Question
My husband and father dug a shallow well 4years ago to water our lawn & flower beds, since then the well seems to have tapered off in pressure or is unable to maintain pressure. We went from being able to run 7 sprinkler heads to 3 sprinkler heads. The well is 24 feet deep and there is approximately 16 feet of water in the pipe coming up into the pump. Is it possible the sphere is clogging or is partially clogged and what can be done to unclog it or clean it? Also what type of shallow well would you recommend for watering lawns and flowerbeds? Thank you.

Answer
It is very possible that you have an obstruction somewhere in the system.  Since you seem to have plenty of water available, tis would be my best guess.  You probably need to start by checking for obstructions in the system downstream from the pump---the valves or water lines etc.  I am assuming that you have a jet or centrifugal pump, and you should check it to make sure that the impellers are in good shape (replace them if worn, a well service shop can help with this).  If you find no problem with the pump, you may need to pull the piping that goes down into the well, and check it for leaks.  There is a valve at the bottom of the pipe that should have a screen on it that may be plugged.  Also make sure that this valve is working properly, and is allowing a full flow of water into the well pipe.