Waterhole: How to Dig Your Own Well (Paperback)

by Bob Mellin (Author), Martha Weston (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Review
This book is a simple guide to a simple task: digging a hole in the ground and taking water out of it. It will help you make informaed decisions on where to dig your well and how to do it the right way. Topics discussed include: environmental impact, tools & materials, costs, benefits, picking the spot, preparing the site, digging the well, casing the well, sealing the casing, capping the well, pumps, disinfection, water storage, maintenance, and abandonment. A bibliography and appendix offer additional resources. -- From the publisher

Product Description
A step-by-step guide on how to dig your own water well using a hand auger. Includes information on location, drilling method, casing, pumps and plumbing.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 75 pages
• Publisher: Balboa Publishing (July 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 093590221X
• ISBN-13: 978-0935902211
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #112,072 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #12 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Civil > Environmental > Mining
  #13 in	Books > Science > Earth Sciences > Prospecting & Mining
  #18 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Civil > Mining

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed, Readable, and Fun, December 20, 2000

By	Robert Plamondon (Blodgett, OR USA) - See all my reviews

Why drill your own well? Because it's useful to have free water where you need it, especially if you have no water on your property or are using expensive city water to maintain a large garden. Bringing in a professional well driller can be expensive, and, besides, why should he have all the fun?

Unlike old-fashioned, large-diameter wells that put you in the bottom of a hole that might collapse, modern wells are small-bore affairs, and you stay safely up on the surface.

WATERHOLE describes with perfect clarity the process of digging a modern four-inch-diameter well using only hand tools. In doing so, he not only shows you how to drill your own well for practically nothing, but he gives you a complete course in doing so safely and correctly, so you end up with a well that's safe to drink from and doesn't vector contaminants into the water table.

He then shows you how to install PVC pipe as a well casing and how to select and install your pump. This slim little volume has everything.

The text is fun to read and is lavishly illustrated.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Within reach., May 2, 2008

By	Calvin Lawrence "Life is GOOD in Green." - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is really written for the lay person. I have no need for a well but I will not get rid of the book. I can forsee the need for a future well and the cost savings and advice inside these pages is priceless. Without hands-on experience at first it seems daunting of a task to dig your own well; however, the writter makes it readable, understandable, and down right appealing to begin the workout. Not knowing how deep the water level is can be frustating. I live in a area where the water table can be twice the depth talked about in the book. This poses a problem but I am still willing to try someday. I will have confidence in the effort of well digging in the future with this book on my shelf and available when I need it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Basics, and a bit myopic, June 17, 2008

By	Clinton Labombard (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is for shallow wells and although it does show you how to produce a working, safe well, it doesn't go into any other methods or types of wells. If you live in an area with a high water table then this method for this type of well is sufficient, but if you have other needs you'll need to find better information than this book can deliver.