Rock dust billows up around the drill. Photo: John Mackley
It’s 7:35, eventide, and getting dark. The chickens will be heading to bed soon. But he is still out in the shadows, wrapping insulation around 150 feet of water pipe leading from our new well to the basement.
This has been a rocky summer. We learned our well water was contaminated. The well was an ancient one, inconveniently located under the veranda steps. Also inconveniently, its location was illegal―too close to the septic tank.
We found a spot for our new well about 12 feet east of the house.
It took weeks to study the options and choose a well-drilling company whose proposed contract matched its estimate. We figured it could cost somewhere around $15,000―a well less than 100 feet deep, a trench and water pipe 12 feet long, a new pump, new electrical wiring.
We got the drilling permit, and I have only accolades for the personnel at the Municipality of Newport―the inspector, the office staff, the mayor, everyone! One driller told us we’d probably have to wait three weeks and pay $200. We waited less than three hours and paid $25. (I love living in Newport.)
Drilling day came, and the surprises began piling up. The truck could not handle the crazy terrain at our chosen spot. Another legal location (more than 100 feet from neighbouring fields) was chosen, 150 feet west of the house. About five feet deep, the drill hit solid rock. Water came in at 320 feet, enough for a family of five, they said.
Our neighbour with his backhoe dug the five-foot trench in a few hours, extending across both wings of our driveway. Another surprise: in two stretches, he hit solid rock less than three feet below the surface. We learned we’d have to thoroughly insulate the pipe before filling in the trench.
The new pump was installed, the water pipe laid, the electricity connected. Eureka! Water!
After the requisite treatment, it’s as chlorinated as a swimming pool, and we’re still hauling drinking water from generous neighbours. It seems we have guardian angels all around us.
The cost? Almost twice our guesstimate. And about 40 feet more of pipe to insulate before filling in the trench. Tomorrow is another day. What a summer!
