American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1912-11-07
ERECTING A PUMPING STATION
More Certain to Obtain Good Water
Supply in Valley Than on the
Mesas or PIateaus.

ried out regarding the installation of
q pumping plant, the sourc of supply,
the ~ground-water, must be ~thoroughll
Investigated as to quantity and quail
ity. 1t is impossible to lay down har,
and fast rules regarding the occur
renee Of underground waters which
VIII apply to all sections alike.
Naturally, we should be more certain
OF obtaining water in a valley, having
a large drainage area and through
which flows a perepnial stream, than
on the mesas or plateaus heal the
base of a mountain range, writes H.
L. Bixey in the Denver Field and
Farm. The supply is not found at a
uniform depth Ia any section, the
depth often 9arying within a radius
of two or three hundred feet. After
drilling a we'll 1t may be found that
the flow Is inadequate to supply the
required needs. Another we'll may
be put down a distance of 1000 feet
or even less and be found to yield an
abundant supply. The topography of
the country and geological formations
of the sub-strata. have a great deal
to do with the occurrence of ground
water and the obtaining of the same
at economical depths. In a section
where 1t is proposed to institute pump
Ing for irrigation it is wise to hire a
professional well driver and have him
put down a test we'll of the size
thought to be suited to the needs of
lrrfgation-from six inches to twelve
inches. Several interested persons
should bear the expense of such q
we'll, each paying his pro rata. As
the well is put down, a log Of the
various depths should be carefully
kept, taking samples at every foot to
determine the character of the vari-
Gus materials encountered. Thus
when the well is completed or drilled
to a satisfactory depth it will be
known at what depth or depths tho
water was found and the character oil
the strata. II the w~ater-bearing STRAIT
UNI Is found In a good gravel form If
teen to twenty feet In depth. very
favorable conditions obtain and a good
flow Of water Is almost invariably as
sured. Under such conditions, a good
flow being certain, the well may be
operated as a community proposition
or the various interests may be pur.
chased by one person. the we'll hut
becoming his sole property. II the
well is a failure, those interested may
consider that the money was well
spent and that considerable money
has been saved. Some one may say
at this point: Suppose that water
Uoro onnpuntarad on11y 80 -,.,k 1911
Their the we'll would be useless, as
there Is a limiting depth beyond which
1t is Improbable and impracticable
to pump" This is all very true and
the Importance of sinking the well
before investing in expensive machin-
cry Is the more strongly emphas sized
by this query. In many sections It
Is unnecessary to sink test wells. an
successful pumping plants are already
in operation. In many of our noun.
tain valleys there seems to be an I'M
derground water supply sufficient for
almost n number of pumping plants.
Some wells yield more than others. az
the gravel strata are found at varying
depths and character. The creates
difficulty encountered is in the han
ding the q~uicksand. Where tn
Quicksand occurs with a coarse grave
a good well is almost always certain
as the quicksand can be pumped from
gravel. leaving open spaces in
he gravel through which the water
viii flow more rapidly, giving the well
a larger supply than when there is
only quicksand. One should not de-
sire too coarse a gravel, as diff Guilty
Is found In sinking the casing or re-
large boulders from the well.
N case the first stratum of water
gravel encountered does not
give large enough flow, the we'll will
either have to be enlarged Or sunk
leeper with the view to striking the =.
second or third stratum. Water found
It lower depths will often rise, thus
adding to the total supply of the well
giving the desired amount. Where
wo or three strata are encountered,
perforated sections of pipe. preferably
standard well strainer, of the same
as the standard well casing.
re inserted between couplings and
owered to their respective depths.
ne uIst casing put DOWN when the
yell is drilled is then pulled up, leav.
ng the strainers exposed and free
rom dirt and sand. 1t is not good
.roctice to have the strainer of the
m length as the depth of the
stratum, as the water
evel is generally down by the pump,
o that the strainer may not be uti.
King Its full length or II NAV dostrov
he suction Of the pump to a certain
xtent. In which case the efficiency
I the pumping plant will be lowered.
Is an example 1t may be said that
Or a gravel bed twenty feet in depth
twelve-foot strainer should be used
r even less, and the strainer extend
d to the bottom of the bed so Ina,
here Will he q denth of urauoI ahouA