Any well (water) experts on here

So my main water source for the cows is an old well on the property.  The well is right at 420 feet deep.  When we put the pump in the well the static line was right at 100 feet from the top.

When we put the pump in we put well pipe down 220 feet.  (Why 220 feet I can't really remember).

Over the past month we have adeed a few more head, and it has been as hot as I can remember over a long period of time.  So in the past three weeks my well has routinely "run dry".  I switch the water source off to our local rural water to keep tanks full etc.  I usually let the well sit for a night, and start it again in the morning.  It keeps up for a few days, and then same thing it runs dry.  Repeat process.  It isn't a huge deal other than the rural water bill, and the pain of switching it over every time.

Assuming my well pump can support it, would it work (and make sense) for me to add an additional 140 foot of pipe early this winter?  It is a six inch well so that would give me an extra 210 gallons of water in the well that currently I am not taking advantage of.  Or would adding the pipe be simply moving the static line lower?  Would it still run out as often?  Anything else I need to think of?

GLZ said:

So my main water source for the cows is an old well on the property.  The well is right at 420 feet deep.  When we put the pump in the well the static line was right at 100 feet from the top.

When we put the pump in we put well pipe down 220 feet.  (Why 220 feet I can't really remember).

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our well is similar in scope except our static line isn't as deep.  yours might be that deep for intrusion knowledge for your local area.  deeper costs more money obviously.  you might just need to be a little lower (with the pump, not the well).  you could have someone put in a more powerful pump lower and calc when you run out of water and get some knowledge on putting a lower power one on so the water can move in as it moves out.  you might just be right at the level.  chambero probably knows a lot more.

we also use a low volume pump to get around sediment filling up our tanks (it's for drinking water) and yes, it is a pain to remove the built up sediment.

check and see if the pump can handle pumping from a deeper level.  If it can go ahead. We usually go to the bottom and then pick them up 5 to 10 feet to keep the dirt from clouding up the water. The pump will stir the sediment in the bottom of the well when it starts. 

if the well was drilled 420 ft it was for a reason, the well driller can measure gallons per min so he probably kept going till he was comfortable he had enough flow. my advice would be to drop the pump down 5 ft off the bottom. you will probably need a larger pump, one run off 220 volt and 1/2 horse

I don't want to sound like a smart alleck.....and sure don't intend to, but why not add an extra tanke to pump into, for more reserve water? I realize that it also has to be filled, but you wouldn't have to run your pump as hard, or as often.

pjkjr4 said:

I don't want to sound like a smart alleck.....and sure don't intend to, but why not add an extra tanke to pump into, for more reserve water? I realize that it also has to be filled, but you wouldn't have to run your pump as hard, or as often.

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that's what we do, mostly for fire protection though.

Agree with dropping the pump to within 5/10 ft. from the bottom of your well is the first thing to do. That extra depth is your stored water reserve. Do you water your cows with a volume type tank or is your water for your cows an automatic drink type waterer? The volume type of tank should help your situation.

Talk to your well driller about dropping the submersible.  Your aquifer is not providing static underground recharge.  Are you within a couple miles of a town well or irrigation well?  With the heat and possible lack of precipitation your well is not refilling fast enough to meet your demand.

The low cost alternative would be to put your pump on a timer and let it run 2 hours on , 2 hours off, see if that helps.