Feb. 16, 2013: Funny how things happen - Go out to do laundry on a Saturday morning to hear the water pumps just whining!! That's not a good sound. Shut everything down - do some self checking and call the professionals. Ends up the relay switch to the deep well pump is tripping. We are able to reset it throughout the weekend to have enough water for a shower - but no Laundry done and very few dishes.
Monday, Feb. 18: Professionals come out and do their test on Monday. There is a short in the deep well pump (+700' below ground) - we need to replace the pump. OK - They deliver us a tank of water and we'll be back in business in 1 day + several $$$ later. We get laundry and dishes done but should have waited.. OOPS - WRONG - more issues.
Tueday: Pulled the well pump - get stuck. Keep working at it and finally it releases. Yeah! Another day lost because of the troubles - will be back tomorrow.
Wednesday & Thursday: Back down the hole with the new well pump. Gets Stuck at 450'. Up and down / up and down - different tools for the small rig - still no success getting past the 'issue'. It appears when they pulled the pump out - it caught up on some cracked casing and the well walls seem to have collapsed around the water line (approx. 450'). Calling the Drillers (Big Rig) to go into the same hole to drill out the obstructions.
Friday: Management comes in with pricing and options!! YIKES!!! May be able to start on Monday or Tuesday - but there are a lot of trees needing trimming.
Saturday/Sunday - We choose to trim our own trees to save $$$'s. Really - we needed firewood anyway - so not a big deal - good physical exercise; but, just not in our spring time plans. Ultimately, we are ready when they show!
Monday thru Thursday (Feb. 25 - 28): Big Drilling Rig shows up and our purchased water is holding. We are being very conservative. Rig shows up with pipe trailer, generator, water truck and crew. Geez. Didn't realize how much it takes to re-drill a water well. Up and Down / up and down... obstruction and debris coming out of the hole -- but still not getting past 450'. Appears to break thru but only find out they are "directional drilling" off the vertical hole. NOT a good thing for water wells -- maybe oil - but not water.... the neighbor would not appreciate the tap into his supply ! There seems to be a linoleum casing that's clogging the hole and the drills can't push past. Decision made to abort and drill a new well. YIKES again!!! The OLD well has given up the ghost - but new rules force relocation away from property line. Scramble to find Deed of Trust, Property Plat and whatever else they need to get this going to pull permits with County. New well will cost $$$$$$ - amazing - we count our blessings. They will not remove the equipment and will get started as soon as all permits are processed -- Government!
Crew shows and relocates the equipment over new drill site. SIGH!! Here we go again. Neighbor says; "2 days - you'll have water!" - Yeah! I'm ready.
!!!WRONG!!! - Site prep for sludge. - Can't let the mud flow onto neighbor's property! REALLY? Just mud? Trenches dug and diverted the sludge into the pasture... what a mess.
Drilling - UP and DOWN -- up and down... the rig continues to go.
Saturday/Sunday (3/2-3/3): To save more $$ and time - we extend the trench to "save" the neighbor's property from the sludge! Ben just likes reasons to play on his tractor.
More Drilling - UP and DOWN -- up and down... and... and... finally hit 710' Wednesday March 6.
Casing dropped and some clean up - should have water in a day. (again WRONG)!
Monday 3/11 - Original crew shows up to drop new well and connections..
Tuesday 3/12 - Crew comes back Trenches and makes final connections --- We finally have water running into the Tank!!!
Concrete Slab poured several weeks later and the old well is finally plugged. Finally peace and quite again on the farm--- with water!
Segway note: The Driller "Charlie" ends up being a family friend! He deer hunted on a lease in Sisterdale with Ben's brothers and father for several years. Small World - Rucka in Boerne? Yard Art displays a sign "Life is too short to live in Houston" -- could they be related? YES - Ben's from Crosby and he's the brother. Charlie HATED being the bearer of bad news. But we have another friend in the area! Common interest and common connections (not like Facebook connection - a personal one!).
So when you come to visit; we'll offer you a beer or wine; because the water is Priceless!!!
