Well,

I have finally got around to backfilling drainage pipes in the culverts of
my yard. In one part of the yard, there was always a soft spot. Turns out
that it is a natural spring, and it continues to bubble up through the new
fill.

It is close enough to a drain (20') that I think I can excavate the fill and
put in a french drain to trap the water and direct it to the the drain
before it reaches the surface. Some landscape fabric, a truckload of gravel,
some slotted drain pipe, and a day or so of digging, installing and
backfilling and it should work.

But, before I do that I thought I would check with others about the
possibility of using the water for irrigation. We have had some long hot
summers without much rain lately, and the spring is ideally located to
service an area (where I will plant grass and shrubs) that is far from the
water of the house. We do not have any other type of sprinkler systems (on a
well), but this just might make sense.

I have ideas of burying a holding tank, directing the water into the tank,
and then pumping it out into a pressurized tank for the sprinkler lines.
But, I haven't done anything like this before and need some technical
references to see if it is viable.

Anyone have experience they would like to share?

Thanks,
Robert

Consider digging a big, deep hole, lining it with Visqueen except where the
water enters, placing a 12" PVC pipe in it vertically and then backfilling
with large stone. This would make a holding tank without the need to
actually purchase one. The 12" PVC would be sufficient to hold a sump pump
that could be used to drain the tank for irrigation.

Have you made sure that this isn't a failed septic line? I know it is a
rare possibility, but it just might be something other than a spring.

--

Tom Gauldin, Las Vegas NV
NEW EMAIL
NEW PHONE (702) 263-8804 voice/fax

"Robert Gray" wrote in message
. com...
Well,

I have finally got around to backfilling drainage pipes in the culverts of
my yard. In one part of the yard, there was always a soft spot. Turns out
that it is a natural spring, and it continues to bubble up through the new
fill.

It is close enough to a drain (20') that I think I can excavate the fill
and
put in a french drain to trap the water and direct it to the the drain
before it reaches the surface. Some landscape fabric, a truckload of
gravel,
some slotted drain pipe, and a day or so of digging, installing and
backfilling and it should work.

But, before I do that I thought I would check with others about the
possibility of using the water for irrigation. We have had some long hot
summers without much rain lately, and the spring is ideally located to
service an area (where I will plant grass and shrubs) that is far from the
water of the house. We do not have any other type of sprinkler systems (on
a
well), but this just might make sense.

I have ideas of burying a holding tank, directing the water into the tank,
and then pumping it out into a pressurized tank for the sprinkler lines.
But, I haven't done anything like this before and need some technical
references to see if it is viable.

Anyone have experience they would like to share?

Thanks,
Robert

Consider this, it takes 27,154 gallons to apply 1" of water to 1 acre. You
need to figure the flow rate of the spring and then the area you plan to
irrigate. Generally you would need this water during the drought. Are you
sure the spring is viable in the summer?

--
Baine

"Robert Gray" wrote in message
. com...
Well,

I have finally got around to backfilling drainage pipes in the culverts of
my yard. In one part of the yard, there was always a soft spot. Turns out
that it is a natural spring, and it continues to bubble up through the new
fill.

It is close enough to a drain (20') that I think I can excavate the fill
and
put in a french drain to trap the water and direct it to the the drain
before it reaches the surface. Some landscape fabric, a truckload of
gravel,
some slotted drain pipe, and a day or so of digging, installing and
backfilling and it should work.

But, before I do that I thought I would check with others about the
possibility of using the water for irrigation. We have had some long hot
summers without much rain lately, and the spring is ideally located to
service an area (where I will plant grass and shrubs) that is far from the
water of the house. We do not have any other type of sprinkler systems (on
a
well), but this just might make sense.

I have ideas of burying a holding tank, directing the water into the tank,
and then pumping it out into a pressurized tank for the sprinkler lines.
But, I haven't done anything like this before and need some technical
references to see if it is viable.

Anyone have experience they would like to share?

Thanks,
Robert

Interesting idea - 'big hole filled with rocks and sump pump'

My first reaction is to say no, definitely not a failed septic line. It is
more than 100' from our septic tank, and on the other side of the house.
But, who knows?

If I implemented your idea, would I cap off the system - sort of like a
shallow well? Would the sump pump have enough pressure while running to move
the water through a sprinkler head?

Robert

"Tom Gauldin" wrote in message
news:0IZoa.33693$e73.26770@fed1read04...
Consider digging a big, deep hole, lining it with Visqueen except where
the
water enters, placing a 12" PVC pipe in it vertically and then backfilling
with large stone. This would make a holding tank without the need to
actually purchase one. The 12" PVC would be sufficient to hold a sump
pump
that could be used to drain the tank for irrigation.

Have you made sure that this isn't a failed septic line? I know it is a
rare possibility, but it just might be something other than a spring.

--

Tom Gauldin, Las Vegas NV
NEW EMAIL
NEW PHONE (702) 263-8804 voice/fax

"Robert Gray" wrote in message
. com...
Well,

I have finally got around to backfilling drainage pipes in the culverts
of
my yard. In one part of the yard, there was always a soft spot. Turns
out
that it is a natural spring, and it continues to bubble up through the
new
fill.

It is close enough to a drain (20') that I think I can excavate the fill
and
put in a french drain to trap the water and direct it to the the drain
before it reaches the surface. Some landscape fabric, a truckload of
gravel,
some slotted drain pipe, and a day or so of digging, installing and
backfilling and it should work.

But, before I do that I thought I would check with others about the
possibility of using the water for irrigation. We have had some long hot
summers without much rain lately, and the spring is ideally located to
service an area (where I will plant grass and shrubs) that is far from
the
water of the house. We do not have any other type of sprinkler systems
(on
a
well), but this just might make sense.

I have ideas of burying a holding tank, directing the water into the
tank,
and then pumping it out into a pressurized tank for the sprinkler lines.
But, I haven't done anything like this before and need some technical
references to see if it is viable.

Anyone have experience they would like to share?

Thanks,
Robert

I'd keep it as simple as possible. Just get a big enough pump to supply
about 30 psi to the highest sprinkler head.

--

Tom Gauldin, Las Vegas NV
NEW EMAIL
NEW PHONE (702) 263-8804 voice/fax

"Robert Gray" wrote in message
. com...
Interesting idea - 'big hole filled with rocks and sump pump'

My first reaction is to say no, definitely not a failed septic line. It is
more than 100' from our septic tank, and on the other side of the house.
But, who knows?

If I implemented your idea, would I cap off the system - sort of like a
shallow well? Would the sump pump have enough pressure while running to
move
the water through a sprinkler head?

Robert

"Tom Gauldin" wrote in message
news:0IZoa.33693$e73.26770@fed1read04...
Consider digging a big, deep hole, lining it with Visqueen except where
the
water enters, placing a 12" PVC pipe in it vertically and then
backfilling
with large stone. This would make a holding tank without the need to
actually purchase one. The 12" PVC would be sufficient to hold a sump
pump
that could be used to drain the tank for irrigation.

Have you made sure that this isn't a failed septic line? I know it is a
rare possibility, but it just might be something other than a spring.

--

Tom Gauldin, Las Vegas NV
NEW EMAIL
NEW PHONE (702) 263-8804 voice/fax

"Robert Gray" wrote in message
. com...
Well,

I have finally got around to backfilling drainage pipes in the
culverts
of
my yard. In one part of the yard, there was always a soft spot. Turns
out
that it is a natural spring, and it continues to bubble up through the
new
fill.

It is close enough to a drain (20') that I think I can excavate the
fill
and
put in a french drain to trap the water and direct it to the the drain
before it reaches the surface. Some landscape fabric, a truckload of
gravel,
some slotted drain pipe, and a day or so of digging, installing and
backfilling and it should work.

But, before I do that I thought I would check with others about the
possibility of using the water for irrigation. We have had some long
hot
summers without much rain lately, and the spring is ideally located to
service an area (where I will plant grass and shrubs) that is far from
the
water of the house. We do not have any other type of sprinkler systems
(on
a
well), but this just might make sense.

I have ideas of burying a holding tank, directing the water into the
tank,
and then pumping it out into a pressurized tank for the sprinkler
lines.
But, I haven't done anything like this before and need some technical
references to see if it is viable.

Anyone have experience they would like to share?

Thanks,
Robert

Thanks Baine for the application ratio,

Good point about the summer dry spells. Seems to me that this spot is
particularlly wet in the spring. I just might want to excavate a small
hole - maybe a four foot circle about three feet deep. Run an overflow tench
that will drain it off when it fills. Then see if it stays filled all
summer. Might need to use the big rocks to stabilize the walls. I can
always implement the pump idea next year - if it produces steady water.
30,000 gallons is a lot of water!

How can I measure the flow? Catch the water coming out the overflow drain
and measure it over a period of time? There are two potential uses. A
shrub/flower bed - maybe 25'x25' - directly around the spring. Two lawn
areas ~ 20'x200' each (with elevation running hgiher away from the the
spring area). Based on 8k sqaure feet, I would need a bit more than 5k
gals.for the one inch

Or, at only 625 sq ft for the bed area, that would be 425 gals. If the
spring produces 1 gal per hour, then I could water the bed every 17 days
with one inch of water - or something like 1/2 inch of water every week.
Assuming of course that the hole can hold 210 gals.

But it would not be useful if it slows down during the drought...

Robert

"Baine Carruthers" wrote in message
. ..
Consider this, it takes 27,154 gallons to apply 1" of water to 1 acre.
You
need to figure the flow rate of the spring and then the area you plan to
irrigate. Generally you would need this water during the drought. Are
you
sure the spring is viable in the summer?

--
Baine

"Robert Gray" wrote in message
. com...
Well,

I have finally got around to backfilling drainage pipes in the culverts
of
my yard. In one part of the yard, there was always a soft spot. Turns
out
that it is a natural spring, and it continues to bubble up through the
new
fill.

It is close enough to a drain (20') that I think I can excavate the fill
and
put in a french drain to trap the water and direct it to the the drain
before it reaches the surface. Some landscape fabric, a truckload of
gravel,
some slotted drain pipe, and a day or so of digging, installing and
backfilling and it should work.

But, before I do that I thought I would check with others about the
possibility of using the water for irrigation. We have had some long hot
summers without much rain lately, and the spring is ideally located to
service an area (where I will plant grass and shrubs) that is far from
the
water of the house. We do not have any other type of sprinkler systems
(on
a
well), but this just might make sense.

I have ideas of burying a holding tank, directing the water into the
tank,
and then pumping it out into a pressurized tank for the sprinkler lines.
But, I haven't done anything like this before and need some technical
references to see if it is viable.

Anyone have experience they would like to share?

Thanks,
Robert

Robert Gray wrote:

Interesting idea - 'big hole filled with rocks and sump pump'

My first reaction is to say no, definitely not a failed septic line. It is
more than 100' from our septic tank, and on the other side of the house.
But, who knows?

100' from the tank is nothing when you consider the lines running from
the tank are several hundred feet long. Is this spot up or downhill
from the tank? If downhill, is there a big drop, or a gradual one? Any
chance you could find the original septic permit, from builder or
possibly county, to find where the drain field was supposed to be
located?

Chuck

Catch the water coming out the overflow drain
and measure it over a period of time? Yes. You are on the right track.
Figure out what you have to work with and when it is available. That would
be a good starting point.

Our peak Et rate (a term used to measure the amount of water used) for cool
season turf ,which usually occurs during the summer, is 1.5" per week.
Applying an amount somewhat less than this would be a good conservation
strategy for drought periods.

--
Baine

"Robert Gray" wrote in message
. com...
Thanks Baine for the application ratio,

Good point about the summer dry spells. Seems to me that this spot is
particularlly wet in the spring. I just might want to excavate a small
hole - maybe a four foot circle about three feet deep. Run an overflow
tench
that will drain it off when it fills. Then see if it stays filled all
summer. Might need to use the big rocks to stabilize the walls. I can
always implement the pump idea next year - if it produces steady water.
30,000 gallons is a lot of water!

How can I measure the flow? Catch the water coming out the overflow drain
and measure it over a period of time? There are two potential uses. A
shrub/flower bed - maybe 25'x25' - directly around the spring. Two lawn
areas ~ 20'x200' each (with elevation running hgiher away from the the
spring area). Based on 8k sqaure feet, I would need a bit more than 5k
gals.for the one inch

Or, at only 625 sq ft for the bed area, that would be 425 gals. If the
spring produces 1 gal per hour, then I could water the bed every 17 days
with one inch of water - or something like 1/2 inch of water every week.
Assuming of course that the hole can hold 210 gals.

But it would not be useful if it slows down during the drought...

Robert

"Baine Carruthers" wrote in message
. ..
Consider this, it takes 27,154 gallons to apply 1" of water to 1 acre.
You
need to figure the flow rate of the spring and then the area you plan to
irrigate. Generally you would need this water during the drought. Are
you
sure the spring is viable in the summer?

--
Baine

"Robert Gray" wrote in message
. com...
Well,

I have finally got around to backfilling drainage pipes in the
culverts
of
my yard. In one part of the yard, there was always a soft spot. Turns
out
that it is a natural spring, and it continues to bubble up through the
new
fill.

It is close enough to a drain (20') that I think I can excavate the
fill
and
put in a french drain to trap the water and direct it to the the drain
before it reaches the surface. Some landscape fabric, a truckload of
gravel,
some slotted drain pipe, and a day or so of digging, installing and
backfilling and it should work.

But, before I do that I thought I would check with others about the
possibility of using the water for irrigation. We have had some long
hot
summers without much rain lately, and the spring is ideally located to
service an area (where I will plant grass and shrubs) that is far from
the
water of the house. We do not have any other type of sprinkler systems
(on
a
well), but this just might make sense.

I have ideas of burying a holding tank, directing the water into the
tank,
and then pumping it out into a pressurized tank for the sprinkler
lines.
But, I haven't done anything like this before and need some technical
references to see if it is viable.

Anyone have experience they would like to share?

Thanks,
Robert

Wow, Lucky you!

You do not need a pressure tank for this application. You can simply
install a sump or plastic catch basin / junction box used to connect 4 in
corrugatd plastic pipe used in leach fields for septic tanks and in creating
french drains. You then simply put a sump pump that has a water level
activated float switch that will turn on the pump when a desired volume of
water in the sump has been reached.
I'm wondering what kind of water volume is produced by this spring?
You might also want to consider a great little product available from some
Home Depot Stores and through their web site. It is the Rain Drip snap
together low flow irrigation system. It is available with drippers or even
various spray pattern sprinkler heads.
I've installed several of these kits and hand watering in the horrendously
humid and hot summers here in Memphis, TN. is now completely automatic and
care free as I've hooked the Rain drip system up to several $22.00
electronic watering valves also available from the Home Depot garden hose
watering aisle. Yes, I am a Home Depot Stock Holder and work there in the
Kitchen Design / Appliance Dept. You can find similar products at Lowes
however, the product I found at Lowes did not appear to be as simple and
easy to use as the Rain Drip garden sprinkling system.
I would love to have your situation. I would probably create a rubbber
lined fish / lilly pond since you have a natural spring, the water is likely
to stay nice and clear. The overflow would be piped to the above mentioned
catch basin. I would use one of the plastic basement sump pump basins again
available from H.D. or Lowes that has about a three foot depth and is about
18 to 24 in in diameter. The pump capacity and outlet pressure depends on
how much volume and distance you will be attempting to pump to. You may also
need to use different zoning valves as simple as the one mentioned above
used in multiples so your water is sent to different beds at different
times.
Sounds like fun!
Rich

"Robert Gray" wrote in message
. com...
Well,

I have finally got around to backfilling drainage pipes in the culverts of
my yard. In one part of the yard, there was always a soft spot. Turns out
that it is a natural spring, and it continues to bubble up through the new
fill.

It is close enough to a drain (20') that I think I can excavate the fill
and
put in a french drain to trap the water and direct it to the the drain
before it reaches the surface. Some landscape fabric, a truckload of
gravel,
some slotted drain pipe, and a day or so of digging, installing and
backfilling and it should work.

But, before I do that I thought I would check with others about the
possibility of using the water for irrigation. We have had some long hot
summers without much rain lately, and the spring is ideally located to
service an area (where I will plant grass and shrubs) that is far from the
water of the house. We do not have any other type of sprinkler systems (on
a
well), but this just might make sense.

I have ideas of burying a holding tank, directing the water into the tank,
and then pumping it out into a pressurized tank for the sprinkler lines.
But, I haven't done anything like this before and need some technical
references to see if it is viable.

Anyone have experience they would like to share?

Thanks,
Robert

Spot is downhill from the tank, gradual slope.

Just called the folks at the county (Wake County, NC 919 856-7400) and gave
them my address. They will research the property and let me know in 3-5 days
what they find on the original septic plan..

Thanks for the suggestion,
Robert

"C G" wrote in message
...
Robert Gray wrote:

Interesting idea - 'big hole filled with rocks and sump pump'

My first reaction is to say no, definitely not a failed septic line. It
is
more than 100' from our septic tank, and on the other side of the house.
But, who knows?

100' from the tank is nothing when you consider the lines running from
the tank are several hundred feet long. Is this spot up or downhill
from the tank? If downhill, is there a big drop, or a gradual one? Any
chance you could find the original septic permit, from builder or
possibly county, to find where the drain field was supposed to be
located?

Chuck

Also it could be the end of a pipe from a sump pump that has been burried
over the years and the water has found its way to the surface.

I think you need to dig down upstream of where the water is exiting to see
if there is a pipe.

"C G" wrote in message
...
Robert Gray wrote:

Interesting idea - 'big hole filled with rocks and sump pump'

My first reaction is to say no, definitely not a failed septic line. It
is
more than 100' from our septic tank, and on the other side of the house.
But, who knows?

100' from the tank is nothing when you consider the lines running from
the tank are several hundred feet long. Is this spot up or downhill
from the tank? If downhill, is there a big drop, or a gradual one? Any
chance you could find the original septic permit, from builder or
possibly county, to find where the drain field was supposed to be
located?

Chuck

Robert Gray wrote:

Spot is downhill from the tank, gradual slope.

Then it's very possible at least some of the water is from your septic
system.


Just called the folks at the county (Wake County, NC 919 856-7400) and gave
them my address. They will research the property and let me know in 3-5 days
what they find on the original septic plan..

Good plan, wish I'd thought of it :-)

Also it could be the end of a pipe from a sump pump that has been burried
over the years and the water has found its way to the surface.

I think you need to dig down upstream of where the water is exiting to see
if there is a pipe.

Wouldn't it be easier and simpler to just take a sample of the water
to a lab and see if there's anything in it that you don't want in your
vegetable garden?

Instead of getting a pump powerful enough to drive a sprinkler head,
abandon the sprinkler(s) entirely, and use drip irrigation, which uses
less water, anyway.

That's Freedom drains, if you please.

)

On Tue, 22 Apr 2003 12:16:06 GMT, "Rich"
wrote:

... connect 4 in
corrugatd plastic pipe used in leach fields for septic tanks and in creating
french drains.

"-olive" wrote in message
...


That's Freedom drains, if you please.

Is that to honor the French's ability to assert their freedom to make up
their own minds and not just cave in to U.S. demands?

Bob