[militarymedic23]

Looking for some advice on if the following scenario is something I can tackle or if a plumber needs to be in the picture.

old early 50's house. Still has a outside well and inside pump with holding tank (in basement).
The bacteria counts keep coming back positive/too high so the township says to yank it. I've had a few people come in to look at it and all of them pretty much say the pump is so light duty that it's probably only skimming the surface for suction, not able to pull deep enough and the bacteria counts will likely keep being positive. The costs would be decently high to pull everything out, sink a new point that could accommodate a newer more powerful pump.
Anyway, unless someone can point out a price effective option for salvaging the well system, it seems easier to pull it.
And that leads me to the main question. The state (WI) has a program to aid in the cost for removing the system and filling the well, but who knows when that money will be given out. I'm on a mission to get the basement cleaned up and if the pump will eventually go, why not pull it now?
Like I mentioned, the pump sits on top of a reservoir tank, maybe 30 gallons. Intake from the well comes through the west basement wall about 3 feet up from the floor.

For the folks who know more than me: can the piping simply be cut, capped and the pump removed? or is there more to it? I don't know what the full process is when a contractor would come in and officially fill the well, but it would seem this would be a nice jump start to the process, and would give me more room in the basement!

Any help/advice on this would be great!

Thanks

 

[GrayHair]

I can't offer any help, but state help in closing the well sounds good. Click here

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Has anything like dumpin' bleach into the well been tried,..??

Is there a drilled well, with a casin',..??
What diameter casin',..??

If ya cap the pipe, 'n toss the pump, whatcha gonna do for domestic water,..??

 

[militarymedic23]

I’ve already tried shocking a few times. Seems to fit in the description of the pump only pulling from the very top so shocking is just a short term patch. Not terribly excited in trying to test the higher concentrations of shocking, plus the lab would see it right away with bleach levels through the roof.
The actual point is about 10 feet away from the house in the front. I think it’s a 6” OD pipe going down. Township already has me in their sights with warning letters about not having testing results within acceptable limits.
I’ve done two tests but if the third one comes back positive the lab is regulated to inform the township. So right now the decision to have the well closed is voluntary by me. Seems easier and with more leeway if I do it now vs when they order me to.
The town has my warning letters on hold knowing that I am on the state’s waiting list.
It looks like the city water piping was already in place when the basement was poured. Can’t see any sign of a patch job was done to bring it in.
So, city water is already there. Looks like ¾” coming in. Decent pricing by the township too.
Maybe 35+ years ago the owners depended on well water, but when I moved in the only thing the well was hooked up to was one external faucet. Given the conversation with the last person for the well eval, the current pump wouldn’t be able to handle more than a shower or so. I was able to run a sprinkler on it for the garden, but certainly under matched for pressure offered by the town.
I’m also thinking that with so few other houses within town limits having wells, this may be seen as an added chore for prospective buyers when I’m ready to list. The town requires testing every couple of years.

 

[joed]

If the well is only connected to an external faucet and is not being used as potable water who cares if the counts are high. Just don't drink the water.
I never of such thing as "only skimming the surface for suction".

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... An irrigation well don't need to meet drinkin' water standards,...

 

[militarymedic23]

No offense on the wording. I'm sure I'm not conveying the exact wording the contractor used and have botched the wording. The state folks in the area work with this particular contractor quite a bit, so I'm sure he was accurate but I'm not.
hmm good point on the irrigation well. I remember that general thought occurring to me back in the summer when I was working through the initial scenario, but if I did ask about it I think the town shot it down or I would have continued on. I'll call and double check tomorrow.

If I recall correctly, it was coliform count that was above limits. I'd have to look it up again, but if that count is high would it still be ok for irrigation?

 

[joed]

Perhaps they meant the well was being contaminated by surface water. That would make sense.

 

[militarymedic23]

Pulled this off the township site. Looks like they still need safe results even for outdoor only water sources.

If you have connected to the Grand Chute municipal water system and want to keep your well for outside use, you must have the well tested (twice for coliform bacteria and once for arsenic with a minimum of two weeks between each test) and obtain an operation permit from the Town within one year of such connection. Permit renewals require one of each type of test. To obtain a permit or renewal, please submit safe test results with the fee ($20) to our office.

 

[Ghostmaker]

Cap it thats fecal bacteria. Have your well guy cap it and record it with your town.