Sorry for the long post, but I need some usenet points of view....
SWMBO and I are looking at homesites for a new custom home.
We found a lot we like in an area we like (Northeast Ohio). There are not a lot of available sites in the area to choose from. It's one of
9 lots converted from an old farm field. 6 of the lots have been sold.The developer drilled test wells on 3 of the lots, one of which is the one we're interested in. Here's the problem.
The test well was drilled 140', and tested out at only 1 gpm. I talked to both the well driller that drilled the well, and another that does work in the area. Both indicated that reliable wells have been hit or miss in the general area. I'm told that 10 gpm is about the minimum they like to see for unrestricted use, and 20 is much better. The other two test wells tested at 10 and 15 gpm respectively but are at the other side of the development, about 1500 and 2500 feet away respectively. None of the sites closer to the good wells are available. The drillers indicate drilling deeper won't help because there is a salt water aquifer farther down. Wells on the properties surrounding the development range from 3 gpm to 20, with more on the low side.
I'm told with a low yield well, I can put in a storage tank of 500+ gallons that is supplied from the well and it then allows normal flow. I'm also told this would be adequate for normal household use, but would not be sufficient for lawn watering or extensive gardening, etc. I'm not too worried about the lawn, other than putting it in initially, but do garden and landscape extensively.
Other option would be a big cistern, rain fed or supplied from a truck.
I"ve lived the last 10 years with a low yield spring feeding a storage tank, and it has been a problem several times, so I am not keen on that approach.
My options as I see them:
- Walk away and wait for a better lot. We do know of another lot that is less desireable for other reasons but in an area of reliable wells.
- I've talked to the developer and they would probably be willing to accept an offer that was contingent on us drilling another well (at our expense) and finding a higher yield, at least 10 gpm. This would cost about 00-2500. The well drillers are more than willing to do this, but think the probability of success is less than 50%. FWIW the lot is 5 acres and if we picked a site at the opposite end of the lot from the current site it would be about 250 feet closer to the two better wells.
I'd like to hear from others with low yield well experiences and general opinions as to which way to go. Right now I'm leaning toward option 2. We are not under any particular deadline to find a lot, other than a general desire to build our new place and move as soon as possible.
TIA,
Paul snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com (you know what to leave out)