Water Thread - Wells

[palehorse]

I could not find any specific thread about water wells, except for posts, and they are spread around. Since water is one of if not the most important resource to sustain all sort of life in the planet, having a thread listing different methods of digging a well by hand, may be useful for some folks developing their own land, I am still researching and learning about it, then I am not an expert, I don't have all the answers, I hope with this thread others could add their experiences and also the mistakes then we all can learn from it.

One very important thing is soil type, some are not easy to dig, like rocky soil, but let's keep it simple, and only post what can be done by hand without using any machinery.

Here is one of the best videos I found on digging a well by hand, also it is a great work out :bigsmile:
5rYPRMm8Arw

Here is some experience I had since I started looking into this:
I inquired someone about digging a well in our land, the price was ridiculously expensive and out of question for me. The bore hole in question was about 12 inches in diameter and around 20 ft deep, but they gave no guarantee that water could be found at 20 ft and I would have to pay for any extra feet dug into the soil if necessary, of course I declined the offer, and after talk to my in laws and few other locals, they said I could find water digging around 10 feet deep, and in fact a few of them have it with solar pump and also manual pump (pitcher pump - this is the one that interest most for me), they have 6 inches bore holes, dug by hand, pretty much the same way shown in the video above, except they use a different type of auger tool, the ones here looks more like a driller with extensions that can be attached to it as you get deeper into the soil and they have sizes from 6" to 18" if I am not wrong, the common ones are 6" and 8", anything above that I guess it becomes heavy to dug by hand.

I got interested in wells, because since last 2 or 3 years, our seasonal stream is not providing enough water anymore, the seasonal river that runs down the mountain is completely dry, except in the raining season, it was not like that years ago.. many months ago after a long drought we had an insane flood, it covered many crops, people that I know had to move out of their land due to the water (this never happened before, and there is folks there in their 80's they can't remember any event like that), it took weeks to things get back to normal. I am seeing some extreme weather first hand here.

All right folks feel free to contribute whatever you can, much appreciated and thanks for reading it.

[Brigantia]

Do you have dowsers in Thailand? I met an elderly Welsh lady once who had been taught dowsing by her grandfather, and she had spent years successfully finding water supplies for farmers. If you can find a dowser, that could help you find the right spot for water.

Here's a random vid I found on YT, though I think there's a thread somewhere on this forum but I need to go to work soon:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrrN6UYZj38

[palehorse]

Do you have dowsers in Thailand? I met an elderly Welsh lady once who had been taught dowsing by her grandfather, and she had spent years successfully finding water supplies for farmers. If you can find a dowser, that could help you find the right spot for water.

Here's a random vid I found on YT, though I think there's a thread somewhere on this forum but I need to go to work soon:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrrN6UYZj38


I am not sure, but the Mr. in the video he is using coat hangers as dowsing rods haha
he also used the drinking straws to hold the dowsing rods..

Thanks Brigantia for the video, it is very specific about dowsing. :)

[Sunny-side-up]

Do you have dowsers in Thailand? I met an elderly Welsh lady once who had been taught dowsing by her grandfather, and she had spent years successfully finding water supplies for farmers. If you can find a dowser, that could help you find the right spot for water.

Here's a random vid I found on YT, though I think there's a thread somewhere on this forum but I need to go to work soon:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrrN6UYZj38


I am not sure, but the Mr. in the video he is using coat hangers as dowsing rods haha
he also used the drinking straws to hold the dowsing rods..

Thanks Brigantia for the video, it is very specific about dowsing. :)

Yes ? any sensitive hand held device will work.
Any device that will register your body's slight reaction to the task.

[Johnnycomelately]

Yes ? any sensitive hand held device will work.
Any device that will register your body's slight reaction to the task.

My first reaction to OP’s post was water witching. Cool.

[Casey Claar]

If you don't have land and cannot dig a well, this site is an incredible resource for finding natural springs:

https://findaspring.com

[Bubu]

If you don't have land and cannot dig a well, this site is an incredible resource for finding natural springs:

https://findaspring.com

Water always flow down so basically you start searching / walking along creeks or rivers. If you see wayer flowing in follow it and youll find spring. Make sure though that it does not rain for the last 24 hours. A week without rain is better

[Bubu]

Water dowsing works. Speaking from experience. Its not witching though. It has to do with magnetic field of which water is a good conductor. Anyting that conducts electricity will work. I use gi wire as it is readily available. Though I thinks copper ls best

[Casey Claar]

We don't have those here ( rivers, creeks...... ) but, interestingly we do have quite a few hidden, underground springs. The most famous one right in West Los Angeles is located in a grade school. I never went to visit it, because as a grade school not just anyone can enter the campus. And, besides, it is located behind chain link fences and locked. But I was happy to know of its location when I was there, "just in case". It is incredible where some of these spring outlets are. Places you would never guess.

[palehorse]

We don't have those here ( rivers, creeks...... ) but, interestingly we do have quite a few hidden, underground springs. The most famous one right in West Los Angeles is located in a grade school. I never went to visit it, because as a grade school not just anyone can enter the campus. And, besides, it is located behind chain link fences and locked. But I was happy to know of its location when I was there, "just in case". It is incredible where some of these spring outlets are. Places you would never guess.


Hi @Claar, we don't have either except for the seasonal stream but it is not providing as before, that's the whole point I created this thread, to somehow put it all in one place, experiences in find underground water, digging a well may be the only solution for some.

The closest river we have is about 4km from the land, some people collect water with pumps and trucks with tanks, but this river dry out completely in the dry season, as many ponds goes under the minimum levels, some completely dry out.. that means if you don't have a water source you won't be able to farm, big issue around here.


@Johnnycomelately
I laugh hard here about "water witching", me too when I first watched that video, the Mr. with the rods, I thought it was one of "those crazy videos", but after he found his water the video became very practical and interesting, I mean anyone in good shape can dig a well (even if not in good shape, it will just take more time haha), it is not an impossible task, and probably can save thousands of bucks if DIY.

I checked the prices for the tools, pitcher pump, PVC pipes, etc.. it worth DIY for small holders like me, specially if adopt dripping irrigation for the plants.

[Mashika]

We don't have those here ( rivers, creeks...... ) but, interestingly we do have quite a few hidden, underground springs. The most famous one right in West Los Angeles is located in a grade school. I never went to visit it, because as a grade school not just anyone can enter the campus. And, besides, it is located behind chain link fences and locked. But I was happy to know of its location when I was there, "just in case". It is incredible where some of these spring outlets are. Places you would never guess.

"Just in case"

That single small sentence, makes me feel terrified of the reason why that would have to be considered at all :(

"Hay Dios!" lmao, but honestly, just read it with an outsider world point of view! What's going on in this world?

I propose this sentence to be the past 2/3 years more adequate representation of current affairs. It should be some kind of motto and you get the gold price for it YES!

[RunningDeer]

My Dad’s friend showed him water dowsing with a thin, tree branch that resembled a wishbone shape. He held the two ends and the branch end would bend down. So when it came to find the right spot for our artisan well, my father had the older kids use welding rods bent in an “L” shape. We each did it without watching the others.

The rods automatically and consistently crossed. He had them drill in the designated spot. As a ten year old, I worried about what if I was wrong? Fortunately, the artisan well provided water for our family of ten. We never ran out.

The property also had a hand dug well. We use to prime the pump to get the hand pump going, i.e. pour water on the top of it as you begin to pump. The water was freezing cold.


https://i.imgur.com/AJ2TW63.jpg


How to INSTALL YOUR OWN WELL with a Sledge Hammer for FREE OFF GRID WATER (7:50)




Drill a WELL in YOUR BACKYARD YOURSELF in a day with basic tools. Step by step of how I did it & you can too . FREE water for lawns, gardening, household use & more. You will not believe how easily this can be done & low cost.

All Parts & Tools:
https://www.amazon.com/shop/silvercymbal

Well Parts:
Sand Point: https://amzn.to/3zOc25a
Pitcher Pump: https://amzn.to/3jLLX1j
Well Couplers: https://amzn.to/3teCqmk
Hammer Smash Cap: https://amzn.to/3jHDBYk
Pipe 4 foot: https://amzn.to/3yKN45F (5 pack) or can be bought locally

Well Tools:
Megaloc Pipe Dope: https://amzn.to/3kSrozw
Monster Pipe Tape: https://amzn.to/3h0yTDg
Pipe Wrench: https://amzn.to/3tdr1mK
Post Hole Digger: https://amzn.to/3jG7w3g

Before you dig be sure to call dig safe or your local authority to mark out any lines or other potential hazards that could be underground.


E-pn41fqYXs

[Mashika]

My Dad’s friend showed him water dowsing with a thin, tree branch that resembled a wishbone shape. He held the two ends and the branch end would bend down. So when it came to find the right spot for our artisan well, my father had the older kids use welding rods bent in an “L” shape. We each did it without watching the others.

The rods automatically and consistently crossed. He had them drill in the designated spot. As a ten year old, I worried about what if I was wrong? Fortunately, the artisan well provided water for our family of ten. We never ran out.

The property also had a hand dug well. We use to prime the pump to get the hand pump going, i.e. pour water on the top of it as you begin to pump. The water was freezing cold.


https://i.imgur.com/AJ2TW63.jpg


How to INSTALL YOUR OWN WELL with a Sledge Hammer for FREE OFF GRID WATER (7:50)




Drill a WELL in YOUR BACKYARD YOURSELF in a day with basic tools. Step by step of how I did it & you can too . FREE water for lawns, gardening, household use & more. You will not believe how easily this can be done & low cost.

All Parts & Tools:
https://www.amazon.com/shop/silvercymbal

Well Parts:
Sand Point: https://amzn.to/3zOc25a
Pitcher Pump: https://amzn.to/3jLLX1j
Well Couplers: https://amzn.to/3teCqmk
Hammer Smash Cap: https://amzn.to/3jHDBYk
Pipe 4 foot: https://amzn.to/3yKN45F (5 pack) or can be bought locally

Well Tools:
Megaloc Pipe Dope: https://amzn.to/3kSrozw
Monster Pipe Tape: https://amzn.to/3h0yTDg
Pipe Wrench: https://amzn.to/3tdr1mK
Post Hole Digger: https://amzn.to/3jG7w3g

Before you dig be sure to call dig safe or your local authority to mark out any lines or other potential hazards that could be underground.


E-pn41fqYXs

Those have to be inside your property, right? What would happen if you install one of those on the sidewalk just outside your home, but open enough so that other people can get some water if they need it? Would that require some kind of legal work be done? Or get you in trouble?

[palehorse]

My Dad’s friend showed him water dowsing with a thin, tree branch that resembled a wishbone shape. He held the two ends and the branch end would bend down. So when it came to find the right spot for our artisan well, my father had the older kids use welding rods bent in an “L” shape. We each did it without watching the others.

The rods automatically and consistently crossed. He had them drill in the designated spot. As a ten year old, I worried about what if I was wrong? Fortunately, the artisan well provided water for our family of ten. We never ran out.

The property also had a hand dug well. We use to prime the pump to get the hand pump going, i.e. pour water on the top of it as you begin to pump. The water was freezing cold.


https://i.imgur.com/AJ2TW63.jpg


How to INSTALL YOUR OWN WELL with a Sledge Hammer for FREE OFF GRID WATER (7:50)




Drill a WELL in YOUR BACKYARD YOURSELF in a day with basic tools. Step by step of how I did it & you can too . FREE water for lawns, gardening, household use & more. You will not believe how easily this can be done & low cost.

All Parts & Tools:
https://www.amazon.com/shop/silvercymbal

Well Parts:
Sand Point: https://amzn.to/3zOc25a
Pitcher Pump: https://amzn.to/3jLLX1j
Well Couplers: https://amzn.to/3teCqmk
Hammer Smash Cap: https://amzn.to/3jHDBYk
Pipe 4 foot: https://amzn.to/3yKN45F (5 pack) or can be bought locally

Well Tools:
Megaloc Pipe Dope: https://amzn.to/3kSrozw
Monster Pipe Tape: https://amzn.to/3h0yTDg
Pipe Wrench: https://amzn.to/3tdr1mK
Post Hole Digger: https://amzn.to/3jG7w3g

Before you dig be sure to call dig safe or your local authority to mark out any lines or other potential hazards that could be underground.


E-pn41fqYXs


It brings me very nice memories, we also had a hand dug well, my grandfather also had one in his home in the city, both was large ones, around 1.5m in diameter with bricks on wall, a rope and a bucket! an old relative built it in the 40's, I can only imagine how difficult that was, he did alone and both wells is around 15 meters deep, definitely we don't see these sort of things anymore.

Thanks, much appreciated for the video, it goes for the collection :) I never heard before about "Sand Point", the way he dug this well is much simpler and faster, kudos for the efficiency.




...
Those have to be inside your property, right? What would happen if you install one of those on the sidewalk just outside your home, but open enough so that other people can get some water if they need it? Would that require some kind of legal work be done? Or get you in trouble?

I had seen a few pitcher pumps in the country side, on public rural roads, close to the rice fields, also close to small villages, but here is Thailand, I bet it is not the same elsewhere.

It may be interesting to inquiry the public office before build one to avoid losing time and money.

Here where I live there is a spring, it is inside a private property of someone and the owner installed a tap just outside his gates, it is free water for whoever want it, it is very kind gesture.

[RunningDeer]

Those have to be inside your property, right? What would happen if you install one of those on the sidewalk just outside your home, but open enough so that other people can get some water if they need it? Would that require some kind of legal work be done? Or get you in trouble?

I like your idea, Mashika. I don’t know what the laws are today. That was in the 1960’s, on 23 acres of land in a rural community. It was a time when many land owners had hand dug wells.

There are places that I’ve moved to where there’s a spring fed water system available to the public. It’s equip with a faucet rather than a hand pump.

[RunningDeer]

It brings me very nice memories, we also had a hand dug well, my grandfather also had one in his home in the city, both was large ones, around 1.5m in diameter with bricks on wall, a rope and a bucket! an old relative built it in the 40's, I can only imagine how difficult that was, he did alone and both wells is around 15 meters deep, definitely we don't see these sort of things anymore.

Thanks, much appreciated for the video, it goes for the collection :) I never heard before about "Sand Point", the way he dug this well is much simpler and faster, kudos for the efficiency.
Same with our well, palehorse. It was deep and wide enough for one person. I marvel at how they could build it so deep and reinforce the wall with stone like the walls you see in New England.

I recall one time where my father used a bucket rather than a the hand pump and a frog hitched a ride up.

Side note: Why were stone walls built in New England?


The colonists in New England faced an uphill battle in turning the region's vast forests into farmland. They had to fell massive trees and contend with rocks strewn throughout the soil they aimed to plow. So, stone by stone, they stacked the rocks left over from glaciers into waist-high walls.


https://i.imgur.com/MdJ7avg.jpg

[Bubu]

We don't have those here ( rivers, creeks...... ) but, interestingly we do have quite a few hidden, underground springs. The most famous one right in West Los Angeles is located in a grade school. I never went to visit it, because as a grade school not just anyone can enter the campus. And, besides, it is located behind chain link fences and locked. But I was happy to know of its location when I was there, "just in case". It is incredible where some of these spring outlets are. Places you would never guess.

You dont have to have vreeks to have natural springs, wells or artisan wells. Natural springs in most cases a result of crack aqiefers. In the surface it forms cliffs. In my off grid place there is a cliff inside our land. I counted four small spring including one that releases 200 or so liters of wayer per minute. The tallest part of the cliff 400 meters fromy cabin is a huge spring releasing at least 100 liters of water per second. The river os far down below the mountain 1kilometer from my cabin. All waters from the wells at the foot of the cliff goes to that river.

[Mashika]

Those have to be inside your property, right? What would happen if you install one of those on the sidewalk just outside your home, but open enough so that other people can get some water if they need it? Would that require some kind of legal work be done? Or get you in trouble?

I like your idea, Mashika. I don’t know what the laws are today. That was in the 1960’s, on 23 acres of land in a rural community. It was a time when many land owners had hand dug wells.

There are places that I’ve moved to where there’s a spring fed water system available to the public. It’s equip with a faucet rather than a hand pump.

One of the problems i remember seeing around here (in rural Russia) is that the old systems are still around and the water looks clean and 'drinkable' but you never know for sure, so i suppose there would be some kind of law or regulation because you don't want to poison people around even if the water looks clean enough

I got reminded of that because of this, small villages around Russia have these all over. If you need some water just walk around and there will be one of these at some street, and then you just collect the water and go back home

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUNEufTOUqVCgtX9fnMvGmXt1u2ICh3ak4NAQJJQdmklHg3aRFdvwZQRtM_bHzzK8X0gjapUDKUk3JdxwDGD0G4S9jIhbyUz--iFHBUssxds22r3Olsunjd2xMlG2SpO7d5iW-aGzMQU_mej1Qs0aRN=w1072-h606-no?authuser=0

But those are ancient, and you may or may not get poisoned by drinking that water. It's like a 50/50 chance :)

[Casey Claar]

One of the problems i remember seeing around here (in rural Russia) is that the old systems are still around and the water looks clean and 'drinkable' but you never know for sure, so i suppose there would be some kind of law or regulation because you don't want to poison people around even if the water looks clean enough.

It is a good point. But having water TO filter after drawing, is waaaay better than having none.

Everyone should have some kind of filtration system. And as Bill would point out, awareness of how to use it.

Even simple dirt, charcoal, stones, etc..

[RunningDeer]

But those are ancient, and you may or may not get poisoned by drinking that water. It's like a 50/50 chance :)

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I purchased a couple of the Sport Berkey Water Bottles (https://www.berkeyfilters.com/products/sport-berkey) back when it was $28. It now goes for $50 (SALE $46). I also bought a lot of replacement filters.



Berkley sports bottle refill capacity - 4X more from municipal vs. questionable:

questionable source: 160 Refills (25 gallons)
municipal water supply: 640 Refills (100 Gallons)


Test results (https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0167/5480/2788/files/The_Sport_Berkey.pdf?11355) PDF: (over 250 contaminants)


The bottle’s filter is designed to remove and/or dramatically reduce a vast array of health-threatening contaminants from questionable sources of water, including remote lakes and streams, stagnant ponds and water supplies in foreign countries where regulations may be sub standard, at best.



It is a good point. But having water TO filter after drawing, is waaaay better than having none.

Everyone should have some kind of filtration system. And as Bill would point out, awareness of how to use it.

Even simple dirt, charcoal, stones, etc..
I use the Travel Berkey Water Filter (https://www.berkeyfilters.com/products/travel-berkey)at home & then I distill it with a Mophorn Pure Water Distiller. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07315B1RG?psc=1&smid=A39SXLQYAXHTN0&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp)

[Ron Mauer Sr]

I asked a water witch to spot a well at my first house. He found where two streams crossed and told me how deep each stream was. Later the well driller finished drilling at the spot. He hit water at each stream at the depth predicted.

Later in another county, a friend asked a different water witch to spot a well. He used a peach tree branch that looked like a Y. I asked the water witch if I could give it a try. After a while I looked in a different location and discovered the peach tree wanting(?) to move and point to the ground. No one was watching me. I asked the water witch to check the general area where I had been. He confirmed the same exact spot. No well was drilled at that spot so no verification. But I was having fun.

It does not always work. The next time, years later, it did not work using another water witch.

[palehorse]

It brings me .... kudos for the efficiency.
Same with our well, palehorse. It was deep and wide enough for one person. I marvel at how they could build it so deep and reinforce the wall with stone like the walls you see in New England.

I recall one time where my father used a bucket rather than a the hand pump and a frog hitched a ride up.

Side note: Why were stone walls built in New England?


The colonists in New England faced an uphill battle in turning the region's vast forests into farmland. They had to fell massive trees and contend with rocks strewn throughout the soil they aimed to plow. So, stone by stone, they stacked the rocks left over from glaciers into waist-high walls.


https://i.imgur.com/MdJ7avg.jpg


I was looking for videos of people building those wells and found a "simple version" of it, but still a lot of hard work.

7VbDnU_AGf4


Haha, yes sometimes creature come out of the wells, and sometimes they fall in.. my grandfather told me once, one of his chickens fell into the well and it was a very hard time to get it back.

Very interesting, no doubt it is a huge work.

[Ewan]

Could we include the creation of a dew pond in here I wonder?



Dew Ponds (https://www.countrylife.co.uk/property/guides-advice/dew-ponds-to-the-rescue-36183)

Already, the search for remedies to what it is feared will be the direst water shortages in southern England since the summer of 1976 (despite May being unusually wet) has led to discussion in the House of Commons of scenarios that sound like science fiction, including icebergs towed from the Arctic Ocean, and a giant desalination plant on the Essex coast. Yet nothing could be simpler than a dew pond.

These small ponds can be found scattered across the downs, wherever sheep and cattle traditionally went for summer grazing, in Hampshire, Sussex, the Peak District and Yorkshire. Surviving ponds probably number at least 500 across the country, although they are often overgrown nowadays, their banks badly trampled by livestock, serving as little more than picturesque havens for butterflies or a romantic spot for picnicking ramblers.

But they still have a magical and highly significant property. ‘People have noticed that they rarely run dry, even in the hottest summer, and it is apparent that, during the night, they receive a supply of water sufficient to counter-balance the great drags that are made upon them by cattle and evaporation,’ notes Edward Martin, in a research paper entitled Dew Ponds: History, Observation and Experiment.

The great mystery is where the water that fills them up at night can come from. These ponds?also known as ‘mist ponds’ or ‘fog ponds’ lie on the downs far above the level at which streams begin to form, nor does any piped-water supply reach them. The name ‘dew pond’ is the clue. According to folklore, it is the overnight dew itself, falling on the round-backed downs and on the ponds themselves, that keeps them full, whatever the weather.

If that really is the case, then surely water companies and the government should be thinking not only of mega-projects such as a national water grid to bring down water from Scotland, but also of encouraging farmers in suitable areas to harvest the dew with new ponds. Dew ponds could even be something that a house owner, with a big enough garden and on high enough land, might see as a fashionable eco-friendly accessory to match his heat-exchanging borehole or roof-top windmill. Far better, after all, than relying on standpipes.

To create a dew pond is relatively simple. According to Jackson House, a Somerset-based pond builder with 50 years’ experience in the business, ‘the secret of making one is to insulate it so that the water remains colder than the earth beneath. That means that when the dew is falling, it hits the cold surface of the pond and drops its own moisture. In the old days, people used to put down layers of straw and layers of clay in the bottom, which worked the same as a thermos flask’. He estimates the cost of digging a typical 10yd by 10yd dew pond, and of lining it with a tough waterproof layer laid over an insulating geo-textile blanket, would work out at no more than £12,000.

Of course, it was a more romantic and much tougher task back at the turn of the century when the last specialist gangs were creating them by hand in the age-old way, as this description in the Wiltshire Gazette of December 29, 1922, goes to show: ‘Up to ten years ago, the dew pond makers started upon their work in September, and they toured the country for a period of six or seven months, making in sequence from six to fifteen ponds in a season of winter and spring.

The dewpond maker, with three assistants, would require about four weeks to make a pond 22sq yd. The work commenced by the removal of the soil to the depth of eight feet. The laying of the floor is then proceeded with from the centre, called the crown, four or five yards in circumference, and to this each day a width of about two yards is added.

‘Only so much work is undertaken in one day as can be finished at night, and this must be covered over with straw. No layering may be done in frosty or inclement weather. And this is the method of construction: 70 cart loads of clay are scattered over the area. The clay is thoroughly puddled, trodden and beaten in flat with beaters, a coat of lime is spread, slaked, and rightly beaten until the surface is as smooth as a table, and it shines like glass.’

Descriptions follow of yet more stages of laborious hammering of the ground, and wetting it, then coating it with further layers of lime, straw and earth. The cost of this Herculean labour was a meagre £40, the wages of three men included. ‘There are ponds in good condition now which were made 36 years ago, and which have never been known to fail to yield an adequate supply of water even in this year of drought,’ concluded the Gazette’s correspondent.

One man who is currently on a quest to resolve the abiding mystery of dew ponds is Martin Snow, an IT consultant based in Worthing. In his spare time, he marches around the hills from East Sussex to Beachy Head as part of a university study, and the very first task he set himself was to locate remaining dew ponds.

‘It is becoming like a treasure hunt,’ says an eager Mr Snow. ‘Occasionally you get a hint of a pond, then go back to the maps, and find, on different editions, that they appear or disappear.’ By his calculation, there are as many as 100 to 200 in West Sussex alone, some of which may have begun as watering holes dug by Neolithic man for his livestock.

He goes on to point out that dew ponds were strategically positioned to make the most of mist and of rainclouds billowing up from the nearby coast to the chilly heights of the downs, where any water that collects is less likely to evaporate. ‘Effectively you are often in the cloud up here, and, if it is chilled enough, it will condense. Some people say an overhanging tree will help a pond a lot and I can believe that because, if you go out walking when the mist on the downs is extremely thick, you will find trees dripping with moisture.’

So it seems that dew ponds are indeed fed by dew and are truly droughtproof. ‘It seems magical, but when you start looking at the numbers, it starts to make sense. Dew ponds work,’ he concludes.


It seems there were various different ideas about best materials to use as per this example.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cm3JHiIXEAAG7RO.jpg

A discussion on Dew Ponds from 1934 via letters to The Times (http://hubbardplus.co.uk/hubbard/Arthur_John_Hubbard/letters_to_the_times_on_dew_pond.html)

It would be a major project to undertake manually and prohibitively expensive mechanically unless you own your own little digger perhaps.

[Ron Mauer Sr]

Backup retrieval of water from your well without a pump.

DIY Water Tube (a.k.a. bailer bucket, water tube)

The water tube is used to retrieve water from a deep well when electricity is not available to operate the well pump.

The water tube is a five foot length of two inch diameter PVC schedule 40 pipe with a fabricated check valve at the bottom. Capacity is approximately ¾ gallon.

Disassembly of the water tube for internal cleaning is easy when assembled using screws, not glue.

Fabricating the check valve:

PVC reducer bushing, 2 inch to ¾ inch (quantity 1). (Lowes Item #22909 Model #437249RMC)
Cut a circle from 1/16 inch sheet rubber (from a bicycle tube or Lowes Item #31446 Model #PP25546). Make sure this flapper can fit inside the reducer bushing without binding.

Secure the flapper to the reducer bushing with one #6 x ½ inch stainless steel sheet metal screw. (Lowes Item #329042 Model #127004)

Tube assembly

PVC cap, 2 inch (quantity 1) at top. Used to keep bugs and dirt out during storage. Remove before use.
(Lowes Item #23900 Model #L447-020)

PVC 2 inch diameter pipe, 5 ft long (cut 10 ft in half). (Lowes Item #23830 Model #PVC 07112 0600)

Bolt, stainless steel, ¼ x 20, 3 inches long (quantity 1). Used to attach your rope to top of water tube.
(Lowes Item #396459 Model #831527)

Stainless steel ¼ x 20 hex nut (quantity 1). Used to secure bolt in top of tube.
(Lowes Item #114172 Model #829720)

Use a PVC 2 inch slip coupling (Lowes Item #23902 Model #429020RMC) to connect the tube to the check valve. Drill a pilot hole in the top and bottom of the coupling. While the pilot holes remain aligned, install a #6 x ½ inch screw.