Got a question about water wells and water storage...want to comment? Feel free..

[Ecumenist]

We are building a home on a large rural parcel in southwestern Tehama county. We just had a well drilled w/ an 8" casement and we get about 150 gpm @ 265'. We have planned for and purchased custom underground water storage tanks. They will be installed in a tandem fashion with a manhole for access to service the tank pumps, etc.

Here's my question: For some reason, we have had SO MANY PROBLEMS with potential contractors who seem determined to convince us that we don't need to have the tanks because we sit on such a large aquifer, (the Tehama Formation, for those in the know). The comment made to us by the well guy was, "drilling that well is like putting a straw in the ocean".

What is the big deal? Both my husband and I come from areas where water is an issue; I am a native Angelina and grew up in Merced county and he's from central Texas. We both feel better knowing that we had that 5000 gal of stored water. Has anyone else had this problem? Why is it such a strange thing for us to have underground water tanks?

I suppose to real question is has anyone installed a Grundfos submersible pump with a solar panel to power it...AND... underground water storage tanks? This is where I am at this point in time. I just don't get why it's such a problem.
:shrug:

[NMDemDist2]

1. I could understand a cistern if you were catching rainwater (as they do in TX)

but not sure why you'd use your well to fill a cistern

:shrug:

[Ecumenist]

2. Storage Tanks...Like the black poly storage tanks you normally see above

ground..these are just underground along with filters. One of the tanks act as a pressure tank and the other tank holds extra water in case of a power blackout. The manhole allows us to access the tanks to use a hand pump to get potable water. It works the same way that municipal wells work with that have holding tanks.

We went with underground tanks because alot of times, storage tanks are shot up by "good ole boys" and in summer, water comes out of the tap @ 150 degrees. These are the reasons why we're going with underground fiberglass storage tanks.

[NMDemDist2]

3. ahhh

I think if I were gonna pay for all that earthmoving, I'd just put in a pond and stock it with fish

:P

[Ecumenist]

4. LOL!! Funny you mention that: We are putting in a half acre fish pond on the front acreage.

So there!:hi:

[Kolesar]

5. Are you going to harvest fish?

fascinating

[Ecumenist]

6. Yes, indeed we are which is the whole reason why we're putting in a pond.

[Warpy]

8. If it's for aquaculture, then by all means get the backup tanks

While a well that will pump what yours does is more than adequate for home or even most small business use, we know that climate is changing and if your business depends on water changes for aquaculture, you're going to need that backup eventually. Drought is capricious and seems to strike everywhere these days.

All the fishing ponds around here are stocked with fish grown in aquaculture ponds here and elsewhere. Wild fish here is loaded with heavy metals from old mine tailings and not really fit to eat. It's catch and release in the trout streams, although some people still chance it.

[lumberjack_jeff]

7. If your well can produce 150gpm(!) then I don't understand the need for storage.

If the issue is power outages, a generator works nicely. Besides, you have to pump the water out of the below ground tanks anyway.

My well makes about 8gpm and I have a 30 gallon bladder tank. That's it. Water's never a problem.

It's "a strange thing" because it's redundant.

[Dover]

9. I like it and want to hear more details!

Like what kind of 'custom' ground water tanks did you have put in? Cement? I know they make durable underground plastic tanks for storage of potable water, so curious why you went custom. And how far under did you go, or did you place them above ground and have them covered with dirt?

Currently and historically people generally collected rain runoff but it was also pumped from their wells into a cistern and/or an open cattle tank. Depends on climate, location, resources and intended use. Anyway, perhaps well diggers who are bound by state regulations and know what's coming down the pike in the way of new laws, are a little nervous about people storing lots of underground water (a trend toward hording?). Or more likely they really don't understand your logic since the underground water IS sort of like having a big underground cistern. And it doesn't sound like yours is likely to run low anytime soon.

I just recently heard about that pump/solar combination you mention, and am also curious if anyone has used it.

Texas is starting to require people to register their groundwater wells and may eventually meter them. They are very interested in how groundwater is being used, stored, distributed, recycled, etc.

I don't think folks ought to count exclusively on groundwater, but should collect, store and recycle water in as many ways as they can think of (like graywater, rainwater collection, etc.). And groundwater can be very hard on the plumbing over time if it has alot of calcium, lime or other minerals.

In areas where there is a drought there are restrictions on water use in place like in N.C., and instead of putting their money into rainwater collection, etc., wealthy folks are digging wells, assuming they can use water to their heart's content and not be penalized (a loophole in the law). They even put signs in their yards thumbing their nose at any potential 'water police' to let them know that they are watering from a well, so nah-nah! Real jerks. That kind of irresponsible behavior should hasten the closure of that loophole pretty quickly.

You might also pose your questions in the Environmental Forum. Lots of knowledgable people there on this subject and all things sustainable.

Anyway, I'm very interested in your project and would really love to hear more details.

Thanks!

[Kali]

10. seems like overkill to me

your well sounds more than adequate - if power outage is a problem a couple hundred gallons of storage would probably do ya just fine and I would risk the good old boys and have it elevated so you could use gravity.

If I had that kind of storage near the house or other buildings I would use it to capture rainfall for free.

I am on a ranch and know lots of other ranchers and a few survivalists - it is just my opinion but all that work could be done on something more productive. (No offense, really but you asked)

I have a 20 year old grundfos submersable I think it is a 1/3 horse - been dang near indestructable. We are on the grid but know many who use solar - it is pretty mainstream now - go with a reputable dealer and you should be just fine.

[trashcanistanista]

11. If you have a 150/gpm well you really don't need

storage tanks. It would be a waste of money to put in the tanks, a well house and a pump. I have a 3/gpm well and one 1500 storage tank and never run out, but I conserve to some extent. The contractors are correct. You can seek advice from the county well inspector and he would probably tell you the same thing. 150/gpm is huge. There are statistics available for about how much water is needed for a family of four you can get from the county.