Growing crops requires regular water replenishment and to provide water, in the early days, we hauled 5 gallon jugs from our house in Murrieta and 'bucket watered'. We eventually installed a 2200 gallon water tank which allowed for truck delivery at $300 a truckload.
Watering Merlot grapes with Murrieta water.
Watering Merlot grapes with Murrieta water.
We saved enough money and in 2008 hired a douser to locate the best locations for a well. He identified four locations on the front ten acres.
The small crossed orange flags signify the location to drill the well. Clearing the area for the drillers and moving the tank up to the top of the hill became our next priority.
The small crossed orange flags signify the location to drill the well. Clearing the area for the drillers and moving the tank up to the top of the hill became our next priority.
Area is cleared and well drilling truck in place. L.O. Lynch out of San Jacinto on site August 2008.
The drillers located a trace of water at 100 feet with a well rating of 50 Gallons per Minute at 255 feet. The video shows my excitement and no...I didn't drink the water
(Note: The arrow-into-a-box icon in the lower right hand corner allows you to download the video onto your computer- this helps if you have a slow internet connection).
(Note: The arrow-into-a-box icon in the lower right hand corner allows you to download the video onto your computer- this helps if you have a slow internet connection).
The 'well shack' houses the AC/DC Grundfos controller that ties the well, well tank, and solar panels together. The shack was a demonstration model that came to Chihuahua Valley disassembled on a small trailer towed by our Jeep.
Tina and Max show off our first structure on the property.
Tina and Max show off our first structure on the property.
Digging the hole for the solar panel support pole. Perhaps a little 'over engineered' at 3 foot wide and 4 foot deep which was filled with 30 bags of cement.
The solar panels will run the well pump in the shack.
Pole, rack, lightning suppressor, panels and grounding provisions in place. Max appreciates the new-found shade while he ensures things continue to progress.
Time for the big test- getting water from the well using the sun with a whole bunch of help from mother nature......
Time for the big test- getting water from the well using the sun with a whole bunch of help from mother nature......
This video is taken the day the solar panels were completed and the last wires were spliced. The sun now powers the well; only slightly less amazing than that day we hit water .
(Note: The arrow-into-a-box icon in the lower right hand corner allows you to download the video onto your computer- this helps if you have a slow internet connection).
(Note: The arrow-into-a-box icon in the lower right hand corner allows you to download the video onto your computer- this helps if you have a slow internet connection).
Max takes a break.
Project complete; well, well tank, and solar panels all integrated at the well shack.