Testing Well Water

[Banana01]

Here in the US, its common to have a "deep well" run on 220v electric with a pressure sensor, so when household pressure drops below a certain point (often around 50 psi +/-) the well pump will cycle on and begin pumping. A pressure tank at the top helps prevent pulsation/pressure waves in the pipes, and the system usually cycles off before it exceeds 80 psi.

While 220v is more efficient than 110v, the systems are NOT designed to run continuously at a slow trickle, and by code, well drilling companies are generally prohibitted from putting a personal well at depth greater than that of the local water utility. That can result in wells - particularly old wells - pulling sand, squonky water and all kinds of undesireable things now that aquifer levels have dropped as populations have increased. A couple $20s in the correct pocket may help you exceed that by a 20' length of pipe, however.

Please don't inquire how much I paid to have my well dug. Its not going dry any time soon - which is good, as Nestle buys water from the same source and bottles it under one or more brand names.

Intersting and informative, but I didnt imply running a well pump for a trickle. To achieve a constant trickle of water, to feed a natural pond or small stream, an above ground resevoir would provide the volume necessary to feed it. The well pump could be run to replenish the resevoir, every other day or even less depending on the complexity and budget.

Since this is in SE Pennsylvania, a lot depends on the region, Im more of a tropical mountainous terrain and that is my experience. It would also be beneficial to ask neighbors about their well probably. Well testing can involve more than just water quality testing but since the post is specifically asking for water quality testing obviously its a professional thing to call in a specialist or take samples to a specialized agency.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Intersting and informative, but I didnt imply running a well pump for a trickle. To achieve a constant trickle of water, to feed a natural pond or small stream, an above ground resevoir would provide the volume necessary to feed it. The well pump could be run to replenish the resevoir, every other day or even less depending on the complexity and budget.

Since this is in SE Pennsylvania, a lot depends on the region, Im more of a tropical mountainous terrain and that is my experience. It would also be beneficial to ask neighbors about their well probably. Well testing can involve more than just water quality testing but since the post is specifically asking for water quality testing obviously its a professional thing to call in a specialist or take samples to a specialized agency.

Actually, you did. Reread your first paragraph. It suggested you were unfamiliar with the way wells work in the US.

Perhaps you didn't mean to imply a constant flow from the well - you communicate in English much better than i do in any second language - but that was the implication of the structure of your post.

 

[SourRoses]

I feel like I described the process of building a natural filter adequately for giving a general idea of the scope.

Obviously a natural filter requires research from the end user and it is a project. Please give a little leway for a generalized discussion before calling it misinformation and going on with detailed complex scientific facts like chemical and bacterial muktiply rates. Its a little ridiculous.

I'm sorry if your feelings were hurt, but you did not generalize.
To quote you again: "only a little bit of rocky material that the water passes through removing any metals"
"Any metals" is very specific.
My response did use (simple) science to back up the refutation of your inaccurate claims, which should not be a burden to anyone interested in the subject.

I will summarize my response more simply here:
There is no such thing as a "natural filter" that can remove dangerous heavy metals or sterilize water.
No amount of research is going to make that possible.

Not wishing others to lose animals is not ridiculous. It goes to the heart of the purpose of BYC. Which is to help others in their poultry keeping, not to harm their chances of success.

 

[saysfaa]

...There is no such thing as a "natural filter" that can remove dangerous heavy metals or sterilize water. ...

Marsh filters can remove some kinds of heavy metals and they can clean water, although not actually sterilize it. They need the plants, microbes, ect as well as the dirt to do all they can do. And it takes quite a lot of marsh to handle much load.

I agree it isn't something anyone can do easily.