I bought a property in a foreclosure from a bank, purchased "as is". When I was walking the property I noticed the well head is broken off about an inch above ground. It is a 6" pipe. How would I go about repairing this?

 

Sounds like it was hit by a car or a snow plow.

Around here, as long as the pipe hasn't fracture much deeper than the soil line, they usually cut the pipe and place a 7" coupling and an additional piece of 6" casing inside to bring it back up to a normal exposure.

People used to keep the well head below grade just to avoid this kind of damage; but then they couldn't find the well without a metal detector, so we now have regulations requiring at least 18" of exposure (just enough to get smacked).

 

Thanks Vermont. The weeds are about 18" tall and it took us an hour to find it! I don't think this is recent damage, there is only the inch or so above ground, the rest of it is gone. What kind of coupler would I use? It has to be water tight, correct?

 

I'm no professional . . . . just a Real Estate Broker who's had to deal with broken well casings; but I think a call to a few Well Drillers will allow you to find someone who'll sell you the appropriate sleeve to serve as a coupling, and then you can drill and tap a few holes (3 up and 3 down ?) and insert a few set screws through the sleeve (coupling) in order to stabilize its position. Local conditions will determine whether it needs to be waterproof; but that could be accomplished with silicon caulk.

A Septic Tank Supply House may also have the appropriate stock available, and may be more accustomed to doing business with a DIY'er.

You may find that a short length of 7" PVC will serve you as a coupling Is the Cast Iron Cap of the Well Head still laying around there ?

Here's one at Grainger:


Grainger may also have the other materials you would need, or a repair kit to refer to or duplicate if you're so inclined.

 

The cap is there but it has a piece broken off it. I sort of know a guy who works for a well company. I should probably have them check out the system anyway. Thanks for the help.

 

And here's a link to a Site describing how a "professional" would handle a leak or the break in the Casing (probably far deeper below grade than where yours is located):

Water Well Casing Leak Symptoms, Diagnosis, Repairs - leaks in the main well bore, pipe, or casing

PS: That missing piece in the "Cap" is further evidence of what probably happened; the Asset Manager during Foreclosure hired someone to plow the snow who had never been there before, and didn't know where the well was located . . . . probably didn't know he even hit it. Let's hope no one pulled the pump out and stole it (happens frequently on vacant foreclosures!)