Hi. Here in Newfoundland, Canada and Artesian well is drilled down at
usually around 200', a casing is put in the drilled hole and water is
pushed up through the ground using a pump in most cases.

marson wrote:
not sure what you mean by artesian well. around here, it is a well
where the water comes to the surface naturally. only occurs on very
specific sites. also in minnesota, the health department regulates
wells. i believe shallow wells aren't even legal, since they draw on
shallow groundwater which can be contaminated. (i believe they have to
be at least 50' deep).

wrote:
Hi. Here in Newfoundland, Canada and Artesian well is drilled down at
usually around 200', a casing is put in the drilled hole and water is
pushed up through the ground using a pump in most cases.

marson wrote:
not sure what you mean by artesian well. around here, it is a well
where the water comes to the surface naturally. only occurs on very
specific sites. also in minnesota, the health department regulates
wells. i believe shallow wells aren't even legal, since they draw on
shallow groundwater which can be contaminated. (i believe they have to
be at least 50' deep).

Marson's definition is the correct one. To be accurately called an
"artesian" the water must reach the surface on its own, no pump. What
you are referring to is a "drilled well".

Back to your original question. Shallow, dug wells are risky for two
reasons (both already mentioned.

Contamination
Unreliable flow unless you luck out and hit a very shallow aquifer.

The equipment needed for both wells is the same. Pump, pressure tank,
control equipment, pipe, wire. Of course the deep drilled well will
use more pipe and wire but that is the only difference (other than
cost)

Harry K

On 16 May 2006 04:42:20 -0700,
wrote:

Hi. Here in Newfoundland, Canada and Artesian well is drilled down at
usually around 200', a casing is put in the drilled hole and water is
pushed up through the ground using a pump in most cases.

marson wrote:
not sure what you mean by artesian well. around here, it is a well
where the water comes to the surface naturally. only occurs on very
specific sites. also in minnesota, the health department regulates
wells. i believe shallow wells aren't even legal, since they draw on
shallow groundwater which can be contaminated. (i believe they have to
be at least 50' deep).

That's a drilled well or non-artesian well.

On 16 May 2006 04:42:20 -0700,
wrote:
Hi. Here in Newfoundland, Canada and Artesian well is drilled down at
usually around 200', a casing is put in the drilled hole and water is
pushed up through the ground using a pump in most cases.

If it is pumped, it is not an artesian well... An artesian well can be
drilled or natural, but the key ingredient is that it must be under
enough natural pressure for the water to come to the surface on its
own...

Grumman-581 wrote:
On 16 May 2006 04:42:20 -0700,
wrote:

Hi. Here in Newfoundland, Canada and Artesian well is drilled down at
usually around 200', a casing is put in the drilled hole and water is
pushed up through the ground using a pump in most cases.


If it is pumped, it is not an artesian well... An artesian well can be
drilled or natural, but the key ingredient is that it must be under
enough natural pressure for the water to come to the surface on its
own...

Poor definition.

According to the US Geological Survey, any subsurface water that is
under pressure underground is artesian, even if the pressure is not
strong enough to cause the water to flow to the surface.

The artesian surface needs only to be moderately above the confining
rock layer in order to be classified as artesian. Wells in Brunswick
Georgia in the 1880s were so strongly artesian that they could supply
multistory buildings without pumping, however today, almost all of these
wells require pumping to get the water to the surface as there has been
so much depletion of the aquifer.