Help! Well Pumping Sand and Silt; Internal Collapse?

[rtanner]

After a few days of rain, my well suddenly began pumping a lot of sand and silt. It now completely clogs the sediment filter AND regular 30-micron filter after about 5 to 10 gallons of usage.

After doing some research online, I got brave and raised the pump up 4 feet hoping this would bring it above a pile of collapsed dirt. It didn't help at all.

The well is 280 feet deep. The 220 volt stainless pump is held by a 1.5 inch black poly pipe and tied to a nylon rope. I don't know the pump make/model. There is a 90-degree connector about 7 feet below ground level that heads off towards the house. The pressure switch is set to 40 on/60 off.

I'm not sure where to go from here.

What would be the best course of action from this point?

 

[Valveman]

If the rain is what caused the sand in the well, then your well is not properly sealed. You need to get a qualified well driller to see if it can be sealed. That seal really needs to be done properly when the well is drilled and the annular space is still open, but they maybe able to dig down below the pitless and get enough of a seal to keep out the rain water.

Rain water getting in doesn't just cause sand, it also brings dog crap, fertilizer, and anything else on the ground into the well.

 

[KULTULZ]

If the rain is what caused the sand in the well, then your well is not properly sealed. You need to get a qualified well driller to see if it can be sealed. That seal really needs to be done properly when the well is drilled and the annular space is still open, but they maybe able to dig down below the pitless and get enough of a seal to keep out the rain water.

Rain water getting in doesn't just cause sand, it also brings dog crap, fertilizer, and anything else on the ground into the well.

Off topic but while we have you here...

Is it a good idea to pour a properly graded slab around the pitless-adaptor to hopefully prevent this type of occurrence?

 

[speedbump]

Is it a good idea to pour a properly graded slab around the pitless-adaptor to hopefully prevent this type of occurrence?

If a Rotary was used to drill the well and the casing wasn't properly grouted, a cement slab isn't going to help.

 

[Valveman]

I agree with Speed. The seal on a well with a pitless should be below the pitless. In Texas we need 25' of cement below the pitless. Then you can do whatever you want at the top of the well, but a slab is not going to help.

A slab doesn't even help with an above ground completion. If the casing is not sealed to the earth for 10' or more below the surface, the seal is not good and rainwater can get in.

 

[KULTULZ]

I'm sorry guys, I didn't make myself clear.

I was thinking for more of appearance. I want to build a well house (able to break down for well service) over the adapter but need to know if the actual concrete slab should have an expansion joint between the crete and adapter for expansion.

And, is it advisable to install such a slab @ the adapter?

 

[Valveman]

It is not a good idea to have a slab above a pitless adapter. If/when the pitless needs to be replaced, the slab would have to be broken up to dig the hole. I would leave the well outside the building so it can be easily serviced by a pulling unit, and poor a slab a few feet away for a well house if needed. However, you could just put a small tank and controls like with a Pside-Kick kit in the house and a well house would not be needed. The whole purpose of a pitless unit is that nothing will freeze and a well house is not needed.