you can turn the pipe both ways without resetting a wrench. You can also lean on both of them to sink the pipe faster.

New friend Goodluck, full support GODBLESS.

Great video! Thanks! 🙏🙏🙏🙏 ✌️✌️✌️✌️

Good and practical video its helpful

Very nice. Thanks

Thank you for the tutorial. My situation is a bit different as the site is 1500 feet away from any kind of vehicular access. And I will be cutting through serpentine rock and sandstone. The good news about the site is it is 400 feet above the house. I will be able to gravity feed to the house IF I hit a viable source of water. Wish me luck.

Good job guys a real good video

One man power to drill.

Great video 😊

I live nearby in Silver Springs FL, the forest side. For the last three decades I see OLD 2" wells with jet pumps on top and the water is ALWAYS delicious. And now 6" casings are required with submersible pumps - almost ALL these wells have rancid iron and sulfur water. It's become the most dishonest business around. The drillers have people duped that the deeper the well, the better the water. On the contrary. Why do all the old shallow wells have the BEST water? Because as you've proved on video, it's NOT far down. But the drillers would go broke if people knew this. I'm living in a place where the previous owner was told water was 275' down. After drilling a s#^++! well, the driller tried to sell him water treatment systems, etc. I bought the place and go through lots of filters. I found your video and am convinced I can do this. My big question is: how do you know where to drill that hole?

Good job

You look amazing

Super good job

I find this so cool. Have you had one of these wells completed and used over a period of time to see how well it works for long term use?

I think ideally if you could pull the 2" up over the top of the well screen the rest of the tube could stay and act as a standpipe....or better yet have some type of a wedgewire 2" as a prescreen for the well point.

Very helpful

Ty sir

Thanks for making the video . Really enjoyed watching as always . Would like to drill one for watering my Garden doing the dry season . Do you think this system would work in South Louisiana ? I'm south east of Baton Rouge . Not very sandy .

Excellent video. Thanks! How much gpm one can expect from a well like this in central Florida? Between 5-20 gpm?

Water!!!!

160ft is where my water table is at and sure wish is was shallow. I have seen other youtubers go 200ft with home made rigs which is intresting too.

I wish folks who make RU-vid videos would watch them like I do, with no sound, they'd soon learn how to make really good instructional videos....

I plan on doing the exact same thing jetting with a pressure washer I learned from watching this video this coming weekend but hopefully 25’ will be good enough for a pitcher pump here in North Florida 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Muito bom, deveria ter em português.obrigada

Great video but ALWAYS glue both spigot and bell then twist them and hold them to weld it.

Hi sir your video is great and you make it look so easy. My problem is im about 10ft down on my 2in casing and its stuck. i cant get to move at all even with a big pipe wrench. im using the mini jetter just like the one your using with pressure machine. cant seem to fig ure out what im doing wrong. im in so florida. can you over any advice?

Simple effective

Good, good 👍🏿

Cool

Great video! I’m in southwest Florida and will be doing the same thing for my lawn sprinkler system. I will be drilling (2) wells spaced 20’ apart, tying them together with a 1 1/4” PVC pipe with a tee fitting and then run the pipe to an above ground 3/4 HP shallow well pump. I was planning on using 1 1/4” pipe up through the 2” to tie to my 1 1/4” sand point. I noticed you used 1”. Will the 1 1/4” be a problem? The pump requires a 1 1/4” intake pipe. Also, I bought the mini sewer better. It seems that the holes are too small and I was thinking of drilling them to make the holes larger to get more water spray volume. Thoughts? Thank you.

Hello sr, i don't understand how you get out the Sand of the first tube. Thanks!

Problem you are having is you need a greater volume of water to lift the solids out of your well. A mud pump would have been a better choice.

You really need to prime and glue both sides of the joint or it will fail eventually

Are you carrying water in a tank or something for the pressure washer.

Thank you for the video, question, will this work for a deep well or is the process different for each? I need a well for a new home build, in central Florida. Thanks for any advice!

Good video! What do you think of this idea: clearly, it seems highly likely that the 2" drill pipe needs to be raised so the bottom of it is at least above the top of the well point. But is there any value gained in pulling it the rest of the way out of the ground?

Always glue both sides of a joint , If it blows apart that will be where it is

Where are you getting the water for the pressure washer.

I'm a plumber you don't need to use primer on PVC pipe for pressurized water, as long as its clean, drain pipe always needs primer but always glue both sides, PVC glue actually slightly melts plastic and "welds " it together. Been better to have cut slits in the last few feet of the 2 inch pipe and use it like a well casing you will appreciate that when you have to remove well point for service also dig around pipe down to about 3feet and cement to right above ground level, you don't want contaminated surface water seeping down without being filtered through the soil. And get yourself a couple pairs of channel locks lol. Good video though.

That suspiciously sounds like Chuck,LOL.

Nice. Roughly what latitude in Florida you at and what time of year was this filmed? March? I'm wondering about the temp of the water in August and if possible to use this well for a small open system Geothermal cooling for your trailer? A small (possibly custom) radiator and fan and a pump powered by solar and lithium. In Lake Placid Florida I was able to hit water at 12' easily just by hammering down a PVC Wellpoint without all the other steps. I'd like to cool a 8x8 insulated shack under the trees down to 73F when its 90F outside.

Very nice. I live in a city so I am working on checking my municipality rules regarding digging my own well to get free water. I'll need to know if I have to hide the well when I dig it. lol

Great video! I’m in southwest Florida and will be doing the same thing for my new lawn sprinkler system. I will be drilling (2) sand point wells spaced 20’ apart, tying them together with a 1 1/4” PVC pipe with a tee fitting, and then run the 1 1/4” pipe to an above ground 3/4 HP shallow well pump. I was planning on using 1 1/4” pipe up through the 2” to tie to my 1 1/4” sand point. I noticed you used 1”. Will the 1 1/4” be a problem? The pump requires a 1 1/4” intake pipe. Also, I bought the mini sewer jetter, but it seems that the holes are too small. I was thinking of drilling the holes to make them larger to get more water spray volume. Thoughts? Thank you.

Hi where is fl did you dig the well

great video, very well explained. Thanks. Can you tell me which location where you at?

You sound like chuck from Apple drains

FYI. Small thing I think you put the teflon tape around the wrong way on the threads. You want to wind it on so that the tape is wound on with the threads same direction so it does not unwind as you place the other fitting on. You way will work as well but its not as secure and may loosen when you tighten the thread. Good Work

1:09 Watch those fingers! I had a bow saw slip and ended up with 7 stitches in my knuckle. It could have been much worse. Wear gloves and saw slowly.

@atlanticdrain where did you get the pressure washer tip that sprays like that?

after installation, will you ever need to reclean the perforated 2 inch pipe? willl it get plugged up with sand over time?

Video was helpful but it seems alot of stuff got edited. Got down 20 feet and the jetter got stuck and I can't get it out .The jetter hose must have gotten damaged because it has no pressure now and I have no clue what to do because I can't get the last 10 foot to move. I'm pretty sure if I did get the last 10 feet down I wouldn't be able to insert the 1 in piping into the 2 in with the jetter hose inside and don't know if I should cut it. Any advice would be appreciated.

I recognize these Florida plants! How much was the total project?

I would pull the 2" up some and use it for a casing. If you pull it out and leave the 1", the well will collapse around it. If that happens you better hope your check valve never needs to be replaced because the 1" may not be able to be pulled out.

So I have 2 inch 50 feet down. I messed up on the drill end can't get it down anymore. But still head one one inch down 80 feet super easy. Going more to hit aquafier soon. Then pull up install well point and stuff back down. I got loads of water coming out of 2 inch. I got to pull up 2 inch so earth seals into one inch. What can I pour down to seal? Or help seal. I'll up load videos now

Man if i made a video how to drill shallow wells people would be mind blown, just was looking to see how others do them. We drill on average 4 points in 30 minutes. Can complete 2-3 well jobs a day 2 man crew

Hi... it's possible to use 1/2" pipe for drilling shaft ?, my water table is only about 2-8 meters deep, and it's feasible to use pressure water from another shallow well pump for drilling ?, it's only 10-20 liters per minute

this works great in fl, but would never work ion areas where glaciers have advanced and retreated...glacial till is full of rocks, boulders and clays.

My only big question is...where did you get the water to feed the pressure washer? Other question is...you think this will work in North Florida?

So today I started my point well. I easily dug down, was in sand in 18 inches, and had water coming in before I gave up on the post hole digger. I started jetting with the 4 inch and was able to get it down pretty easy, but a few times the jet head and hose got stuck in the sand. My power washer is just an electric one and my thought is that it doesn't produce enough pressure to clear enough of the sand and it ends up burying the hose? Any thoughts? The sand up here in Maine is coarser than your sand, maybe more difficult to lift? I think my pressure washer only produces about 2000psi or less.

I am drilling in Gainesville and expect to hit some limestone. Did you hit any lime rock during your drilling?

I have a stainless steel 1 1/4" well point that won't fit down the 2" pvc. Do you think I could do the same process using 3" inside the 4 inch (providing all the 1 1/4 fittings all fit inside the 3') and then sending the point and hardware down the 3 and pulling it. Perhaps the issue would be not enough space between the outer of the 3 inch and inside of the 4 for the sand to exit? I'm in Maine, already on a well point that is likely no further then 15 feet deep, all sand.

I had Shallow well installed year ago in Clearwater Florida. Installer indicated 19ft deep. Water has odor, copper color and lab testing reveal . higher salt content than I expected. I want to use in garden. What might be solutions to get better water?

can just using the 10' pipe for digging work?..am planning on attaching the small pipe to a submersible pump

Where did you source the well point from

Are you drilling in sand? What about in dirt?? Or on a mountain? Can you find water there? Thanx

How do you know when you hit the water I'm down 32 ft got white sand but I'm just not sure I didn't put any cross holes in that 2-inch pipe Central Florida

You are going into sand and mud, but how would you get the plastic(PVC) cutting head to work on even something as soft as sand stone? Im looking at land in North Western Texas and they have stone and rock and that is why I ask.

@AtlanticDrain - I am in Massachusetts, have a beaver pond about 400 feet off my property and a very damp yard. I drilled down to 15 feet and got water flowing but not enough volume. The water sits about 5 or 6 below the surface. Do you suggest going deeper? How do I know when I am in good water? This is only to run an irrigation system for my lawn. HELP PLEASE and Thank You!!!

Instead of a mini jeter you might be able to use a sewer drain bladder cleaner on the end of a garden hose.

Not sure “master Plummer” knew correct way to install tape. Always install leaving first thread open and installing tape so cut off end is in direction of tightening thread, 40 plus industrial years of installing every imaginable type fluid pipe

Hi quick q North central Florida, Swanee area, Is it possible to drive a 3” pvc pipe with slits as a diy screen down to about 60’ and use a jet pump with 1/2” pvc to draw the water?

How much water do you need to bring onsite to jet the new well?

Is that Chuck from Apple Drains?

Where are you getting your water supply for the pressure washer?

So again with similar videos I have one question. If the well casing is only 20' feet deep, and your well point is deeper than that, then won't the well point clog with debris?

can i hire someone to do this in South FL?

I am Melbourne Fl and tried drill like illustrated in your video. I am about 15' down and found what I believe is water bearing sand. Can you tell me how much further I need to go to hit a water vain?

Could I use a brass foot valve instead of a check valve up top?

Is it possible to drill too deep? For example if the water table is 25' deep but you put the well point at 40' just to be safe, will it still work?

Did you put the Check Valve, Upside Down ??

I am ready to start. How can I tell when water is found?

My question is if your digging for pure water does the water your pumping in not contaminate it