The average water table level in the general area is at 9-12ft, so basements are generally a bad idea. My well at the house is only 25 ft deep; get my water up either by hand pump if the power is out, or small jet pump. The foot valve on the end of the pickup tube is the check valve. This is 1" PECpipe in a 2" casing; well was hand-driven.

However, where my lots are, a clay dome comes up. Gravel layer 4ft down; about 12ft thick; 3 ft permafrost layer 25 ft down. Last part is from a neighbor with a 40ft well.

I picked out the lots while the snow was melting a few springs ago, so have lots which drain; this was an old homestead in hay, so relatively level.

If I were putting in a subdrain, say, for a garage for snowmelt, I'd put in a french drain with bullrock, due to the clay and glacier silt drop. Toss some Typar on there to keep the fines from working in.

For my purposes, a 55 gal drum used for target practice a few times works just fine. More fun than drilling!!!

Being in Kali, if that's just graywater or runoff, ask him if he's interested in a reservoir system for using on the yard.