Chile Forum

El Puelche, can you spot me a loan? Just for a few weeks, hey buddy, the fridge is empty and you wouldn't want me to have to drink Cristal would yah?

I need some help here. I am looking at purchasing a parcela near Panguipulli. We are organic farmers and our prime concern is water. The last three winters have been less then average in regards to rainfall. Also, most of the wells in the area are hand dug but tend to dry out by mid-summer. I figured the way to alleviate the problem would be to dig a pozo profundo.
I sent RFQ's to a few companies that dig wells. When I received my first quote, I nearly fell out of my chair. 19 Million CLP! They quoted an 8" bore at 60 meters, a 8" steel casing, (I think I could go with a smaller diameter bore and casing) a 4 hp pump, (I could probably go with a 2 or even a 1 hp pump), the testing of water, granted they do everything but the price is more then I want to pay. We just need water for a house, the greenhouse and two huertas. We also plan on switching to drip irrigation once we make the move so that should also minimize water usage.
This has been a show stopper for me so any input from people that live in this area would be greatly appreciated. I also think that this is going to be an ongoing problem even in Southern Chile as weather tendencies tend to indicate a dryer climate.
If anyone has had any experiences with any well drillers, please share them. If you want to recommend any companies, please send that to my private email so that the policies of this site are not violated. Thank you all in advance.

Hi Razmus,

Did you ever get your well drilled? We are currently attempting to drill a pozo....not very profundo.....We really hope to manage with the small portable rig. I will let you know how we do, but would love to hear of your success. We live out on the road to Chauquen, El Cortijo,outside Panguipulli. Love for you to stop by.

dead thread. check the dates.

I'd like to wake up this thread. Anyone find any links to websites showing aquifers or hydrologist links? I am in region 7. Yesterday was day 1 of well digging, now 20 metres at 35,000 CPs per metre, pipes included. No water yet. Neighbour has shallow well at 12 meters... I want a deep well.

Last night, dreamt the water vein was maybe 30 feet away from where presently digging.

Digging at present site because a local dowser said there was a water vein in that spot. When I asked him what I could pay him for his time and advice ( he was onsite for 20 minutes, picked up and delivered back home, whole transaction took 45 minutes. He said 40,000 CPs. Guess he is a specialist at 40,000 CPs per hour. On the other hand, when my contractor called this local dowser a few days later for a question about a well digger (who never showed up, his equipment broke) , he told me the dowser sounded drunk. Maybe he put the 40,000 CPs to liquid relief. , maybe bad cell phone connection?

Anyway, this is Chile... trying to go with the flow (or lack thereof) . Trying to decide if we continue to dig where he suggested... does a drinking propensity negate the ability to be a good dowser? Do I change the digging spot to where I dreamt it should be? My setting is hilltop. Anyone dug a well in region 7? All help totally appreciated.

Hola - No dowser used, just logic. I ended up digging a hand dug well at the lowest spot bordering the estero, found water at 3 meters. This summer was fairly dry but my well never dried up. Next year, I plan on digging a meter more. Also, a vertiente that feeds the estero starts on my property and I may dig a second well above the vertiente depending on this winter's rainfall.
By the way, I was shown a hydrological map of this sector that initially scared me away from buying property here but it turns out, there are plenty of esteros and vertientes. I just asked a lot of questions and went with my gut.

Thanks rasmataz, great advice but here's more information... the previous owner dug a 10 metre deep well at lowest part of land. This well is about 30 metres away from and below his existing septic system. It is not good to have your drinking water supply below your septic system. My other choice would be to deepen that well but how deep would it need to be? How long will it take for the septic system refuse to decay and no longer contaminate that water supply? Am installing new septic system.

Are you still in XIV region? Here in VII there are not plenty of esteros.

Boy, you got me there, I have no clue how to deal with the current septic system situation. In my situation, most of the water come from "ojos" along the wall of the well, If I dig deeper, I was told if you perforate water from below, do not dig past it, stop that is as deep your well should go.
If you Google hand dug wells, you will find info from Oxfam and other resources about hand dug wells. I will see if I saved any of this stuff in my hard drive and post the links.
Yes, still in XIV region. Suerte.