I just used this approach on my 4yo well. The driller originally told me it was 70' static water level (and 270' total depth) and I believed him. However, I just checked it using my 100' HF tape as you show in your video, and I'm at 44'. I asked the driller how he measured it, and he said "drop a small rock and listen for the splash. 25' per second". I didn't have the heart to tell him that velocity increases (accelerates) at a rate of meters per second squared - thus, it's not linear. Still, trying his approach, it took 4 seconds. But, I also heard the rock hitting the casing and plumbing on the way down so I'm sure that slowed the impact time. In any case, thank you for the suggestion. The only other thing I'd say is maybe not lay the excess tape on the ground (contamination with well?). I tied a 10mm wrench to the end of my tape as a weight, and it was heavy enough to unspool directly from the reel. Although, I'm sure my tape is probably dirtier than your ground. Ugh.
I took a wood yard stick and cut a v notch in both ends, then tied a stainless nut to the end of some masonery string, then lowered the nut and string down the well until I hit bottom. as I pulled the string out of the well I wrapped it around the yard stick, each wrap being 3 feet. when the string became wet I counted wraps from that point to the nut to determine the water depth . I kept the yard stick and string in the pump house so I could measure at different times of the year
Your string can be easily stretched, wrapped to tightly or too loosely. Not accurate. We tried the string method and got a lot of variations the same day even with trying to do it consistently.
@@ecrocker7499 I have used the same piece of braided masonry string and yard stick to measure the water in my well for 30 yrs, it has not stretched at all, 60ft of string wrapped 20 times around the yardstick and the nut ends up at the end of the yardstick every time I measure, maybe you are stretching or wrapping your string too tight.
FYI, since you dragged your tape on the ground, you may have contaminated the water and your well. You would need then to chlorinate the well. A better plan might be to use fishing line, or something a little cleaner and reel it out while holding it free of dirt and other contaminants. Thanks for demonstrating The plopping sound of the plumbob hitting the water. Gave me confidence to try.
Will it ever be too deep where you can’t hear the plumb bob? I was told by previous owner waters at like 120ft and we’ll is 400 ft deep in total but I’m skeptical.
That could work too. I just like measuring to the surface of the water instead if all the way to the bottom. I would be concerned about wrapping whatever I dropped down around the pump or something and not being able to pull it up. If that worked for you that’s great. Whatever gets the job done.
MEASURING WATER DEPTH, My understanding is you measure to the top of the water surface and record same, then drop your device till it bottoms out, record that depth, now subtract the 2 numbers and you have a measurement in column feet,multiplied x the casing radius, 8 inch casing = 4 inch radius, squared=16, times pi, 3.14 times the water column, in inches not feet, convert first,,, not the casing length, to find water quantity, so, here goes, convert 260 feet to inches, it equals 3,120 sq. inches, times, converted to or into gallons per foot of casing, you get a real time accurate quantity of how much water your casing is holding, it varies depending on times of the year, rain fall etc. Always, always, always, shut of the power at the circuit breaker before opening a well, 4 inches x 4 inches x 3.14 x 3120 = 156,748.8,, there are 231 cubic inches in a gallon of water so divide 156,748.8 by 231 =678.56 gallons total, to find volume in lineal feet divide 678.56 by 260 feet ,, that equals 2.60 gallons per lineal foot of 8 " casing, 6 inch casing equal approx. 1.5 gallons per lineal foot
People, just take some fishing line with a small weight on the bottom and a flotation bobber, when the line give slack place a mark, pull out the line and measure it.
You have a pleasant voice to listen to -- not loud and annoying like some. So -- you were just measuring the depth TO water, not the depth of the well itself (not to well bottom), correct? How would you do it on a well that doesn't have that large of a casing? Many domestic wells here just have a 4" or 6" casing (they aren't very deep) -- yours looks to be a 12" diameter.
Thanks for watching and thanks for the compliment. Yes, I am just measuring to the water surface. Measuring to the surface is the first step in determining how much water the well holds (provided you already know the well depth). It is also a way to determine flow/recharge rate. I have other videos on those things too. I’m glad you asked about measuring smaller diameter wells because I wish I had mentioned about that in the video. Ours is a 10 inch diameter well, so there’s plenty of space to drop a plum bob and tape measure down without touching the sides and not getting it caught on the plastic pipe coming up from the pump and the spacers that hold the pipe away from sides of the well. We have an older 6 inch diameter well too and I have to be very careful not to get the tape stuck when using this method. Frankly, I wouldn’t even try it on a 4 inch well unless the pump is pulled out first. Hope this answers your question and thanks again for watching.
I have a simple formula to calculate depth of anything. Drop the rock and note the time in seconds. (i.e 3 seconds) Then multiply the time with the same number. ( 3 x 3 = 9) Then multiply the answer with 16 then you will get the approx. depth in feet. (9 x 16 = 144 feet) If you convert 144 feet into meters, you will get approx 43.89 meters. That's it.
The problem with this approach is, you have to assume that the rock is accelerating at an unimpeded rate (m/s(s)) but unless you have perfect aim, the rock is bound to hit the casing, the plumbing, the electrical wire, or the safety rope on its way down - slowing the fall and delaying the water impact.
You can estimate well recharge rate by measuring depth to water and how it changes. I have another video posted about using the measurement to calculate estimated recharge rate. Also, if you know well depth, measuring depth to water will tell volume of water stored in well.
no purpose. It doesnt matter. You can just drop the submerged pump to whatever debt. If the well is 100 feet deep but you only have 45 feet of cable that should be fine. It make sno difference. people just want to make life harder.
4:40 you "Sixty point eight feet." I have never seen a tape measure in english units that uses decimals. Ussually they say something like Sixty feet and then display in inches.
Thank you Very much sir. God bless you .Good luck.
Thanks for the help it was very informative and easy to understand. 🤙🏻
I just used this approach on my 4yo well. The driller originally told me it was 70' static water level (and 270' total depth) and I believed him. However, I just checked it using my 100' HF tape as you show in your video, and I'm at 44'. I asked the driller how he measured it, and he said "drop a small rock and listen for the splash. 25' per second". I didn't have the heart to tell him that velocity increases (accelerates) at a rate of meters per second squared - thus, it's not linear. Still, trying his approach, it took 4 seconds. But, I also heard the rock hitting the casing and plumbing on the way down so I'm sure that slowed the impact time. In any case, thank you for the suggestion. The only other thing I'd say is maybe not lay the excess tape on the ground (contamination with well?). I tied a 10mm wrench to the end of my tape as a weight, and it was heavy enough to unspool directly from the reel. Although, I'm sure my tape is probably dirtier than your ground. Ugh.
Maybe the driller was smarter than you think, you paid to him by drilled feet, didn't you? :)
Great! Thanks for sharing 👍
Thank you that was very helpful
very nice video sir
I took a wood yard stick and cut a v notch in both ends, then tied a stainless nut to the end of some masonery string, then lowered the nut and string down the well until I hit bottom. as I pulled the string out of the well I wrapped it around the yard stick, each wrap being 3 feet. when the string became wet I counted wraps from that point to the nut to determine the water depth . I kept the yard stick and string in the pump house so I could measure at different times of the year
great idea Roy,
Thanks for the great idea👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Best Idea of everything I read so-far simple yet effective. Thank you
Your string can be easily stretched, wrapped to tightly or too loosely. Not accurate. We tried the string method and got a lot of variations the same day even with trying to do it consistently.
@@ecrocker7499 I have used the same piece of braided masonry string and yard stick to measure the water in my well for 30 yrs, it has not stretched at all, 60ft of string wrapped 20 times around the yardstick and the nut ends up at the end of the yardstick every time I measure, maybe you are stretching or wrapping your string too tight.
FYI, since you dragged your tape on the ground, you may have contaminated the water and your well. You would need then to chlorinate the well.
A better plan might be to use fishing line, or something a little cleaner and reel it out while holding it free of dirt and other contaminants. Thanks for demonstrating The plopping sound of the plumbob hitting the water. Gave me confidence to try.
He was so passionate AND some what sensual about this and you just shit all over this dude.... He didn't deserve that. Also, I don't trust his hair.
@@charlesanderson6038 lol what. his hair xD?
His well might not be for drinking purposes. How do you plan on measuring your fishing line?
Thanks sir
Will it ever be too deep where you can’t hear the plumb bob? I was told by previous owner waters at like 120ft and we’ll is 400 ft deep in total but I’m skeptical.
That could work too. I just like measuring to the surface of the water instead if all the way to the bottom. I would be concerned about wrapping whatever I dropped down around the pump or something and not being able to pull it up. If that worked for you that’s great. Whatever gets the job done.
I have seen new wells being drilled due to objects getting stuck between pump and casing. Old pump stuck in well for good.
MEASURING WATER DEPTH, My understanding is you measure to the top of the water surface and record same, then drop your device till it bottoms out, record that depth, now subtract the 2 numbers and you have a measurement in column feet,multiplied x the casing radius, 8 inch casing = 4 inch radius, squared=16, times pi, 3.14 times the water column, in inches not feet, convert first,,, not the casing length, to find water quantity, so, here goes, convert 260 feet to inches, it equals 3,120 sq. inches, times, converted to or into gallons per foot of casing, you get a real time accurate quantity of how much water your casing is holding, it varies depending on times of the year, rain fall etc. Always, always, always, shut of the power at the circuit breaker before opening a well, 4 inches x 4 inches x 3.14 x 3120 = 156,748.8,, there are 231 cubic inches in a gallon of water so divide 156,748.8 by 231 =678.56 gallons total, to find volume in lineal feet divide 678.56 by 260 feet ,, that equals 2.60 gallons per lineal foot of 8 " casing, 6 inch casing equal approx. 1.5 gallons per lineal foot
Good post👍🏻👍🏻
People, just take some fishing line with a small weight on the bottom and a flotation bobber, when the line give slack place a mark, pull out the line and measure it.
10"
What is it called..??
How to find the depth of underground water
You have a pleasant voice to listen to -- not loud and annoying like some. So -- you were just measuring the depth TO water, not the depth of the well itself (not to well bottom), correct? How would you do it on a well that doesn't have that large of a casing? Many domestic wells here just have a 4" or 6" casing (they aren't very deep) -- yours looks to be a 12" diameter.
Thanks for watching and thanks for the compliment. Yes, I am just measuring to the water surface. Measuring to the surface is the first step in determining how much water the well holds (provided you already know the well depth). It is also a way to determine flow/recharge rate. I have other videos on those things too. I’m glad you asked about measuring smaller diameter wells because I wish I had mentioned about that in the video. Ours is a 10 inch diameter well, so there’s plenty of space to drop a plum bob and tape measure down without touching the sides and not getting it caught on the plastic pipe coming up from the pump and the spacers that hold the pipe away from sides of the well. We have an older 6 inch diameter well too and I have to be very careful not to get the tape stuck when using this method. Frankly, I wouldn’t even try it on a 4 inch well unless the pump is pulled out first. Hope this answers your question and thanks again for watching.
I have a simple formula to calculate depth of anything.
Drop the rock and note the time in seconds. (i.e 3 seconds)
Then multiply the time with the same number. ( 3 x 3 = 9)
Then multiply the answer with 16 then you will get the approx. depth in feet. (9 x 16 = 144 feet)
If you convert 144 feet into meters, you will get approx 43.89 meters.
That's it.
The problem with this approach is, you have to assume that the rock is accelerating at an unimpeded rate (m/s(s)) but unless you have perfect aim, the rock is bound to hit the casing, the plumbing, the electrical wire, or the safety rope on its way down - slowing the fall and delaying the water impact.
@@erkme73 He must have a hovering wireless submerged pump... (greatest of condescending sarcastic tones)
what is da purpose?
You can estimate well recharge rate by measuring depth to water and how it changes. I have another video posted about using the measurement to calculate estimated recharge rate. Also, if you know well depth, measuring depth to water will tell volume of water stored in well.
only if you do all the math
no purpose. It doesnt matter. You can just drop the submerged pump to whatever debt. If the well is 100 feet deep but you only have 45 feet of cable that should be fine. It make sno difference. people just want to make life harder.
4:40 you "Sixty point eight feet." I have never seen a tape measure in english units that uses decimals. Ussually they say something like Sixty feet and then display in inches.