How to empty a 14 feet deep well and its sediment!

[gizmo_the_great]

Hi

I own a Victorian House - built in 1896, in Derbyshire, UK.

I discovered today that covered over by a concrete patio is a 14ft (at least) water well! Proper brick construction, hexagonal in shape. About 4 foot wide. There is about 10 feet of water in it and abround 4 5 feet of sediment.

I have emptied about 5 feet of water by hand, using a bucket, which has exposed the brickwork and a clay pipe that appears to feed into it at a slight downward angle, suggesting to me that water feeds into it from somewhere. But it may equally be a spring fed well, perhaps.

The water in it was a little smelly, but relatively clear, so definately contained rain water or underground water.

I very much want to keep this superb find! I intend to build it up into a traditional Jack & Gill style wishing well with a little roof etc, but will need to cap it was an iron grill or some kind of safety cap.

Before I do that, though, I want to drain the water it holds and empty the sediment. But I'd like to rummage through the sediment to see if it contains any relics!

How can I pump out this much water and sediment myself, from that kind of depth? Do hire companies sell such pumping devices? If so, what are they called as I know not what to ask for.

Also, I have contacted a local historian (waiting a reply) but is there anything I have to do legally? Do I HAVE to notify the council, for example?

Thanks a lot

View media item 80575

 

[foxhole]

http://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb...OzsojcPT0m7s6AnHQ6xAJrQioHLK14-BTgaAgjt8P8HAQ

Will shift water in minutes, you will have to climb in to shift silt but may be dangerous without help.
Or if mains power is not available these do a good job via 12volt battery.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004TL0X3U?psc=1

 

[Bosswhite]

DONT go down in the well, air could be toxic. !!!

Water could be coming from the water table so you could find you cannot stop the water getting in without specialist equiptment

Consult with your local Water Authority/ Council, you can remove a certain amount of water but after that you will require a licence, water is the property of the Water Authority

 

[Newboy]

Looks more like a Victorian soakaway to me.

I'm willing to bet that if the sediment is removed there's a honeycomb brick base to it.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Phone around for a drainage engineer, they could empty that in minutes.

My machine can handle 10 gallons a minute. (45 litres)

Andy

 

[Clearview]

Agree with Bosswhite, NEVER go down a well - multiple fatalities have resulted. Having said that, from your picture it looks impossible to do. But it does sound like a soakaway if there's a pipe leading into it.