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Filling a wellpit

M

MeAnthony

Member
My mom's well pump went out. We're having the pump replaced, converted to a pitless adapter and the casing extended above grade. The wellpit is 5'x5'x6' with block walls. I'd like to remove only the top couple courses of block and then backfill the pit. Is there a reason I should dig out all the block? What material can I fill with? Is bulk sand good enough, and cover with top soil? The wellpit is probably less than 3' from the edge of her deck and on the opposite side of the house from the driveway, so there won't ever be any traffic near it.

Thanks!
 
You are to brake at least one wall so water can drain away.Any natural soil would work for back filling the pit.
 
Just fill it in with sand .You will need a bit extra to fill it more as it settles. If it is not a laid block wall it will drain fine. As for the breaking one wall any well pit I was ever in had a drain in them so they didn't fill up with water. So I think the breaking one wall is nonsense. Might be different in other states or locations.
 
As bad as I hate to say it, but check the laws in your area! In my county you must have a certified well company fill/close your well. I was going to have ours filled several years ago as it no longer was reliable and water wasnt testing as fit to use. Was talking to a driller and he said to check with my county as to what the law required on a well showing on a legal plat, could be as much as 3500+ to do it correctly, so mine just sits there unused but completely functional to keep it inside their abandoned constraints. One of the stupidest things Ive ever heard!
 
Read the post again, they are not abandoning the well! I would think removing 2 course of block and filling with sand would be fine, as long as the pit has some drainage. It must of had a drain before, right?
 
Why not use it for cold vegetable storage.
I wish I had a well pit around here for that purpose.
I plan on digging one next year.
Might not be needed where you are.
 
I had my well converted to a pitless adapter by a well guy.

I filled mine with good black dirt. My pit was round block, no mortar. I left the block,

Wouldn't be a big deal to use a backhoe and remove block. Just be careful not to damage the adapter.
I wouldn't do anything. The adapter is water proof. If you want good drainage, back fill with sand and gravel. Top it off with a foot or two with black dirt to grow grass.
 



You couldn't make the wall waterproof if you life depended on it. I would use coarse sand, it doesn't hold water. Dirt or clay will hold the water and it will settle for weeks.
 
Check with the appropriate local laws on it.

Here in Nebraska, the State Dept. of Natural Resources records and controls all of the wells in the state. Anything done to a well has to be under their guidelines.

To take a well out of service and fill the pit, the well has to be decommissioned and filled under their supervision.
 
I recall flooding issues a long time ago, like 30 years or so, but nothing recent. Her old barn had crop records written on the wall from 1898, so I'm guessing the rounded outline where the well casing is might be the original cistern that serviced the farmhouse?


cvphoto105515.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 10:41:16 10/22/21) I recall flooding issues a long time ago, like 30 years or so, but nothing recent. Her old barn had crop records written on the wall from 1898, so I'm guessing the rounded outline where the well casing is might be the original cistern that serviced the farmhouse?
<img src=https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto105515.jpg>
Click to expand...
I would not fill that in. How are you going to replace the pump next time?
Which could be a week after it was filled in.
 
(quoted from post at 11:22:23 10/22/21)
(quoted from post at 10:41:16 10/22/21) I recall flooding issues a long time ago, like 30 years or so, but nothing recent. Her old barn had crop records written on the wall from 1898, so I'm guessing the rounded outline where the well casing is might be the original cistern that serviced the farmhouse?
<img src=https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto105515.jpg>
Click to expand...
I would not fill that in. How are you going to replace the pump next time?
Which could be a week after it was filled in.
Click to expand...

The casing will extend above the ground so to replace the pump you simply pull it up, install new pump and lower it back. In many areas that is how 99% of wells work. I haven't seen anyone dig a "pit" for 30 years since nearly all have submersible pumps inside the casing.. There is a bit more complexity but that is the basics. IIRC he said he is having a well guy do it and that is something common to do - the well company will know how to make it all work. In my state the case has to extend one foot above the ground to prevent surface water from contaminating the well.
 
If you fill it in, you need to move the electric. I would use a dense soil, avoid granular as you dont want surface water going into the pit so easily.
 
That is just the pit the pump and pressure tank used to sit in so they wouldn't freeze. Its not like you are filling in an open dug well.
 
Build a insulated cover for the pit and leave it the way it is. If the odd chance you needed to get to the pit less adapter.
 
(quoted from post at 18:26:59 10/22/21) If you fill it in, you need to move the electric. I would use a dense soil, avoid granular as you dont want surface water going into the pit so easily.
Click to expand...


There is no problem with ground water being in what used to be an underground well house once it is just more dirt.
 
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