water well diving/witching update

[Anonymous-0]

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about trying to find a witcher for an irrigation well. The well driller could not find water on an 80 acre tract by drilling test holes. I found a witcher and he found water in an area only 200 feet in diameter. The well driller stuck a hole and he finished casing the well friday night and told my wife it is going to be one of the best wells he has ever drilled. He just could not stop boasting about the quality and quantity this well is going to produce. So it is now the talk of the neighborhood. Saturday my neighbor had the witcher work for him on a quarter section of land that the state says has no available water for irrigation and he found a vein like mine. It also was quite small in area but looks to be a winner. Truly a mysterious thing. I will report on his outcome if you guys want me to.

 

[Allan in NE]

Good for you Earl. Glad you got your well.

How deep did you drill too and what is your pumping depth? How many gallon per minute did the test pumping produce?

Allan

 

[Anonymous-0]

I mispelled divining in the subject line. Cased the well to 300 feet deep . Water table is 170 feet. Tested by air lift with 2 air compressors. Driller feels I could get 2000 gal per minute if wanted but am going to use 60 hp pump with 30 lbs pressure at pivot which will use about 800 gal per minute.

 

[Gun guru]

That is amazing to see, I remember seeing it on TV many years ago and it appeared to have some validity to it.

 

[jwal10]

Now all you have to worry about is everyone drills a well in the same aquifer and they drill deeper and take all your water....James

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have a tractor buddy that has been a well witcher for ever, he is going to be 81 this year & still witches wells here and surrounding countys. Had a neighbor lady that did that when i was around 10 or so she should us boys how it worked with a forked peach limb. i can find water lines & drains with 2 wires bent in a 90 degree angle, maybe anyone can i don't know? hold them loosely in your palms pointing out in front of you, & they will cross when you walk across water lines & drains.

 

[Anonymous-0]

When divining did he tell you the depth and how did he establish that?

 

[super99]

A fellow showed my how to do the welding rod trick years ago. If I know about where the lines are buried, I can pick them up. BUT, they also turn together where I know nothing is buried so not real sure about it. I was looking for a water line several years ago, knew about where it was, and dug down ( by hand even ) to a depth of 5' and never did find it. I can walk across yard to the drainfield for sewer and find them in a heartbeat. Chris

 

[Anonymous-0]

He did not tell depth and said he could not do that. In the late 70's we had a guy witch an irrigation well for us that did tell depth by # of bobs on a teetering rod that he held in his palm.

 

[fixerupper]

I've had the same luck as Super99. Tried the wire bent at 90 degree thing and they were crossing in places where I knew there was nothing buried below. I walked down the lane and it seemed like the wires were crossing and un-crossing at regular intervals. When I got tired of it I gave the wires to dad and they did absolutely nothing for him. They just stuck straight out there and didn't move. Jim

 

[GA Dave]

It works for some. I've used dogwood limb forks. Some people swears by fruit tree limbs and others use coat hangers or copper wire. David.

 

[Larry59]

Years ago I watched my grand father do it on the old farm. Was standing a few feet away when that rod went down.
They got water and really did not have to dig real deep for it. I was always amazed at what I had seen first hand.

 

[MarkB_MI]

Earl,

Are you saying that you previously tried to drill elsewhere TO THREE HUNDRED FEET on your 80 acres and came up dry? And that you then drilled to that same depth where your witcher told you to drill and "boom" you hit water? Three hundred feet sounds like a pretty deep well.

So the state says there's no water available for irrigation? I don't think that's the same thing as saying there's no water; In most parts of the country it just means that if you DO irrigate the state will fine you or put you in jail.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Witching for water is a common pratice of the well drillers in our area. Dad could do it, I cant, brother can. Same with the 5 well drilling rigs around this region. The oldest well drilling company can tell within about 50 feet of how deep the well will be before drilling. The one well drillers son, he cant witch, says hes gonna be screwed when his dad kicks the bucket. lol

Had one guy who started a well drilling company, claimed to be an expert, said witching for water was just a myth that it was all a gamble. He didnt stay in business to long, people got tired of paying for 3 and 5 test wells before he hit water.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Thanks Earl.I have been fiddling with this, can pick up underground electrical mains, telephone lines, and water pipes.plus streams in paddock.I use a piece of wire about 2'6" long and bend it to 90 degrees at 6".I know how deep the water pipe is, if I stand over it at 90 degrees and start to walk away,count the number of paces , the wire turns right around and points to me, that is the depth.Paces x distance of pace.Works.
Placed water bottle on ground,walked over it,no reaction, walked 18" to the side of it,wire will move and point towards bottle.
It's intriguing..