Not every suburban area provides the opportunity to connect to a full centralized water supply. In some cases, this system is equipped, but water is supplied through it once a week. This will not be enough even for watering plants.
To ensure a comfortable stay in such conditions, you need to build a well. It will become a constant source of drinking water. How to build a well with your own hands will be discussed in detail below.
Groundwater Varieties
Before embarking on the construction process, you need to consider in detail the existing methods for carrying out such work. If desired, everything can be done independently. So how to make a well? First of all, it is important to determine for what purposes water is needed on the site. Perhaps it will be used only for watering plants. If people live in a private house for a long time, it will be necessary to ensure the availability of a source of drinking water. To do this, you need to consider the features of creating different wells.
There are three types of groundwater. The closest layer of their occurrence is called the overhead. It is located at a depth of not more than 5 m from the surface. This is practically not purified water, which seeps into the soil after rains, irrigation of fields, etc. The device of the well is quite simple. However, it is necessary to create airtight walls so that the tip does not seep through its walls into the shaft. It is not under pressure, so there should be no problems with the arrangement of the source.
The second layer is groundwater. It is this underground source that will need to be found when creating the well. This layer of water will be suitable not only for irrigation, but also for drinking. Groundwater is not under pressure. Therefore, their level in the well will remain at the same depth where the layer lies. The depth of this type of well is about 30 m. It will always have cool, clear water.
There is an even deeper underground source. It is called artesian water. This is the purest water. It is rich in various minerals that are beneficial to the human body. An artesian well may be about 200 m deep. It cannot be created independently on its site. This aquifer is under pressure. If a well reaches it, water can rise to the surface with a fountain.
Choosing a place and time for construction
Well digging must be carried out in accordance with existing building regulations. You need to choose the right time to create your own source. This work should not be done in the spring. At this time of the year, the level of underground sources will be as large as possible. In the summer, in such a well, it can simply dry out. It is best to start construction in the fall or winter. At this time, groundwater lies most deeply from the surface of the earth.
It is also extremely important to choose the right place for drilling a well. It is advisable to first find out at what depth underground sources lie in a given area. You also need to consider the map of the rocks that are here. The aquifer can be separated by different types of soil. The characteristics of the liquid itself depend on this.
It is best to get the necessary information from neighbors who have already set up their well. If there are no wells nearby, it will be necessary to create a reconnaissance well. This will require additional financial resources. However, this phase of work will not be possible.
An exploration well will determine at what depth groundwater lies. However, this is not the only information this procedure provides. The composition of soils in each area may vary significantly. The easiest way to dig sandy, loose soils. Clay lends itself to drilling much worse. If there are a lot of large stones in the ground, this can cause a failure to drill. You may need to look for another place to create the well.
The well needs to be built away from fields, livestock farms. Also, do not create a well near the river bank, on the slope of the ravine. They drain groundwater.
Varieties
The structure of the well may vary significantly depending on the type of construction. So, there are tubular and shaft varieties. Each of these varieties of wells has its own advantages and disadvantages. It is important to consider them before starting construction work.
Experts say that it’s easier to build a mine- type well on its own. It will be wide and deep. At the same time, it can be excavated manually without the use of special equipment. Digging the soil with a shovel in this case will be easier. This type of well looks like such structures usually imagine. The well in this case is covered by a house for a well.
The tubular well has a slightly different principle. It can be created where an underground source comes close to the surface. This type of structure has a smaller width when compared with a mine well. Water is supplied to the surface using a pump.
You can make a tubular well much faster and with less effort. It is worth considering that for drilling such a well, it will be necessary to hire special equipment. This increases the cost of the work. If desired, you can call a team of specialists who will create a similar well and install the necessary equipment in it.
If you want to build a well with your own hands, without using special equipment, it is recommended to choose a mine-type well.
Design
Since drilling wells requires additional costs and the use of special equipment (which is not always possible due to insufficient space on the site), many owners of private houses prefer to equip the well on their own. In this case, it is worth giving preference to the mine type of structure.
Before starting construction, you need to consider the main elements of such a structure. The aboveground part is called the head. It serves to protect the mine from getting into it various debris, rain water, etc. Therefore, the head looks like a house for a well. Most often it is built of wood. But you can use brick, stone or other building materials.
Also, the well has a trunk. This is its underground and longest part of the structure. It represents the inner walls that prevent the collapse of the soil into the water layer. Also, the trunk does not allow for the entry of the tip inside the well. The trunk is strengthened with special rings, plates. A special circle of concrete may be created for these purposes. Also, the walls of the well can be built from logs. Natural stone and brick are also used. Specialists recommend the use of special concrete rings.
The lower part of the well is a water intake. This structural element is necessary to collect clean water that will be consumed by the owners of the house. After creating the well, it is supplemented with a collar with a chain and a bucket, a lid.
Well preparation
Digging wells requires enough free time. First you need to create a mine. This work is done manually, so it requires considerable physical effort. In the process of digging the mine will need an assistant. One person will drip a hole, and the second will raise a bucket of earth.
To make the procedure faster and safer, you need to install a tripod with a winch near the future mine. Using this equipment, a bucket of soil will be raised to the surface. Also, a winch will be required in the process of setting the rings for the well. If there is no such equipment, you can make a gate with a rope yourself. You just need to make sure that this device is strong enough. It must be firmly fixed near the mine.
Before starting work, it is important to familiarize yourself with the safety requirements. Otherwise, serious injury could result. The person who will dig the well must work in a helmet. Also, before starting work, you need to inspect the rope or chain that will be used to lift the bucket with soil and install concrete rings.
A rope is tied to a bucket. The connection must be very durable. The knot is checked every time before raising the bucket. If the shaft depth is more than 6 m, you need to tie 2 ropes to the bucket. If it breaks off and falls on the head of the builder, it can lead to the most sad consequences.
Moving deep into the well, you must constantly determine the presence of gases in the mine. Need to light a candle. If the flame goes out, there is gas contamination in the mine. This problem is eliminated by airing. It is impossible to be underground at this time. It is necessary to lower a dense blanket into the well and raise it to the surface. The procedure is carried out several times.
Mine creation
The diameter of the well should correspond to the size of the concrete rings. They should be wide enough so that it is convenient for a person in the mine to work with a shovel. It is better to purchase rings with an internal diameter of 100 cm. Moreover, its walls should be 5 cm thick. Products with a smaller size are not recommended. If you choose rings wider than 110 cm, it will be extremely difficult to install them in the shaft. They differ in significant weight. In some cases, without special equipment will not do.
Well rings may have different heights. In this case, it is best to choose products with a length of 25 cm. Lifting rings 50 cm high will be quite difficult. If you purchase products with a length of about 100 cm, you will have to resort to the help of special equipment.
When the depth of the shaft reaches 100 cm, you need to install the ring inside. It settles under its weight, plunging into the ground. Further, soil layers continue to be removed from the bottom of the mine. The ring will move smoothly down. This work must be done until a groundwater reservoir is reached. Gradually, each ring is set to the previous one. This must be done back to back. Fixation is carried out using metal staples. This prevents the occurrence of shear rings. The walls of the well must be tight. Otherwise, poor quality water will get inside.
Digging a mine can take several days. This procedure is not rushed. It is necessary to carefully check the fixation of rings, ropes and chains. If you install rings in the well after creating the entire shaft, the soil may collapse.
Making brick walls
Building a well in the country, you can lay out the walls of brick. Before this, cement mortar is poured into the formwork to equip the foundation. Such work will require more effort and material costs.
When the mine is completely dug up, water is removed from the bottom. The surface is cleaned and leveled. A layer of refined crushed stone is poured at the bottom. Next, you need to assemble the formwork from the boards. This procedure is carried out on the surface. The bottom is lined with waterproofing. Then the formwork needs to be tamped in the well shaft.
Cement, which is poured in, must contain crushed stone. Sand can be omitted. The solution needs to be prepared so much as to fill the prepared space at a time. Breaks cannot be made. When the foundation is assembled, bricks are laid on it. In this case, fittings must be used. After this, the walls are arranged from rows of bricks.
To create such a well with one’s own hands a person will not be able to without certain preparation. This is a long work that will require large material costs. It is easier to use concrete rings. Even a novice master will cope with this work.
Filter installation at the bottom
If you need a well for drinking water, you will need to create a special filtration system at the bottom. When water appears in the mine (an underground source is found), it will be cloudy. Only after installing the filter will the liquid become clean and drinkable.
First you need to pump out the water that appeared at the bottom. Then the shaft is deepened another 15 cm. The bottom needs to be leveled and dirt removed. After that, you need to fill the bottom with clean washed sand with a large fraction. For this purpose, only its river species are suitable. The sand layer should be about 25 cm.
It must be rammed. Next, a layer of rubble is poured. It is first washed in a solution of bleach. Then the material will need to be washed thoroughly in water. Only after that gravel can be poured to the bottom of the well.
If the water level in the well increases rapidly, and the bottom erodes, you will need to install a deck of boards on the bottom. Small gaps are made between them. Filter layers are laid on this floor.
After this work is carried out, it will be necessary to pump out water several more times. The first two weeks it can be used only for watering or washing. After 15 days, the water should become clear. In this case, you will need to take her samples and send to the laboratory. If the analysis shows that the water is suitable for drinking, you can fully exploit the well. Otherwise, you will need to pass the fluid through a special filter.
Clay castle
Considering how to make a well, you need to pay attention to one more stage of construction work. You will need to create a clay castle around the source. He will not allow the tip to get inside the well.
After the basic construction work is completed, you need to dig the structure from all sides. Depth should be about a meter. It is necessary to compact the clay into the resulting space. It will not allow drains to enter the mine.
After the well in the country house is covered with clay, you will need to make a small tubercle from the same material on top. Water will flow down it during rain. Top can also be made of concrete. This precaution is especially important when creating wells from a log house. When using other materials for arranging the walls, it is also recommended to create a clay castle.
Arrangement of aerial parts
You can decorate a well with your own hands in different ways. This is a creative process. It is necessary to think over a design that will allow you to harmoniously fit the well into the surrounding space. The head should be about 60-80 cm high. It can be made all of the same rings. The concrete surface can be overlaid with wood, decorative stone, etc.
The heading of the log house looks spectacular. Its design is simple. Even a novice master will cope with this task. You need to install two racks. They are surrounded with a log or bar. Next, the roof is installed. It should be large enough to close the well from rain and snow.
The roof can be made of wood, straw, roofing materials. There are no restrictions for the wizard’s imagination in this matter. You will also need to create a damper that will close the shaft. You will also need to make a gate and tie a bucket to it. So it will be possible to collect water for household needs.
When choosing materials, you need to pay attention to their quality, durability. To finish the well, you can not use a finish that can emit toxic substances. It is also worth giving preference to materials that are not afraid of the effects of weather conditions. The well will be outdoors. The durability of the design depends on the correct choice of materials.
Having considered how to build a well with your own hands, every master can do this work. Such a construction will be durable and functional. Its creation will provide a private house with not only technical, but also drinking water.