Digging a well for garden irrigation?

[Texas]

I wanted to see if anyone had any information on sand-point wells here in middle TN.  I've heard everything from "go for it and see what happens" to "you must be crazy, it isn't worth the trouble".

It also seems that it would require permit(s)?

Just looking for something that would water a small garden (probably a quarter acre)

Thanks.

[RED333]

This part of the country sits on a huge limestone shelf. As well as huge churt rock formations. You might get lucky and find a dirt pocket that you could get a sandpoint todig in to. But I doubt it. Best of luck to you.

[10-Ring]

I've researched this in depth. It isn't generally feasible in our area. There are all kinds of diy digging methods that can be used in other areas where the water table is typically very shallow, but the majority of the time here that will not be in the case. Expect to go deep and expect to go through rock. Most ground water in our area will require a 240 volt pump to get water to the surface. 

[Texas]

Thank y'all!  That's what I was afraid of.  I will look into rainwater reclamation and see if that helps.  Water is expensive and I am a pretty frugal person (wife says cheap, but I prefer frugal).

[ianb]

Tennessee is very socialistic when it comes to digging your own well, complete with required registrations, licensing for both digging and installing pumps, testing even for agricultural use, and heavy fine for infractions. 

I looked into some of the DIY drilling rigs, even found one on eBay, but the uncertainty of their usability in this area combined with the regulatory hassles shot that project in the head. 

A call to your local well driller will tell you how deep the water is near you and of course their cost estimate for a hole. No guarantee of water in it though. 

[10-Ring]

A couple of 275 gallon IBC totes connected to your downspout will be much less of a headache. 

[peejman]

2 minutes ago, 10-Ring said:

A couple of 275 gallon IBC totes connected to your downspout will be much less of a headache. 

This will cover the majority of your water needs. You'll likely have to supplement with city water if we get in a drought, but it usually rains enough to cover most of what you need. 

There's also ways to arrange your garden to minimize the watering you have to do. The traditional "victory garden" is not particularly water efficient. 

The majority of Middle TN is one giant rock covered in about 6" of dirt. 

[pop pop]

I have a well on my property. The man i purchased the 3 acers from had it dug. It is cased and drilled 90' deep. The water is within 15 feet of the cased opening. We have a well bucket and have pulled water from it. It is sulphur water which I hate the smell.

I have never installed a pump in it because I do not like keeping a pump operational. I had a farm in Ky, and it had a cistern that caught the rainwater off our house. That blasted pump was all the time losing prime or just plain quitting. I even instilled a new pump, and that thing gave trouble also. 

My daughter has 2 drilled wells on her horse farm. She has spent 2,500.00 installing new pumps on both in the last 2 years. One of the wells goes dry in dry weather and the other pumps water year-round, but every time it rains the water gets cloudy. Both are around 125 feet deep. That tells me it getting fed by an underground stream. The one well is providing enough water to serve 24 horses and her barn and house. She does not drink the water because of the exposure to getting dirty unclean water. 

 

As you can tell "I AM NOT A WELL FAN". 

[Texas]

Thanks everyone!  I appreciate the information and the candor.  Looks like i will stick with rainwater reclamation and see what happens.