How to drive a well point for water- step by step in Vermont (Off grid living)

(Materials List is below)...... Here we show you the ins and outs (and even the mistakes and bad mishaps) of our first attempt to drive a well point or sand point well for water (for washing and boiling/dishes) in northern Vermont. This well point video shows all- even the things we did wrong, so that you don't make the same mistakes. We DID hit water though, and it did work! We drove this threaded pipe and the screened point about 6-7' underground and we can further drive it if the water later recedes more. All in all it was a lot of hard work, but fun as well and I hope this video helps you- especially all the off grid tiny house and cabin dwellers, and the homesteaders in the scene.
MATERIALS LIST- (book and tiny house workshop links are further below)
Here is a link for a screened well point if you want to try this as well....
The well point itself- Simmons Brand- amzn.to/3c2L0KF
Pitcher pump (farm well pump)- amzn.to/36xoLeX
Maleable driving cap- amzn.to/2X9tBvU
Driving pipe couplings 1 1/4"- amzn.to/2X8hmiQ
OTHER LINKS...
HERE is a link list of materials/products I use in my builds, my books, workshops, and more: FREE shed plans down below too…..
Deek's NEW book "Micro Living"- amzn.to/2Rs5UwC
Follow me on Instagram….. / derekdiedricksen
My “Humble Homes, Simple Shacks” FIRST book- Like a DIY graphic novel- amzn.to/2TPGW7C
NEW Tiny House Shirts- Deek Design/Sketch (Helps keep this channel running!)- shop.stayvocal....
Tiny House Hands-On Workshops: relaxshacks.my...
Deek’s Metal/Rock band INVERTER (Boston, MA)- / inverterboston
Deek's OTHER channel- "ODDUSA"- Subscribe HERE: • 18' Tall Fremont Troll...
Deek's Transforming A-Frame Cabin Plans (which you can build for UNDER $1200!)- HERE: relaxshacks.my...
Deek's book "MICROSHELTERS"- A Bestseller... amzn.to/2M5OjF5
FREE SHED/Cabin plans from the Jamaica Cottage Shop jamaicacottage....
TINY HOUSE MAGAZINE- its AWESOME!!!!! transactions.s...
ENVI tiny house heaters- 15% off code- USE THIS "DEEK2019" at www.eheat.com
Tuftex- the clear roofing and wall material I use in a TON of my builds- www.ondura.com
OUR EVEN NEWER (sketch by Deek) Tiny House Village T-shirts! stay-vocal.mys...
ReColor- reused/eco-paints- www.recolorpain...
The shed, tree house, and tiny house micro WINDOWS we often use:
amzn.to/2uwRttW
Pet Peek DOME windows for tree houses, vardos, forts, and cabins: amzn.to/2WrYfxf
IF you want to sponsor us (for product, tiny house company) appearances/shouts in our videos, while helping to keep this channel running- [e-mail]

[@DMPhil]

LOVE this video! I am a hydrogeologist. I very much appreciate that you took the time to show your setbacks/failures as well as your success. May I politely suggest that the location you chose is a terrible placement. It may have been an easier installation, but it will probably be taken out in the next good, gully washer. The surrounding vegetation suggests that the location you chose is subject to such flows. Also, when you place a well directly in the flow corridor, you are more likely to draw harmful bacteria and viruses (E.coli, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, etc.) into your pump. The further that you can place your well from the main stream channel, the greater opportunity the soil has of filtering our those microorganisms.

[@derekdiedricksen9170]

Thanks- I sincerely do appreciate the input and you're absolutely right as I've read more into it/thought about it. We're going to move this down the road.....

[@stevenfairless4931]

We have a dug well on a gravel bank 14' deep... it took a few days of constant use to get clear water, then weeks of rust stains in the sinks from manganese, but it turned out fine. quite a few neighbors have dug wells. Most people on town water buy water to drink, you can taste chlorine and they have periodic drinking bans while flushing the system. Clean water is such a blessing.

[@DoyleShadduck]

I’ve banged in a few sand points in my time. Your pump will work better after the cup leather expands. I soak the pump by putting the handle down and pouring water in the top, just let it set for 20 minutes or so. You guys in Vermont are lucky to have close water tables, we also have them close in Upstate New York directly across from you. I struck water at 4 feet here. I also have a 12x24 cabin made by the Amish, I added an 8x10 bedroom on the back. The entire cabin in roughcut 1x12” pine. Next week I’m installing my well point for the cabin, a pump & pressure tank, a sediment filter and a 5 stage filtration system for drinking water.

[@poulpaapletten]

Here is one way to find out if the point is down far enough. Try filling the tube with water. If it does not sink, hit the point further down. When the water sinks faster in the pipe than you can fill it, the point has come far enough down.

[@debbralehrman5957]

Nice going. You did what you set out to do. Good helper you got there, he's on the right track about the coffee fliter. Good critical thinking skills. That is good to see. He is already ahead of 98% of the ones you're seeing on media the last few weeks. Not jumping at the Skittles offer case in point. LOL Good luck with the filtration system. From AZ 🌵🌴🌞

[@HowToADU]

I wish you were filming when the first pipe broke!! And then the striking cap breaks too? You're working some John Henry magic on those brittle parts. Thanks for sharing. A real help to see the mistakes and the successes.

[@relaxshacksDOTcom]

It was one of those scenarios where I thought I started the camera, but actually stopped it. Suffice to say, there was also a long string of expletives and it took me two hours to dig the point out. lol

[@HowToADU]

@@relaxshacksDOTcom 2 hours fishing, up to your shoulder in muddy water. That's the DIY life :)

[@sguishy89]

Sooooo much like my projects. So easy turn the wrench replace the thingy. No never. Hence months later still no pump in my travel trailer for the fresh water tank

[@Minimotives]

Happy to see this and how it went! We're mentally preparing ourselves to dig our own well, too. We're going with the hand auger method which j think is going to suck. Especially if we his a rock!

[@relaxshacksDOTcom]

Stick close to your pond and I'm sure you'll hit water- is that pond spring fed, or a created kettle pond?

[@bonzoyl25]

WOW! And the helper!

[@springh6306]

Congratulations on getting Water!!!

[@Normalizethis]

Wrapped your Teflon backwards. Wrap clockwise, with the threads.

[@dennisbellinger333]

Hey brother, speaking in your defense.. There was alot of junk manufactured and sold back when you purchased your parts. Alot of inferior stuff out there at the time. I am considering a pitcher pump myself. All that i need i our situation. Thanks for the vid!

[@relaxshacksDOTcom]

Good to know- yes, a lot of lowest-bid Chinese-made steel was being hawked at the time too- especially by the big stores- which had a low breaking point. I remember having problems with a lot of lag bolts a decade or so back, now that you mention this.....

[@justlooking124]

I read that your only should use a 2 lb. Hammer, not a 12 or 13 lb. Sledge hammer, and you should also put the pitcher pump on a 5 gallons of water and let it soak to soften the leathers, and use soap and rags with a string to clean out the inside of the 1 1/4 pipe that may have oil in it,

[@daveberry8562]

You're not quite there yet. I noticed while you were pumping, the pump handle was bouncing back up. This is a sign of vacuum in the pipe. Once you are into a good water source that handle bounce back while stop.

[@relaxshacksDOTcom]

Good to know- thanks. Yeah, we definitely have to go deeper- kinda figured from the start.

[@relaxshacksDOTcom]

Discussion question: (aside from experience-tips on how to better do this)- What would you recommend for filtration in terms of getting all the silt/mud out of the water? We don't plan on drinking this, although I have a feeling it might come up pretty clean/safe..... we just don't want to wash up and end up "dirtier". Thanks all!

[@keralee]

Just keep on pumping it out. Wells usually clear up after first hundred gallons or so. Keep extra set of leathers on hand for the pump. I would probably remove the pump and cap it off, if you don't need it in winter, to prolong its lifespan.

[@relaxshacksDOTcom]

@@keralee Was wondering about that- winter...... makes sense.....

[@decolonizeEverywhere]

This is the video where I first saw a gravity feed sand filter for water Check it out It's really interesting even if you don't plan on building one You could modify it to your situation and you probably have everything around the place to get it built it right now. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2qQZ2Vrbsyfhqc

[@keralee]

@@relaxshacksDOTcom I have drilled 2 wells and helped on a third. It always takes a good bit of pumping to get the silt out. There are special pumps built to handle freezing conditions if you think you will need it in winter. Yours doesn't look like one of those... But you could check with the manufacturer.

[@marko_salo]

Simple filter kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4Dbi6V5drWbpc0

[@flyguy437]

It doesn't matter which way you wind Teflon tape.

[@chickadeecorner]

Interested in this series, especially filtration, etc. I have been doing up a geodesic dome that has a sandpoint well inside of it. It has a 6" plastic casing around it and much of the year I see water down in there. I covered it bc I'm sure critters have gotten in there over the years (ick) and not sure how to clean that out, etc. I found a cast iron hand pump on the property as well so will see if that fits and probably see what comes out although I'm a bit scared to find out!

[@leahshea847]

1 bag of skittles! 😂😂😂😂😂

[@publicdomain3378]

Gotta teach your kids about communism somehow lol.

[@decolonizeEverywhere]

Maybe someone else has a better idea about filtering your water of the major portion of the sediment but you could build a gravity fed sand filter right in front of where you have your hydrant that would take care of all of that. You should take a sample of that water to the cooperative extension office near you and get it tested before you drink any of it And buy a berkey filter. You'll have all the clean drinking water you need with a berkey filter, as long as there's no super sneaky bad things in your water when the testing comes back. You don't want to take any chances that somebody might drink that water without knowing exactly what is in it.

[@relaxshacksDOTcom]

Yes- good ideas and all things we've been considering.... appreciate you dropping the info/recommendations!

[@Frank-pe9pk]

It looked to me you wound the Teflon tape counter clockwise which is backwards. Remember lefty loosey righty tighty.

[@howardmiller4241]

Ok so my pipe is holding water at the top , this mean my drive point is clogged correct ?

[@zippythechicken]

surface water isn't great water ... its where you get high bacteria levels... normally water is in levels.. top level is crap .. next level down is pretty good... i would suggest going down another 20 feet if you can in the future

[@matthewprestine1974]

a hammer drill in chisel mode or a jack hammer can drive a sand point 30ft in 10min. gotta use the right tools.

[@relaxshacksDOTcom]

I'd have to get a battery-app one- this land is off-grid- no elec. I also don't own a hammer drill so we had to settle for the sledge.

[@andrewdurfee2891]

Put the tape on backwards :)

[@JesusIsKing51]

I saw that too. Lol

[@relaxshacksDOTcom]

Yeah, I noticed myself later (I'm no pro-plumber, thats for sure)- but the stuff hugs so tight that it really doesn't matter so much one you get whatever started- so I read too. But yeah, I caught myself as well. Thanks for watching.

[@scottleach7857]

Hey Bud good job young fellow 4 bags of skittles for you question when do you know when you hit the vane easier hammering lol

[@3dPrint_and_chill]

You know "crapper" refers to the guy who invented the flushing system "Thomas Crapper" as those toilets don't flush that's pretty ironic 😄

[@jimb3093]

I have question about that pump. Is that considered a pitcher pump? I’m assuming it has an upper suction cup leather. Does the bottom section use a check valve spike or a lower leather with a weight? I’ve seen some pumps with lower leathers and a weight that acts like a flapper and some pumps have a check valve spike that seals the hole while it’s pumping. I have a pump similar to that, that and trying to get it functional again. When I took it apart it had nothing on the bottom. Just the upper portion with a dry rotted leather cup that I know I can order. Just not sure about the bottom portion. Jim from Ohio

[@anthonymccarthy4164]

Another generation of sarcasm, wonderful! You need a sand filter for that water.

[@relaxshacksDOTcom]

Sarcasm? Yes, was thinking of using a sand filter- one of the ideas we might go with.

[@mikeduwe]

You wrapped your teflon tape backwards...

[@Naturalcrusader]

Where is the step by step?

[@thewildehotrockinappledj9988]

What parts do I need and pipe wise??? Do you auger first? Then drive the pipe. Can I get parts at a big box hardware? Can this be done in a regular town yard?

[@ryanm595]

Yes, if you live near a menards they will have everything needed, no need to bore a hole first, just get well drive head, and we'll drive pipe with couplers, and a pump. Cost about $300 total.

[@derekdiedricksen9170]

I got mine through a combination of a catalog and Home Depot. I believe the pump was from Northern Tools, but many farm-gear stores should have something like this too @@ryanm595

[@novanut1964]

outhouses/dead animals, test the water to be safe.

[@mmareviewer.2372]

man... you are so correct.

[@relaxshacksDOTcom]

Both were really far away. But yes, I definitely would

[@joebobjenkins7837]

What if you hit rock, will it drive through?

[@derekdiedricksen9170]

No, unfortunately- you'd have to jack the pipe out and start in a new spot

[@jimmymullins4997]

Is the water clean enough for drinking inside the well point? Thanks

[@derekdiedricksen9170]

I wouldn''t assume it is and haven't tested it- I just wanted water for washing in this case. Still to be determined....

[@stanlindert6332]

Skittles are considered a super food.

[@relaxshacksDOTcom]

Part of EVERY food group in the food pyramid!

[@KnightMoonShadow]

Dowsing...

[@bluebutterflywellness2273]

This was fun to watch--except for Bobcat. 😳🤢 I forced myself to keep watching though, so...🥳

[@mytech6779]

Buy that boy a steak and some dumb bells before he blows away in the wind.

[@relaxshacksDOTcom]

lol- he's 12- growing like a weed still....

[@brotherebenezer449]

Lol skiddles

[@miller2675]

So this wasn't really about how to drive a well point. It was about how to walk around in the woods and mud and barely address the topic at hand. . . Cool dead animal I guess. . .

[@relaxshacksDOTcom]

We pretty much cover anything you really need to know in here, its just spread out a bit- some in text on the screen too... thanks for watching though.