While I was out getting a load of water.....

[miss_thenorth]

I came back to the house and proceeded to put the load of water from my 450 gal tank--into my 3300 gal holding tank for the house. An oldtimer who has lived down the road for 75 years, stopped by, and told me that about 50 years ago, there was a house on our property--back where our one horse pasture is now. He said they had a well that spouted clean water. since then, the land had been farmed ( and tiled) until our house was built 15 years ago.

Would you think there would be any way to a) locate the old well, and b) make it operable again? Or would it cost just as much money to get the old well working as to having a new well put in.

Wheels are turning in my head--I'd really like to have a well. 'Round here, wells run about 200ft deep, and they charge by linear foot when digging a well. And we only plan on staying in this house for 10 years, so don't want to go broke getting one when the system we have works out ok. But if it makes sense financially--I'd really like to have a well.
Any one have any experience?

 

[keljonma]

What would a dowser cost?

 

[miss_thenorth]

What would a dowser cost?

Are there people who do this professionally? I have divined before--i can tell you where every tile is in our yard. I would think though, that because the land has been tiled--it might be difficult to locate the actual well, as opposed to the tiles. i wonder though if the pull would be stronger around the old well.

 

[2dream]

Miss_thenorth, I was thinking along the same lines as you. Try it yourself. I use two metal clothes hangers. I cut and bend them to make dowsing rods. They are very sensitive and I am guessing that in the pasture area there may not be a lot of water areas.

It could not hurt to try it. As far as financially advantageous - ummm it could be costly to get it working again. But if you find it yourself that part would be free. Then maybe have someone come give you a FREE estimate to get it running again.

 

[lupinfarm]

Miss, it will be hard to sell your house without a well, and you might not get as much money for it either. Just something to consider.

 

[keljonma]

What would a dowser cost?

Are there people who do this professionally?

Yes there are. There is a fella at our church who does this for a living. Does well (no pun intended) at it too.

Sylvie is also a dowser, though I don't know if she does it professionally.

 

[lupinfarm]

Oh and Miss_thenorth you MAY also have to get a permit from the town to get a well up and running again.

 

[Farmfresh]

Try looking at your property with Google Earth.

Sometimes things are obvious when you see them from above that are impossible to see when you are on the ground. Look for an old "homesite" first, then look around from there. Even farmed ground leaves traces a level spot where the house stood or something like that.

 

[karanleaf]

Check with your county as what is consindered a astablished well. In our county you can use a well that was originally there or had been there for so many years. Our neighbor was lucky and his well Grandfathered in and he uses it to water the dog kennels he has. Good Luck

Karan