Drought caused my well water to taste great?
#1
09-08-11, 09:37 AM
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Drought caused my well water to taste great?
I live near Charleston SC and have a deep well (4" casing) and have had very bad, smelly water for years. This year we experienced the longest period without rain I have ever experienced and now my well water is excellent.
The water table here is normally just a couple feet of so from the top of the soil and I am assuming now that the water table has dropped, ground water is not getting into my well. I am also assuming that the well casing must be cracked near the surface which will allow the ground water to get in.
Are my assumptions correct or am I way off base?
The water table here is normally just a couple feet of so from the top of the soil and I am assuming now that the water table has dropped, ground water is not getting into my well. I am also assuming that the well casing must be cracked near the surface which will allow the ground water to get in.
Are my assumptions correct or am I way off base?
#2
09-08-11, 09:48 AM
Group Moderator
You certainly pose a reasonable hypothesis. Now the scientific method requires you to test your hypothesis to try to turn it into a theory 
#3
09-08-11, 03:52 PM
There could also potentially be an issue around the OUTSIDE of the casing... possibly not 'grouted' real well when installed allowing water from upper levels to run down the outside and get in from the bottom.
How "deep" is deep?
Wonder how to test your hypothesis? I'm interested in knowing what the outcome will be, so please come back and let us know if you figure it out! (maybe a plumbers camera down the well?)
How "deep" is deep?
Wonder how to test your hypothesis? I'm interested in knowing what the outcome will be, so please come back and let us know if you figure it out! (maybe a plumbers camera down the well?)
#4
09-08-11, 08:15 PM
Super Moderator
Hi,
My theory would be whatever made the water stinky is towards the top of the well in that part of the saturated earth. Rock, plant material, or whatever....
Now your water level in the well has dropped below that area. You are now pulling from a lower saturated area of the earth. Possibly a cleaner sandy part? Different rock formations???
Ground water is always getting in your well. The deeper the longer it takes. Then theres unconfined and confined wells. But all have a recharge zone.
Hence digging a deeper well gets you, in theory, cleaner water.. but not necessarily better.
( Longer time to soak through the earth to be cleansed but may pick up more contaminants on the way down.
Mike NJ
My theory would be whatever made the water stinky is towards the top of the well in that part of the saturated earth. Rock, plant material, or whatever....
Now your water level in the well has dropped below that area. You are now pulling from a lower saturated area of the earth. Possibly a cleaner sandy part? Different rock formations???
Ground water is always getting in your well. The deeper the longer it takes. Then theres unconfined and confined wells. But all have a recharge zone.
Hence digging a deeper well gets you, in theory, cleaner water.. but not necessarily better.
( Longer time to soak through the earth to be cleansed but may pick up more contaminants on the way down.
Mike NJ
#5
09-09-11, 05:08 AM
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I don't know how deep the well is, it was dug in 1949 and the lady who sold me the place only knew that it was a deep well.
Recently I had water softener problems and had to have it off for a few days which normally meant the house smelled of sulfur and everything the water contacted turned orange. This time though, it was a pleasant surprise and for a couple months now the water has been excellent.
Recently I had water softener problems and had to have it off for a few days which normally meant the house smelled of sulfur and everything the water contacted turned orange. This time though, it was a pleasant surprise and for a couple months now the water has been excellent.
#6
09-09-11, 10:56 AM
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Like was already stated, you well is more than likely not grouted correctly. Back in the day, such as when your well was drilled, the laws that we have now concerning the grouting of wells did not exists.
From your post, I would say that the upper water stratas are draining down to the good water you are experiencing now.
If you well was drilled today with the laws we have now, those upper stratas would be grouted off to prevent cross water contamination.
When it starts raining again,(if it rains again) my guess is your water will go back to being not so good.
If the funds are available, I would look to having a new well drilled, and have the old well cemented up.
From your post, I would say that the upper water stratas are draining down to the good water you are experiencing now.
If you well was drilled today with the laws we have now, those upper stratas would be grouted off to prevent cross water contamination.
When it starts raining again,(if it rains again) my guess is your water will go back to being not so good.
If the funds are available, I would look to having a new well drilled, and have the old well cemented up.
#7
09-09-11, 11:05 AM
Super Moderator
Waterwelldude is there anyway he can find out if that is indeed the case?
John do you know where your well head is? Possible you may need a new seal if its underground. I recently replaced my ft valve and replaced the underground seal. Search my posts.
Mike NJ
John do you know where your well head is? Possible you may need a new seal if its underground. I recently replaced my ft valve and replaced the underground seal. Search my posts.
Mike NJ
#8
09-09-11, 11:28 AM
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If the well head (is) underground, it should be raised 1' or more above ground. By law most states require the well head be a min, of 1'
above the surface of the ground. If the well is in a colder climate, where freezing is possible, a pit-less adapter should be used.
As far as a test. One way is to test this is to have the water in the well tested and then test the water from any upper stratas that may be in the area and compare the results.
There is no easy way.
Other than that, is to run an X-ray down the well. They are used in the oil field to check for grouting in oil wells, but the cost of that would out way the cost of a new well.
above the surface of the ground. If the well is in a colder climate, where freezing is possible, a pit-less adapter should be used.
As far as a test. One way is to test this is to have the water in the well tested and then test the water from any upper stratas that may be in the area and compare the results.
There is no easy way.
Other than that, is to run an X-ray down the well. They are used in the oil field to check for grouting in oil wells, but the cost of that would out way the cost of a new well.
#9
09-10-11, 05:56 AM
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Soon after moving in, we realized that the water was pretty much undrinkable so we have used it for everything except drinking water.
I got a water bottle yesterday from BCWSA for testing and will find out the results on Monday. My plan is to test it now with good water and when the rains return, test it again.
And since my very loving water authority raised the public water tie in "impact" fee from $250 to over $1000, I will never get city water.
I got a water bottle yesterday from BCWSA for testing and will find out the results on Monday. My plan is to test it now with good water and when the rains return, test it again.
And since my very loving water authority raised the public water tie in "impact" fee from $250 to over $1000, I will never get city water.
#10
09-10-11, 06:07 AM
"And since my very loving water authority raised the public water tie in "impact" fee from $250 to over $1000, I will never get city water"
I wouldn't be so sure
often the gov't will condemn the wells to force you to tap into the city water 
I have several neighbors that still have operating wells although they now only use them for irrigation.
I'm by no means a well expert but when I lived in fla and had a well, the 'good' water was around 100' deep. Wells that were significantly deeper had water that didn't taste so good. Is it possible the a lower water level has the well producing different water??
I wouldn't be so sure
often the gov't will condemn the wells to force you to tap into the city water 
I have several neighbors that still have operating wells although they now only use them for irrigation.I'm by no means a well expert but when I lived in fla and had a well, the 'good' water was around 100' deep. Wells that were significantly deeper had water that didn't taste so good. Is it possible the a lower water level has the well producing different water??
