Digging a shallow well using a hand auger - GIF

[Gadgeteer]

Been there... done that... twice. First was in Oregon. Helped an old neighbor turn the auger, but we didn't lift the dirt. We hooked a garden hose fitting on the upside of the T handle that had plugged ends. Hydraulics washed all of the loosened dirt up and out of the hole. Sure, it was a bit sloppy around the hole, but we were successful... we had our boots on. Hit water at 22', and went 3' more. Had a professional well crew come in to pump for reservoir. Neighbor watered a huge garden... never running out of water.

Second time was at the end of my backyard, a couple decades ago, four feet from the tiny creek that flows year-round. Stopped at 28'... never hit water or oil... damn! Clay all the way with a few rocks the size of a thumbnail, every now and then.