A well in the country: where to dig, how to strengthen, how to arrange
For many residents of cities, the well has already become something archaic, even a subject of folklore, with which many legends, fairy tales and signs are associated. But the well continues to be a reliable source of autonomous water supply. His presence is necessary even in those areas where there is a central water supply, just a well has already become a real attribute of country and country life. Compared to wells, this is a very simple structure, which has its advantages: fresh water can be obtained from there even if there is no electricity, which is so necessary for the operation of the pump in the wells. But the arrangement of the well, despite the relative simplicity, also requires compliance with certain rules and requirements.
Where to dig a well in the country?
Probably, the first question, if you want to equip a well on your territory, is precisely the question of where is the best place to dig it up? in order to obtain water of the required quality and in the required quantity to fit the future structure into, etc.
There are a number of ways to find on your site the very place where the well should be located:
- Scientific. It is best to invite professional hydrogeologists to the site who will explore the area, conduct exploratory drilling, analyze many factors, and ultimately provide the most complete picture. They will tell you not only where it is better to place the well, but they will tell you which type is better to choose, how best to build and strengthen, and how much it will cost. A professional should also analyze the quality of groundwater and identify the influence of external factors on them, and even advise how best to fit such a simple engineering structure into the landscape. When choosing a place for a well, factors such as the height of the territory, the location of dangerous places nearby, etc. are taken into account. So, if you dig a well in the lowland part of the site, then the cost of the work will be low, but at the same time it is likely that water will get into the water from melting snow, rain, etc., the high-altitude parts of the site are more protected, but the place of occurrence becomes optimal interstratal waters. It is better to dig a well at the maximum distance from possible pollution: landfills, drain pits, baths, etc., and carry out the exploration process in dry weather. All this and more should be known to the hydrogeologist, who will determine the best place for the location of the well as accurately as possible.
- Popular folk way - dowsing. The nature of this method has not yet been explained, but, nevertheless, it gives consistently correct results. The easiest option is to use a sprig of viburnum, willow or hazel, while it should have a V-shape, and the angle should be at least 150 degrees. The branch is picked up by the two ends and slowly go around the area with it, observing the behavior. In the place where the branch leans towards the ground, most likely, there is water. A more modern method is the use of aluminum frames. An aluminum wire up to 1 m long is bent at a right angle so that the length of the end is 10-15 cm, it is better to insert it into a tube of tree-like elderberry. Holding these frames in their hands, turned 180 degrees from each other, they slowly go around the site, and look where these frames are turned towards each other - it is in this place that there is water. Turning them simultaneously to one side is a sign of the direction of water flow in a certain place. The point of contact of the two wires will indicate the place where you need to dig a well. In most cases, this method works, and if the branch does not fall or the frames do not touch, then you need to look for water elsewhere.
The well shaft can be made of stone, wood or, but today it is most often used ready. At the same time, the reliability of the well will depend not only on professionalism and compliance with all necessary rules, but also on the quality of reinforced concrete products. So, for example, the Molodoy Urubrnik plant specializes in the production of concrete products, including rings that withstand the influence of the external environment for an incredibly long time, which is especially important in such difficult conditions that are created in wells. The high quality of products is explained by compliance with all requirements and the use of the most modern equipment.
There are two main approaches to reinforcing a well with concrete rings. First way applicable when the waters are shallow, approximately at the level of 5-8 meters. At the same time, the first ring is installed in the place of the future well so that it is several centimeters above the ground level, and then the remaining soil is excavated from under it: soft soil is first removed from the middle of the well, hard - along its perimeter. When the first ring sinks underground, a second ring is placed on it and the procedure is repeated. It is very important at this moment to make sure that the first three rings are absolutely vertical, which is checked by a level. Then the whole process is repeated until the desired depth of the well is reached, and the rings are stapled in three places and. At the same time, it is better not to work alone: one person will fill the bucket with earth, and the second will lift the filled buckets on the surface. It should be borne in mind that excavation must be carried out so that the rings do not warp, but retain their even position. When counting the number of rings needed, it is easy to make a mistake, so it is better to purchase one or two more than you need. When water begins to appear at the bottom, the growth of the rings is stopped, and the well is left for 12 hours, then the bottom is cleaned again until the water veins become visible. The well is left for a day, covered with a lid - water should accumulate in it. The bottom is equipped with a gravel-crushed stone mixture: first, small fractions, and then larger ones.
In the most shallow wells, you can generally use concrete pipes, but rings are still more often used. It is important that they clearly and tightly adjoin each other, do not deviate, which can cause a violation of the tightness of the entire structure. Sometimes when arranging wells they use grooved rings designed for septic tanks, but their use is not always advisable: they are more expensive, and not suitable for all soil conditions. In any case, the described method is as safe as possible and is great for self-building wells, being one of the most popular.
If a the depth of the aquifer is more than 6-8 meters, then they use a slightly different way of arranging the well. First, they dig a mine until water is reached, and only then they strengthen the walls. If the walls begin to crumble, then go to the first method. If everything goes well, then as the aquifer is reached, concrete rings are lowered into the well, using either a winch. Often, after lowering the last ring, the well deepens for another 1-2 rings according to the first method. This option has its own characteristics: you need to monitor the evenness of the walls of the mine, and ensure that their width does not exceed 120-125 cm, and there is always the possibility of walls collapsing. But this method boasts speed and convenience.
Whichever option is chosen, it is important to take into account some subtleties. For example, shaft diameter should be 10 cm larger than the diameter of the concrete ring, and then the gap between the soil and concrete is covered with rubble, and tamped with clay at the top. It is believed that the water level in the well is 1.5 meters normal - this is about 1.5 rings.
In places with a high level of groundwater at the level of the upper three rings, it is better to do clay castle. Such waterproofing will protect the water in the well from contamination along with melt and rainwater.
Our ancestors used to do wooden wells: now this method is considered a special chic, and it is rarely resorted to. The advantage of such a well is that many tree species have antiseptic properties, and the water, being in them, is neutralized, acquires a new pleasant aftertaste. In terms of environmental friendliness, a wooden well is much better than a concrete one, only its arrangement costs twice as much, and repairs will be expensive. Most often, tree species such as aspen, larch, oak, willow, birch are used.
Well design
When the main part of the well is ready, you can proceed to its design. The upper part, the head, is visible from almost any end of the site, so it must match the chosen landscape design and be aesthetically attractive. A well house is also necessary in order to protect water from all kinds of pollution.
Most often, concrete rings are used in the construction of a well, one of which crowns the entire structure and is located at the very top. Gray and unsightly