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Water

Water on the homestead is of great importance, especially if living a long way from town.

There are only a few choices unless you live on the bank of a river, creek or lake. Living near these areas may provide visible water, but how clean is it?

For persons living near these water sources, a shallow well may still be the best choice, allowing for the ground layers to filter the water. Sometimes you hit a spring and it flows all year.

Other homesteaders will require a deeper well, usually into the bed rock, unless they have gravel or sand just before it.

WaterDriling

Years ago, large drilling rigs were used to dig wide-open wells but more and more people are using small six inch diameter iron pipe. The choice is mostly determined by the well driller’s equipment. Smaller wells also prevent small children and livestock from falling into them, and this may be the reason for the newer sizes.

The rig will drill down until it hits water that provides at usually close to five gallons per minute.

Submersible pumps make for quiet operations but may be heavy if going down deep, due to the length of line filled with water. No problem until one needs repair!

Pumps in the house or basement make maintenance easier but they may not have the horsepower to pull water the required distance. Therefore a pump house might be located close to the well, as it will push water further than it can pull. Sizing the motor is also important depending on distance from the house or barn.

Some pumps have a return line to help push the water. They are called Twin Jet pumps.

In cold climates, a heat lamp will be necessary to keep the pump from freezing if in a pump house. Submersible pumps eliminate the need for a heat lamp.