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Thread: O well...

  1. #1
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    O well...

    So, it appears we won't be getting any mains water. Currently, the stupid missus is getting water from a pond; I told her this is unacceptable and to dig a fukin well, a.s.a.p.! The well will need to support 2 little houses; mine and the FiL's, only 6 people in total if everyone is around - 1 tank each...

    I've seen some very interesting well threads, and I'll be checking them again, but in the mean time, for a basic well (I've heard that the water is 5m to 10m down, can this be correct?):

    How much?
    How easy/difficult to do?
    What's the best way to dig it?
    What are your experiences?

    My thoughts are that if we have a decent water pocket which the well can sup from, that's fine. I suppose I'd have to get a little chemical kit and pay a little bit of attention... But, I don't know...
    Cycling should be banned!!!

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    why not go for a bore hole?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Kurgen
    why not go for a bore hole?
    Please explain, O wise one.

  4. #4
    Excitable Boy
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    5-10m sounds pretty shallow.

    I had to have a ridiculously deep well dug for a house I built several years ago (something approaching 90m)- it ran ~180k-200k (including the pump which was ~30K by itself, and all the material and labor for connecting it to my tank- basically the complete job) it and was a huge endeavor- it was drilled with a crane modified specifically for digging wells, and it was another big deal when there was a problem about four years later and they had to sink the bit again to gain access to the base of the pipe (though it wasn't as bad as the original job).

    Has it been anything other than a massive PITA I would have been shocked, as building that house was an ordeal from start to finish.
    There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.
    HST

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    It's very easy but you need to find the right place to dig, the wrong place might not hold enough water in the hot season.

    My brother in law had a well dug 6 months ago, 25cm diameter pipe about 30m deep for less than 20.000THB. It took about 24 hours to dig with a very old machine mounted on a pickup truck. This is in Surin province where everything is very cheap though.

    My guess: farang price = 40.000-50.000 depending on the depth and diameter of the pipe. This of course excludes the pump and pipes themselves.

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    I'll be following this thread myself, as I am keen on drilling a well for our place as well. My first house, back in the USA, had a deep well (several hundred feet as I recall), but it was nice, cold and clean water. it would be nice if I could have the same in Thailand. Getting bottles of water is going to become a real PITA very quickly.

    Steve

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    Thailand Expat Pragmatic's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by FailSafe
    5-10m sounds pretty shallow.
    It all depends on how deep the water table is under his property. The only way to find out is to ask locals with wells as to their depth. Even having a well doesn't mean water all year round. I can dig down 2 meters during the rain season and hit the water table. Once the rains stop the water is gone until the next rain season. The more people pumping from that water source the quicker it will disappear.

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    You will get a wide array of answers and advise on wells.....and that's because the depth you have to go down and the supply of water available vary a great deal from place to place...even in the same area.

    I thought one of the first things anyone would establish before building a house, was the water supply, but apparently this is not the case with those who dwell in deserts...

    Bore holes are used when the water is deep....dug wells can be find if the water is not too far down. Water tables rise and fall seasonally, just to complicate things.

    There is no simple answer that fits for everyone....so you need to find someone locally who knows what the fuck they are talking about and act accordingly. Tricky stuff water....especially when you don't have any.....

  9. #9
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    Why does it need to be a well and not water tank(s)?

    Having a tank up on a tower also gives gravity for water pressure saving on a pump


  10. #10
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bettyboo
    What are your experiences?
    I've sunk four bores here and always applied for and received a license.

    Yes, there is a small annual tax but better than the council coming onto your land, fining you and then telling you to shut it down which is a common event these days.

    I'm also good with a divining rod and never missed a good water supply.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 9999 View Post
    Why does it need to be a well and not water tank(s)?

    Having a tank up on a tower also gives gravity for water pressure saving on a pump

    ...where does the water come from to put in the tank, and how do you get it up there without a pump????

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Koetjeka View Post
    It's very easy but you need to find the right place to dig, the wrong place might not hold enough water in the hot season.

    My brother in law had a well dug 6 months ago, 25cm diameter pipe about 30m deep for less than 20.000THB. It took about 24 hours to dig with a very old machine mounted on a pickup truck. This is in Surin province where everything is very cheap though.

    My guess: farang price = 40.000-50.000 depending on the depth and diameter of the pipe. This of course excludes the pump and pipes themselves.
    Think your BIL is having you on, unless that 20,000 included pipes and pump.
    We are having a building boom out here, price for the bore went up from 4,000 to 6,000 Baht.

    We have a lucky star 250 AE pump, no tank, 6 adults, 4 kids, 2 washing machines, price was 9,000 a few ears ago. Jim

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    A well is a big hole they dig. Pump on top.
    A bore is a hole they drill, pump can go down the hole.
    If the dry season water table is shallow, a well might be easier, if deep a bore will be cheaper.

    No need for two tanks, one 2 or 3000 litre one will do.
    One pump for the bore to fill the tank, small on demand pump to put pressure to the houses.
    Should get lots of change from 100k depending on how deep the bore is..

  14. #14
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    We had a pre-existing bore hole on the family plot, but wanted it a bit deeper and done properly with filter rocks, double sleeved piping etc. It came to about 25k with a new pump. It also broke their rig twice.

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    Are there any solar powered in-line bore pumps available in Thailand yet?

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    I think I paid 30k inc pump about 6 years ago. The borehole is 38m deep even though I live less than 100m away from Pattaya's reservoir.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy
    I've sunk four bores here and always applied for and received a license. Yes, there is a small annual tax but better than the council coming onto your land, fining you and then telling you to shut it down which is a common event these days.
    You learn summat new every day.

    You are a WELL of info

  19. #19
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kurgen
    You learn summat new every day.
    One of the big resorts on Mahprachan doesn't have a bore license and it could be shut down any day.

    The authorities are worried about sub-terrarium collapse and as most of the eastern gulf land side is sitting on a water table you can understand their concern.

    Bangkok councils are coming down hard on illegal bores at the moment.

    If they find out you have one big pleblems................

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by koman View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by 9999 View Post
    Why does it need to be a well and not water tank(s)?

    Having a tank up on a tower also gives gravity for water pressure saving on a pump

    ...where does the water come from to put in the tank, and how do you get it up there without a pump????

    Rainwater supplemented by vulture pee! gee do I have to tell you everything.

  21. #21
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy
    Bangkok councils are coming down hard on illegal bores at the moment.
    They certainly are but doubt Betty will have a problem in the sticks.

    Quote Originally Posted by Necron99
    One pump for the bore to fill the tank, small on demand pump to put pressure to the houses.
    Typical of ones we have here.

  22. #22
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    Lots of good comments and advice here, thank you...

    Quote Originally Posted by FailSafe
    (something approaching 90m)- it ran ~180k-200k
    Fuk me, nooooooooo

    Quote Originally Posted by Koetjeka
    My brother in law had a well dug 6 months ago, 25cm diameter pipe about 30m deep for less than 20.000THB. It took about 24 hours to dig with a very old machine mounted on a pickup truck.
    I'm liking this much more...

    Quote Originally Posted by Koetjeka
    My guess: farang price = 40.000-50.000 depending on the depth and diameter of the pipe.
    I think that's the point, depth - I'm hoping we're shallow - which is what I seem to remember hearing, but have asked the FiL to check.

    I will be getting the Thai price...

    Quote Originally Posted by Pragmatic
    It all depends on how deep the water table is under his property. The only way to find out is to ask locals with wells as to their depth.
    Quote Originally Posted by koman
    You will get a wide array of answers and advise on wells.....and that's because the depth you have to go down and the supply of water available vary a great deal from place to place...even in the same area.
    Yep, you two are correct. Shallow is gooooooooooooooooooooood...

    Quote Originally Posted by koman
    I thought one of the first things anyone would establish before building a house, was the water supply, but apparently this is not the case with those who dwell in deserts...
    That would be a reasonable assumption. I just reckoned that the FiL has lived there all his life, so water can't be a problem - little did I know (or check... ) that he gets his water from a pond then pumped into his tank with alum added. I prefer the idea of cleaner water via a well...

    Quote Originally Posted by 9999
    Why does it need to be a well and not water tank(s)?
    No water trucks deliver, so we need a well/hole to the source then pump it up to the tank. The two houses are single storey, so water pressure isn't a problem, we don't need a raised tank. If the pressure proves to be too low then I will raise the tank...

    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy
    I'm also good with a divining rod and never missed a good water supply.
    Bloody Aussies...

    Quote Originally Posted by jamescollister
    We are having a building boom out here, price for the bore went up from 4,000 to 6,000 Baht.
    I'm liking that a lot!

    Quote Originally Posted by Necron99
    No need for two tanks, one 2 or 3000 litre one will do.
    Yeah, but we both have 1,000 litre tanks and pumps already. I don't mind how it is set up as long as we both always have water available.

    Quote Originally Posted by Necron99
    Should get lots of change from 100k depending on how deep the bore is..
    Fark orf...

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy
    I've sunk four bores here and always applied for and received a license. Yes, there is a small annual tax but better than the council coming onto your land, fining you and then telling you to shut it down which is a common event these days.
    Quote Originally Posted by Kurgen
    You learn summat new every day.
    Indeed. Good advice, LT.

  24. #24
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    We collect rainwater - for cooking and drinking, a well with pump for everythinmg else.

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    Quote Originally Posted by stevefarang View Post
    I'll be following this thread myself, as I am keen on drilling a well for our place as well. My first house, back in the USA, had a deep well (several hundred feet as I recall), but it was nice, cold and clean water. it would be nice if I could have the same in Thailand. Getting bottles of water is going to become a real PITA very quickly.

    Steve

    During the flood a few years ago bottled water was gatting scarce in our area, bought a three cartridge filter for filtering water to potable standards, it runs pretty slow so I use a 50 liter clay water jar to collect water from the filter, about 2 hours to fill. Water is safe and taste great. Home pro

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