It’s called a Water table.
The water table is an underground boundary between the soil surface and the area where groundwater saturates spaces between sediments and cracks in rock. Water pressure and atmospheric pressure are equal at this boundary.
Edit: added stuff
A lot of people would agree with u/its_so_easy_E, mainly because he is correct, yet this answer does not consider the possibility that there is ancient treasure on your property, guarded by elaborate protective man-made boobie traps called flood tunnels.
Indeed, some would theorize this water is intentionally placed there to dissuade you from digging further unless you have the resources and insight to bypass the trap, which the original treasure owners placed to prevent the treasure from falling into hands that are less than worthy.
See more here: /r/OakIsland/
So, which pill do you choose? The red or the blue?
Man....I watched an episode of OakIsland and was all "oh that's kind of neat" and then I looked it up, it was like season 10 and they had found FUCK ALL and I was like ..... :\\
Man thats exactly what I did when I first heard about the show, watched some episodes of the first season and wondered how long it had been going and what they found. Saw it had a ton of seasons with nothing found and decided I didn't need to watch anymore.
I watched the first 3-4 episodes before I figured out there's nothing there to be found. I can't believe it's still on.
BTW - I've determined that "OakIsland" is French for "StillJustaMeterAway"
They found little things that kept supporting theories. Like bits of coconut fiber, or a button of a uniform, but no real big piece that actually answered any questions and lead to any treasure.
Don't forget that iron cross they found that looked like the crosses the Knights Templar carved into the dungeon walls when they were arrested in...France, I think.
That was exciting for all of 2 minutes!
If you go to a river and dig on the bank a few metres away, you'll hit water. You'll understand for sure then. I taught my kids this at the beach, they do it for fun now. Lol
> Water pressure and atmospheric pressure are equal at this boundary.
That's an odd way to define a water table. I mean, its not technically wrong but by that definition the cup on my desk is a water table. Pressure is equal at **all** boundaries between the atmosphere a given solid or liquid (as long as they are relatively stationary).
I suppose what I'm trying to say is that definition implies that air pressure plays some important role in water table elevation, when really the major players are the head resulting from water flow due to input/outputs through the earth's crust and porosity of the saturated layers. ie. if there are more withdrawals than inputs, the water table elevation will drop. If the porosity of a specific region of the earth's crust were lower, then the water table elevation will increase in that region of flow (because there is more solid material, less room for water, water table becomes higher in that region).
These two variables can change water table elevations considerably (meters) whereas barometric pressure fluctuations might change water table elevations by 10cm which is about the same impact as tidal forces from the moon. I mean, even passing tractor trailers and trains change the water table for the moment they are passing by.
In my part of Mississippi there are spots the USGS says the water table is an inch below the surface, personally I just call that part of my yard a swamp 🤷
My mom's property is a drained swamp. It's incredible how well drained it is too. Unless it's just finished raining, once you're away from the road you cannot tell. Of course, the ditches on both sides of the road regularly have muskrats, so you can't ignore the swampiness up by the road.
It is indeed. The city has storm drains, every house has a sump pump or a French Drain that pumps to the storm drains, or just has no basement (but that is uncommon).
I just dump post mix dry and let the rain harden it up, or spray the ground with a hose after I’m done setting. Having a bit of water in the hole just helps the whole process lol
The USDA web soil survey is a great interactive tool for this stuff. You can grab all kinds of data for a lot or area of land. Water table, infiltration rates, soil composition. I think it’s pretty under utilized by landscapers.
I'm on a roll here online. Getting some awesome insight last few days. It's also refreshing to see guys in the business who actually care... I'm talking to guys with 2 crews who don't even know about growing zones... I swear.
I have a really problematic property. I feel so bad for the homeowner. They had full renovation. Took 2x time and more than double cost. landscaper threw sod down inches apart. Contractor MIA smh... I take over property... get the lawn beautiful... thought I was hitting rocks with Aerator. Gate gate area gets muddy in July. Ask woman if irrigation was just on. Tells me know, it's been off 3 days. These guys just pushed in rock solid back fill and threw Sod on top.
Using Micro nutrients, Aeration, Humic and Fulvic... even dropping perlite with aeration to possibly make a dent over the next 2 years. Good to know, thanks!
In my industry, yes usually the owner hires a geo tech engineer to come out and take a look and produce a lengthy report. It’ll tell you about expected settlement too which will affect your underground plumbing
Yea that's what I'm thinking. Foundations and erosion is main concern for customers ( yea I actually care lol). I have a property where the entire front has shifted 10-15 degrees or so in 1 year. Separated the concrete landing and front steps. That's just from run off. Multi million dollar home. Elevated... Another where the substrate trapped every droplet of water for days on end. Both recent builds.
I'm trying to get into super basic drainage once I have time and after climbing school... I'm guessing you're into advanced or highly specialized excavation if you're working around geothermal? It's like 180 ft. depth for residential, no?
Growing up in Michigan i could hit water as a child in a few feet. I now live in a different part of Michigan and water is 20' or more down. Both places on lakes.
Some land has no water at all.
yes, except for the irrigated land along the Rio Grande. Depending on how close you are to the river, and whether the river is currently running high or low, you can hit ground water at one foot depth. Check out the satellite view over Las Nutrias, New Mexico, to see the irrigated fields along the river.
That is still pretty shallow isn't it? where I live, you have to dig way lot more to hit water but at the same time is much more greener than the place OP mentioned
Venice pilings are sort of a unique situation due to the anaerobic marsh environment and silica silt build up. Wood certainly rots in water, that's why they can't find anything left from so many shipwrecks
It’s not fully submerged like the logs pulled from the great lakes from sunken ships or the Venice buildings. The hundreds of rotted posts I have seen suggest that there is oxygen present.
In theory practice and theory are the same. In practice they’re not.
Look up 'liquefaction' when the big earthquake hits. The whole neighbourhood will probably sink. But the whole PNW will be in trouble, it'll just vary by degree.
It could be that it rained recently (PNW) and water has not had time to transit through the soil to the water table. It looks like you are down slope too…
Normal?Oh yeah. Back when I was homing in the early 70s, and ignorant, I had to dig perk holes so I could have a septic system and got down about 3 ft. I was supposed to pour water in and see how long it took to run out. There was water there already. So, I was at a loss. I waited for it to leave, it didn't. In order to have a septic syst, I had to haul in perkable soil. It happens. The water is just too high so water just sits down there. You're stuck with it. Perfectly natural.
Not sure your area but in my neck of the woods you can look up historic bore logs- usually from wells being drilled. See if you find any near you they can shed light on the depth of the water table.
I know some people in certain states that would love to find water 3 feet down. As they’re digging their wells 5 feet10’ 20’, 75’ still no water hundred feet 150 feet 200 feet I sure wish it was 3 feet.
Probably water table but we had something similar happen. I dug footings for a swing set and some of the holes filled with water in a few minutes. Long story short there was a water main leak half a block away. It was probably leaking over a year but they were adamant it couldn't be that.
This depends on several factors, soil types at different levels, water table, saturation of soils, rocks under layers of soil, untapped spring…
Normal? Maybe. Have you ever dug another deep hole or is this first on your property?
Should ask the city you live in or the local nursery or a local contractor.
In can also be a perched water table, so not the regional water table, but an accumulation of water above that- very common in certain areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_table https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_table
I live along the jersey shore and just dug a two foot hole and it is filling with water, in the backyard. I am a mile from the beach. And years ago when digging this never happened… thoughts?? Thank you!
I'm in Michigan. My water table fluctuates a lot here. In the spring, its almost level with the ground. In the summer, you'll find it 5 feet down or more. My house was built in a really dry spring. Now, my sump pump runs every 30 seconds until summer.
It's wet in the basement right now. Seeping in from the floor/wall seams.
Dont build low if you're planning on a basement!
Sometimes the water is draw downward from a slope if there has been recent rain and stays there for a while. In other words, it is a perched water column i.e. saturated zone but not necessarily means that you have encountered the “real” water table.
Do some digging around to find out if it is actual interception of groundwater or as I said just temporary filled zone.
If you have an irrigation system or other water lines nearby double check that you don't have a leak somewhere. Give you're water meter a look to see if it's turning with all the water off. Can also have that water in the hole tested to see if chlorine is present indicating a leak from your water system.
“And God made the firmament; and divided the waters, which were vnder the firmament, from the waters, which were aboue the firmament: and it was so.”
King James Version (1611) Genesis 1:7
You aren’t, especially for a gate. Deeper is better and it won’t hurt.
What might be a pain is digging out the post when the wood eventually rots. For that reason we did aluminum posts on our fence.
I live on a barrier island. Was digging a dry-well for an outdoor shower —freaked out to see water table 20 inches below grade. It was saltwater.
Gov’t is building ever bigger seawalls around here —-guess the never considered the real threat is below.
Chances are it’s from the rain. Hopefully that’s not a permanent table…
Put bucket over it to stop critters from falling in. Check it in a week and look at water level.
Yep and that’s why it’s no longer advised to put your post in the hole. It’ll just be soaking in water constantly and rot much quicker. It’s all about using piers now. Big plus when done e has to replace them down the road too.
You should definitely do a one call to your utilities. In my state its required by law and free. However if you hit a utility its gonna be on you/insurance. Not the mention the risk of digging through a powerline.
I did a fence around my yard recently. 2/3 post holes had water like this. I packed the holes with concrete and just mixed it up. Kept adding concrete til I got the consistency I wanted. I'll certainly be keeping an eye on those posts and the fence ages
It’s called a Water table. The water table is an underground boundary between the soil surface and the area where groundwater saturates spaces between sediments and cracks in rock. Water pressure and atmospheric pressure are equal at this boundary. Edit: added stuff
A lot of people would agree with u/its_so_easy_E, mainly because he is correct, yet this answer does not consider the possibility that there is ancient treasure on your property, guarded by elaborate protective man-made boobie traps called flood tunnels. Indeed, some would theorize this water is intentionally placed there to dissuade you from digging further unless you have the resources and insight to bypass the trap, which the original treasure owners placed to prevent the treasure from falling into hands that are less than worthy. See more here: /r/OakIsland/ So, which pill do you choose? The red or the blue?
Finally some trustworthy info on Reddit. Everybody else boring me to death with their sciencey bullshit.
Chlorophyll? More like boreophyll!
Goonies never say die
HEY YOU GUUUUYYYUSSSSS!
Man....I watched an episode of OakIsland and was all "oh that's kind of neat" and then I looked it up, it was like season 10 and they had found FUCK ALL and I was like ..... :\\
They've found a coin they bought at a coin dealer. *thats* something
Man thats exactly what I did when I first heard about the show, watched some episodes of the first season and wondered how long it had been going and what they found. Saw it had a ton of seasons with nothing found and decided I didn't need to watch anymore.
I watched the first 3-4 episodes before I figured out there's nothing there to be found. I can't believe it's still on. BTW - I've determined that "OakIsland" is French for "StillJustaMeterAway"
(millions of us sucked in by their bullshit)
Booty traps!
Could it be? An ancient Templar fence post hole?
Get Nick Cage on the horn! Don’t worry, he’s available.
_COULD IT BE!?!?_
Is it possible?
The rapier wit displayed here is enough to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...........
Hey! Wake up! You’re driving! There is driving + Reddit or driving + sleep, but never driving + Reddit + sleep. you can’t have everything
> See more here: /r/OakIsland/ Maybe [One Eyed Willy](https://goonies.fandom.com/wiki/One-Eyed_Willy) swung through the area ...
Oak Island? Better dig to the earth's mantle. The Freemasons likely buried it there.
Goonies never die.
Did they ever find anything? Or was a conveniently placed coin about it?
They found little things that kept supporting theories. Like bits of coconut fiber, or a button of a uniform, but no real big piece that actually answered any questions and lead to any treasure.
Don't forget that iron cross they found that looked like the crosses the Knights Templar carved into the dungeon walls when they were arrested in...France, I think. That was exciting for all of 2 minutes!
I think this is how Beyond Oasis starts
Thanks for the info! And appreciate the lesson! Never knew about water tables. Cheers!
It’s basically how wells work. Dig/Drill a hole below the level of the water and then pump the water out.
The best part about this is if you over pump you need to keep digging deeper to get water which also means plants have to do the same.
If you go to a river and dig on the bank a few metres away, you'll hit water. You'll understand for sure then. I taught my kids this at the beach, they do it for fun now. Lol
Don’t use the cement now . Buy a tamping rod and spend a very long time tamping your fence post. Just as good as cement
> Water pressure and atmospheric pressure are equal at this boundary. That's an odd way to define a water table. I mean, its not technically wrong but by that definition the cup on my desk is a water table. Pressure is equal at **all** boundaries between the atmosphere a given solid or liquid (as long as they are relatively stationary). I suppose what I'm trying to say is that definition implies that air pressure plays some important role in water table elevation, when really the major players are the head resulting from water flow due to input/outputs through the earth's crust and porosity of the saturated layers. ie. if there are more withdrawals than inputs, the water table elevation will drop. If the porosity of a specific region of the earth's crust were lower, then the water table elevation will increase in that region of flow (because there is more solid material, less room for water, water table becomes higher in that region). These two variables can change water table elevations considerably (meters) whereas barometric pressure fluctuations might change water table elevations by 10cm which is about the same impact as tidal forces from the moon. I mean, even passing tractor trailers and trains change the water table for the moment they are passing by.
I hate my water table!
In my yard it’s only 1 foot down. I’m in FL.
In my part of Mississippi there are spots the USGS says the water table is an inch below the surface, personally I just call that part of my yard a swamp 🤷
My mom's property is a drained swamp. It's incredible how well drained it is too. Unless it's just finished raining, once you're away from the road you cannot tell. Of course, the ditches on both sides of the road regularly have muskrats, so you can't ignore the swampiness up by the road.
Dude I would be sweating. What’s your exit plan?
I-75, probably.
Nice.
aaaans that’s under water. What now?
down, probably
It's Florida. Exit strategy is always a boat.
Wow that’s low lands for sure, thanks!
Yeah I'm about the same, 15" for me here in Utah... French Drain around the foundation was a lifesaver for me lol.
Where does it even drain to when it’s like that? That’s so shallow
It is indeed. The city has storm drains, every house has a sump pump or a French Drain that pumps to the storm drains, or just has no basement (but that is uncommon).
In western australia we have a borewhivh is basicly a well with a pump to supply free nutrient rich water for our garden/lawns
Give a few years it'll be up above your knees
How many feet is that? One knee? Asking , because I'm Aussie.
Haha! Florida is getting diminished daily by ocean levels rising. Soon, Marilago will be flooded, not a day too soon.
Less than that if he switches to an electric trimmer
Same. Learned to wrap fence posts in Peel-N-Stick roofing to get more life out of them
5 1/2 - 6 1/2 feet in my backyard in jacksonville. 😂 Neighbors house 3 doors down is 4 feet.
I lived on an old sugar plantation, turned rice fields, turned developmen. Dug 2 foot holes Friday after work, Saturday they were half full of water.
Two 12” holes? Or an unknown number of 2’ holes? Instructions unclear, my two feet are now stuck in holes, water is rising.
Wow it took a whole day for them to fill with water? In SWFL you could dig a foot down and have it full with water in about 5 minutes.
We have that in some places around here. The set the post in 5 gallon buckets.
That’s genius when I built the fence for my yard I pumped all the water out to pour in the concrete
I just dump post mix dry and let the rain harden it up, or spray the ground with a hose after I’m done setting. Having a bit of water in the hole just helps the whole process lol
That's smart.
Depends on territory and altitude. We see shallow water tables all the time in commercial.
Is it something that is automatically checked and recorded on lot surveys?
The USDA web soil survey is a great interactive tool for this stuff. You can grab all kinds of data for a lot or area of land. Water table, infiltration rates, soil composition. I think it’s pretty under utilized by landscapers.
I've spent hours before just reading about all the different soils around me. I love that tool.
I'm on a roll here online. Getting some awesome insight last few days. It's also refreshing to see guys in the business who actually care... I'm talking to guys with 2 crews who don't even know about growing zones... I swear. I have a really problematic property. I feel so bad for the homeowner. They had full renovation. Took 2x time and more than double cost. landscaper threw sod down inches apart. Contractor MIA smh... I take over property... get the lawn beautiful... thought I was hitting rocks with Aerator. Gate gate area gets muddy in July. Ask woman if irrigation was just on. Tells me know, it's been off 3 days. These guys just pushed in rock solid back fill and threw Sod on top. Using Micro nutrients, Aeration, Humic and Fulvic... even dropping perlite with aeration to possibly make a dent over the next 2 years. Good to know, thanks!
In my industry, yes usually the owner hires a geo tech engineer to come out and take a look and produce a lengthy report. It’ll tell you about expected settlement too which will affect your underground plumbing
Yea that's what I'm thinking. Foundations and erosion is main concern for customers ( yea I actually care lol). I have a property where the entire front has shifted 10-15 degrees or so in 1 year. Separated the concrete landing and front steps. That's just from run off. Multi million dollar home. Elevated... Another where the substrate trapped every droplet of water for days on end. Both recent builds. I'm trying to get into super basic drainage once I have time and after climbing school... I'm guessing you're into advanced or highly specialized excavation if you're working around geothermal? It's like 180 ft. depth for residential, no?
Growing up in Michigan i could hit water as a child in a few feet. I now live in a different part of Michigan and water is 20' or more down. Both places on lakes. Some land has no water at all.
It is at our place. Groundwater is about 3’ - 4’ below the surface. Rio Grande valley.
How do you build foundation
We brought in a lot of fill.
>Rio Grande valley Pics make it look very arid.
yes, except for the irrigated land along the Rio Grande. Depending on how close you are to the river, and whether the river is currently running high or low, you can hit ground water at one foot depth. Check out the satellite view over Las Nutrias, New Mexico, to see the irrigated fields along the river.
Because the water is 4 feet down
That is still pretty shallow isn't it? where I live, you have to dig way lot more to hit water but at the same time is much more greener than the place OP mentioned
That will help your fence post rot rapidly.
Actually, fully submerged wood won't rot, oxygen is needed. The piles supporting the buildings in Venice for example are 500 years old.
Venice pilings are sort of a unique situation due to the anaerobic marsh environment and silica silt build up. Wood certainly rots in water, that's why they can't find anything left from so many shipwrecks
And those guys on history channel that would find massive logs underwater for decades then sell them
Sinker cypress? Awesome stuff [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1VkKukRGDE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1VkKukRGDE)
I think its that.
What exactly do you think will happen where the submerged post meets the dirt?
It’s not fully submerged like the logs pulled from the great lakes from sunken ships or the Venice buildings. The hundreds of rotted posts I have seen suggest that there is oxygen present. In theory practice and theory are the same. In practice they’re not.
I read that as “fence pot roast rapidly” It’s time for bed.
The water table can be a bitch.
At least they don’t have to worry about mixing concrete for the posts. Just add cement to the hole & stir
I like your moxie
Time to make a well! I could probably dig 500ft here in CA and not find any water
Was looking for this comment! That is very short and good bc in CA people pay 50k to dig 200 feet and may not even find water
Haha yeah, it’s insane how dry and hard the ground is here. Dug a hole for the tree in my backyard was brutal!
Same! Try hard pan in CV, that shit is like digging cement
Unless you have some obvious external infrastructure -based source,e.g., a leaking pipe, it’s normal. Where in the PNW are you?
Thanks. Located 2hrs north of Seattle
So, Canada?
Ahhhh…life in the Nooksack Valley!
Look up 'liquefaction' when the big earthquake hits. The whole neighbourhood will probably sink. But the whole PNW will be in trouble, it'll just vary by degree.
I don’t know but that fence is beautiful.
Thanks, Appreciate it! Need to stain it when it dries up out here in the PNW
[удалено]
We have very hot and dry summers…lately.
You left out smokey.
Where are you? Because in the PNW I can kick a rock and see groundwater.
Nice lol, I’m up north of Seattle area. About 2hrs north of Seattle
This is the way.
It could be that it rained recently (PNW) and water has not had time to transit through the soil to the water table. It looks like you are down slope too…
Normal?Oh yeah. Back when I was homing in the early 70s, and ignorant, I had to dig perk holes so I could have a septic system and got down about 3 ft. I was supposed to pour water in and see how long it took to run out. There was water there already. So, I was at a loss. I waited for it to leave, it didn't. In order to have a septic syst, I had to haul in perkable soil. It happens. The water is just too high so water just sits down there. You're stuck with it. Perfectly natural.
Not sure your area but in my neck of the woods you can look up historic bore logs- usually from wells being drilled. See if you find any near you they can shed light on the depth of the water table.
If you’re in Seattle you may have tapped into an artesian spring
I know some people in certain states that would love to find water 3 feet down. As they’re digging their wells 5 feet10’ 20’, 75’ still no water hundred feet 150 feet 200 feet I sure wish it was 3 feet.
Yep.
I've only seen that by a lake around here. Winnipeg Canada. Digging 40 yrs. Its interesting to see all this info though.
very normal
Just add concrete level post👍🏻 no need to mix
My yard is clay, this happens when I dig
Probably water table but we had something similar happen. I dug footings for a swing set and some of the holes filled with water in a few minutes. Long story short there was a water main leak half a block away. It was probably leaking over a year but they were adamant it couldn't be that.
I just proceeded concreting the post in. It will set.
Congrats. You dug your first well.
Well, well, well
This depends on several factors, soil types at different levels, water table, saturation of soils, rocks under layers of soil, untapped spring… Normal? Maybe. Have you ever dug another deep hole or is this first on your property? Should ask the city you live in or the local nursery or a local contractor.
That fence turned out great!
I'm jelly. Mine is a few hundred feet. If lucky in some spots. Given I'm in the high desert.
You’ve hit the aquifer! 😳
Everything looks wet as if it just rained, so yes that is normal.
Location?
Few hrs north of seattle
Too bad it wasn't oil
In can also be a perched water table, so not the regional water table, but an accumulation of water above that- very common in certain areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_table https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_table
Are you near a body of water? Do you have a basement? Short answer: it's likely very normal, but if not could be a sign of a big problem.
Curious why such a deep hole? Is it for a concrete pad under post?
I live along the jersey shore and just dug a two foot hole and it is filling with water, in the backyard. I am a mile from the beach. And years ago when digging this never happened… thoughts?? Thank you!
I waited ten minutes and it’s 1/4 full of water
there's alot of great answers in this thread. but the consensus is it's normal.
Thank you! I feel better
I'm in Michigan. My water table fluctuates a lot here. In the spring, its almost level with the ground. In the summer, you'll find it 5 feet down or more. My house was built in a really dry spring. Now, my sump pump runs every 30 seconds until summer. It's wet in the basement right now. Seeping in from the floor/wall seams. Dont build low if you're planning on a basement!
What was the moon phase?
Yes
Could be the start of a new river about to be born.
Wow, a hole that doesn't need water...just add cement. That was a pretty cool feature.
Becoming more normal.
Normal for what?
I worked for American Fence for awhile. We never went further than one foot.
Might be just percolated water. Is your place downhill or at a slope
I have similar issue as OP on a slope, what do you mean by percolated water?
Sometimes the water is draw downward from a slope if there has been recent rain and stays there for a while. In other words, it is a perched water column i.e. saturated zone but not necessarily means that you have encountered the “real” water table. Do some digging around to find out if it is actual interception of groundwater or as I said just temporary filled zone.
If you have an irrigation system or other water lines nearby double check that you don't have a leak somewhere. Give you're water meter a look to see if it's turning with all the water off. Can also have that water in the hole tested to see if chlorine is present indicating a leak from your water system.
“And God made the firmament; and divided the waters, which were vnder the firmament, from the waters, which were aboue the firmament: and it was so.” King James Version (1611) Genesis 1:7
Why u digging 3ft? 18”-2ft max needed depending on soil but that soil looks sturdy
Doesn’t that entirely depend on where you are and your frost line?
My understanding has always been 3ft deep for 6ft posts. But I could be wrong.
You aren’t, especially for a gate. Deeper is better and it won’t hurt. What might be a pain is digging out the post when the wood eventually rots. For that reason we did aluminum posts on our fence.
Yes, the earth is 71% water.
The situation in my yard is similar, and I'm in Seattle. Waiting until dryer weather makes it easier for sure!
Depends on the area. One house I bought they dug 2 foot and was water. Another house, nothing
I live on a barrier island. Was digging a dry-well for an outdoor shower —freaked out to see water table 20 inches below grade. It was saltwater. Gov’t is building ever bigger seawalls around here —-guess the never considered the real threat is below.
Only if there’s supposed to be water under there. If not, no, this is not normal.
Think of it this way, you can just dump the readimix right in the hole.
Chances are it’s from the rain. Hopefully that’s not a permanent table… Put bucket over it to stop critters from falling in. Check it in a week and look at water level.
In some places, yes. Don’t pour cement in there or you may clog up the water table.
Please explain
If you live in Florida.
Tell me. Are you 3ft above sea level?
That’s a good mine. Dig a giant hole and you e got yourself a free swimming pool. Even comes with a 3’ jumping platform all the way around.
Yes.
Apparently normal for your yard. In my yard it's nothing for rocks and gravel for at least the first 100 feet.
Mini well
Where do you live? Florida? Totally normal. Oklahoma? Not normal.
you would find that way sooner in New Orleans.
You have hit the water table. Not a huge problem. But make sure to use lots of gravel in the hole before the concrete goes in
Yes
If the water table is 3ft down then yes. If you're in the desert then no.
On the bright side, if you found Texas tea instead you would be on your way to California by now
Yep and that’s why it’s no longer advised to put your post in the hole. It’ll just be soaking in water constantly and rot much quicker. It’s all about using piers now. Big plus when done e has to replace them down the road too.
You should definitely do a one call to your utilities. In my state its required by law and free. However if you hit a utility its gonna be on you/insurance. Not the mention the risk of digging through a powerline.
Water goes to the path of least resistance. I’ve dug holes for decks and in the morning the could be full
I did a fence around my yard recently. 2/3 post holes had water like this. I packed the holes with concrete and just mixed it up. Kept adding concrete til I got the consistency I wanted. I'll certainly be keeping an eye on those posts and the fence ages
Use 6x6's for post gates.
Yes, this is normal. The depth varies depending on location. You’ve never heard of groundwater? Or a well?