Types of wells. What types of sewer wells are there? Clay well - water from clay quicksand

In many cases, a well in the yard is the best solution to solve the problem of water supply if there are no centralized communications. Finding a suitable aquifer is only part of the task of creating comfortable living conditions. It is important to decide which types of wells are optimal for a particular site. The choice is influenced by the type of soil, the depth of the underground source and other important factors.

At first glance, there is nothing complicated in the construction of a well. Many beginners believe that the main problem is finding an underground source. In practice, it turns out that a hydraulic structure must be built in compliance with engineering standards.

Violation of technology risks the fact that the water will be of poor quality, with undesirable impurities, or will completely go into the soil. Before you begin work, you should understand what types of water wells there are and how they differ. The main classification includes:

• key well;
• tube (Abyssinian) well.

At the same time, experts rely on data regarding the ground that will have to be passed on the way to the water:

• clay;
• sand;
• peat.

Water from springs hidden in clay soil has the best organoleptic characteristics. It undergoes multi-level filtering regardless of the type of layer:

• groundwater formed due to the seepage of precipitation;
• interstratal water located between waterproof layers of soil.

The exception is clay quicksand, which negatively affects water quality.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Wells are placed at a distance of about 30 m from cesspools and sewers to prevent sewage from entering the water.

The shaft well is constructed by hand. As you move deeper into the soil, the walls are reinforced with concrete rings

Key well

The construction does not require significant time and material costs. A prerequisite is the exit of an underground ascending or descending source to the surface. Next is a matter of technology:

• a round or square platform (1 sq. m) is prepared, “recessed” by 10-20 cm;
• at the point where water comes to the surface, an additional depression is made in the ground for a wooden or concrete frame;
• the log house is equipped with a drainage hole to drain excess water, and a storage tank is installed;
• lay drainage communications;
• the bottom is covered with crushed stone or pebbles;
• the site is concreted.

If the spring is downward, the site is leveled and filters are installed to purify the water.

Diagram of a key well. A distinctive feature is the presence of a drainage system

The most common type of well - its construction involves the occurrence of water at a depth of no more than 20-25 m. It consists of the following structural elements:

• head – above-ground part;
• well shaft;
• water intake level.

The water intake part of the well can be of two types:

• imperfect;
• perfect (complete).

They differ in that in the first case, water enters the log house through the bottom or side walls, in the second, it passes through the water-resistant layer. In arid areas, a sump is additionally constructed - an underground water reservoir.

The shaft well has become most widespread because... is the optimal solution when groundwater occurs at a depth of up to 25 m

tube well

This species is also called the Abyssinian well. It is used when groundwater is shallow - up to 8 m. When carrying out work, a drilling rig is used or a pipe with a tip is clogged with a headstock.

The diameter of the “needle” does not exceed 2 inches. A pointed mesh tip is immersed into the aquifer, through which water flows to the surface using a pump. The productivity of such a well can reach 4 cubic meters. m per hour, fully satisfy the needs of the whole family and provide water for households.

Full functioning of the Abyssinian well is possible by connecting a surface pump

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: If the thickness of the aquifer is more than 2-3 m, for additional accumulation of water in the mine well they make a tent - they expand the underwater part of the structure.

Mine well design options

Different types of water wells look almost the same in the pictures. The upper part of the structure is largely a decorative element. Functional purpose is to protect the trunk and water surface from various debris: dust, leaves, branches or fruits, if a tree grows nearby.

In practice, each type has its own characteristics - first of all, design ones. The materials used for the log house, and in mine wells - the shaft devices, vary. The main requirement is durability. The service life of the source can be 30-50 years or more. Good care, periodic pumping of water and timely cleaning of the bottom are the key to many years of “delivery” of water from the depths.

Previously, wood was used for the mine - linden, oak, pine. Biomaterial is still used today, but brick and concrete take precedence.

brick mine

To lay out the shaft, only high-quality bricks that are not exposed to the external environment are used. Features include performing facing work after completely digging out the trunk. Consequently, with a significant depth of the well, the use of this material is impossible.

A mandatory requirement is a round shape of the shaft. This reduces the soil pressure on the walls of the structure. When preparing the solution, you must use only environmentally friendly materials, otherwise harmful impurities will get into the water.

The walls are laid in one brick

Concrete mine

A concrete shaft is the most rational and common way to construct a well shaft. Typically mass-produced rings are used. The optimal diameter is up to 1 m.

Additional convenience is provided by the fact that as you go deeper into the ground, the rings are “put on” one another. This allows you to easily go “into the depths” to the desired depth, which can reach 20-25 m. For reliability, the rings are connected to each other to prevent violation of the vertical of the trunk.

If the well is shallow, monolithic concrete filling is used.

The installation of concrete rings is preceded by complete pumping of water from the mine

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: To strengthen the walls of the well, natural stone is used, which is laid using cement-sand mortar.

How to arrange the bottom of a well

Regardless of what kind of wells there are, each has a bottom, which also requires a certain device and subsequent care. This is an important element of the entire system; how intensively water flows into the mine depends on its condition. If the well is abandoned, the bottom will silt and the source will die.

Therefore, a mandatory element is a bottom filter. As a rule, it consists of several layers:

• bottom – natural stones or shungite;
• medium – smaller fragments;
• the top one is pebbles.

The bottom is also covered with coarse quartz sand. The thickness of the filtration layer is 10-15 cm. It performs the function of water purification and protects against quicksand, which, as a result of soil displacement, may end up under the well. A wooden filter, which you can make yourself or purchase at a specialized store, will prevent the negative effects of quicksand.

However, the most reasonable thing is to turn to professionals in the construction of hydraulic structures at the stage of deciding on the installation of an individual water supply system. Qualified specialists will inspect the site, choose the optimal location, and determine the type of well that best suits the soil characteristics and the type of groundwater. A source equipped by specialists will last a long time and will not cause operational troubles.

Video: well or well

In almost every suburban area where there is a residential building, wells for water are built. They help ensure proper water supply and ensure normal life activities away from the city.

Types of wells in a suburban area

Water wells can come in different sizes and shapes. It all depends on the free space in the suburban area and on what type of water supply will be used.
Types of water wells:

• Rising.
• Tubular.
• Shakhtny.

Let's take a closer look at the designs:

• The ascending type can only be used in a place where a spring or any other source of water comes to the surface.
• Most often it is used in nature reserves rich in springs and other bodies of water. It is not a very complicated structure that comes out to the surface of the ground in the form of a small pipe.
• A filter station is installed on it; a pump (see) may not be needed, since the water itself rises to the surface.

Advice. It makes no sense to install this type of well in modern suburban areas.
It will take quite a lot of effort to get to a certain layer of earth. In some cases, rising sources can be located at depths of up to 150 m.

Shaft and tube wells are considered more in demand for water supply to suburban areas. There are examples of them in the photo.

Mine structure and its functions

Functional Features

This type is the very first one that was used by man to supply water to his home.
Its size and shape can be varied:

• Square.
• Round.
• Oval.
• Rectangular.

Water enters through the bottom or partially through the walls.

Advice. If the groundwater in a suburban area does not lie too deep, then it is most rational to use a mine well for water supply.

It can be built on any soil, as it is reliably strengthened from the inside of the structure.
Walls can be:

• Wooden beams.
• Stone (rubble or brick).

Application of materials:

• Wood was used when no other materials were available. Nowadays, water wells are often laid out using bricks or rubble stones.
• For a longer period of use of the structure, concrete rings are used, which also have different sizes and thicknesses.

It will be mandatory to use natural filter materials on the bottom and walls of such a structure:

• Sand.
• Crushed stone.

The depth of such a well can reach 8-16 m. It all depends on the quality of water you need.
The video in this article shows the process of digging and constructing a mine well. It will also be necessary to finish the mine structure.

Mine well finishing

Types of structures

Such work is necessary because in appearance the well resembles a deep hole and for safety reasons it will be necessary to limit it with any modern building material.
For this purpose, houses are built, which can be from:

• Brick.
• Tree.
• Foam blocks.
• Foam concrete.

Let's take a closer look:

• If brick or other similar material requires additional decoration, then wood does not.
• Brick is almost always finished with natural agglomerate or artificial stone. For such work it is necessary to prepare a flat surface.
  The wood is simply varnished.

Advice. To give sophistication and an attractive appearance to the outer structure of a shaft well, quite often various patterns are carved into the wood, which looks original.

It will be necessary to build a roof, which is made from:

• Wood.
• Corrugated sheeting.
• Metal tiles and other roofing materials.

Advice. To prevent debris from getting inside, you need to cover it with a lid made of wood or corrugated board.

tube well

This type is a borehole. It is not large in size, but its depth can be quite impressive.
Used for its arrangement:

• Concrete pipes.
• Plastic pipes.

So:

• If a mine well is dug with a shovel, then a tubular well is drilled using a special drill. The most important thing when choosing this type of well is to determine the location of the groundwater so that it does not clog the water supply source.
• The tube well must be well equipped as water will not collect in it. Various automatic devices are used to lift water outward.
• The well can be simple or artesian. What is the difference? The latter type of water is purer and healthier.
  It lies quite deep underground and very often this depth is at least 15-20 m.

The price for a tube well is much more modest than for a shaft well. In the process of its construction, much less building material and effort are spent.

How to choose a place to build a well

Both options for a water source can be built with your own hands. You just need to choose the right place for it in a suburban area.
Let's take a closer look:

• There are specific instructions for this. According to it, the reservoir with the water supply should not be too close to the residential building, since if the well itself is flooded with groundwater, the structure may begin to deform (destruction of the foundation, walls will crack, and so on).
  All this can lead to complete destruction of the house.
• It is also worth considering that a well of any type should not be located near sewage pits, compost pits and other things that can pollute groundwater. The distance from them should be at least 20 m.
• How to determine the water level? To do this, you can analyze the reservoirs that are located near the suburban area.
  You can ask your neighbors about the depth of their well. But it’s worth considering that everyone needs their own type of water.

Advice. This method can only help if it is planned to build a tube well with artesian water on the site.

How to detect water

How to find water

Detecting water for a well can be done in a variety of ways. You can use any desiccant that is first buried in the place where you plan to build the well.
The burial depth must be at least 0.5 m.

Advice. Brick or silica gel can be used as a desiccant. They are pre-dried and weighed.

So:

• After 24 hours, the desiccant is dug out and weighed again. If it has acquired quite a lot of weight compared to its original value, then a well can be built in such a place.
• The second method is based on natural phenomena. After a hot day during twilight, you need to carefully inspect the site.
  If there is a gray haze (fog) in any place, then that is where the well will need to be built.

Advice. According to legend, if the smoke rises in a column or swirls, then this is the place where the most fertile structure will be.

• You can discover water for a well by studying the topography of the area. If there are hills or hills on it, then there is definitely a lot of water between them, since the water underground topography accurately follows the topography of the soil.

Advice. If the area is flat, then there will probably be quite a few places with a sufficient amount of water.

• There may also be various plants that require quite a lot of liquid to grow. These are sedge, spruce, birch, alder.
  Please note that if a pine tree grows in a suburban area, and in order to be saturated with water, it has a rather long taproot, which means that the water is very deep.
• They help determine the location of water and nearby bodies of water. You need to take a special device and use it to measure the pressure right on the shore of the reservoir.
  Then the same actions are performed on the site. If the pressure has a deviation of 0.5 mm Hg, then the water will be at a depth of 6-8 m.
• Pets are also good at locating water. In most cases, on hot days, they dig holes in a place where there is water and lie down in it.
  Water is very close to the surface and in sufficient quantity.
• There is another way to detect water - exploratory drilling. To do this, a well is drilled and as soon as water appears in the well, drilling can be stopped.
  But here it is already worth deciding what is better, leaving a well or building a well.

Advice. Exploration drilling is carried out at a depth of 5-10 meters.

There is a certain conditional depth. It is 10-15 m.
If the water is at greater depth, then it is most rational to make a well.

Automation to ensure the normal functioning of a well or well

Water stations play an important role in the water supply of residential buildings in a suburban area. They help pump water into certain reservoirs and thereby store it.
So:

• They also ensure normal water supply to the house and with their help, irrigation is carried out on the site.
• At the moment, pumping stations are of different sizes. They can be installed directly in the well or outside it (in the house or in any utility room).

Advice. To ensure the supply of water to the house, you need to run pipes from the well.

The main task will be to provide electricity to the site, since without it the pumps will not work.
There are several types of pumping stations:

• Superficial.
• In-depth.
• Deep.

The first two types are used to provide shallow wells. And the latter is capable of extracting water from a very great depth, which reaches 80 m. Pumping stations can be turned on automatically or using special remote controls.
It all depends on the water consumption in the area. If your fluid consumption is high, it is best to opt for automatic pumping stations.

Today, an individual source of water is a necessary element of a private plot. Constantly rising water prices, frequent pipeline breakdowns, and the obvious feeling of chlorine and other impurities cannot please home owners. Many owners resort to drilling a well, but this action requires significant costs and special equipment. It is more affordable to dig a well, but to do this you need to know not only the technology for constructing a water source, but also some of the standards that it must meet.

What is a mine well

In order to create a source of drinking water, the mine construction method is usually used. The essence of the method is simple: a pit is dug, the depth of which is determined by the appearance of water. Mine wells are used most often, since this method is simple and allows water supplies to be replenished naturally.

The walls of the mine are strengthened gradually, otherwise a collapse of the soil is possible, which is a direct threat to human life. The main difference between drinking wells is the material from which they are built. Another advantage of this design is that the well rarely dries out completely; this is only possible during long periods of drought.

Materials used to build a well:

• Tree. When properly processed, this material has excellent contact with a humid environment. Nowadays, a wooden frame is very expensive and building a well from it is unprofitable. The part where the wood has close contact with water is usually lined with elm or oak. For the rest of the shaft, common pine is suitable.
• Stone. Now natural stone costs several times more than wood. But, for example, in mountainous areas, this material is most popular due to the constant shortage of wood. A well built from stone has amazing durability. Before the construction of this structure, a metal frame is usually welded, between the elements of which stone blocks are laid.
• Brick. Wells made of this material do not have such a long service life as structures made of stone, but they are several times cheaper. Brickwork of 1 or 1.5 bricks has a long service life. During construction, bricks are laid according to a predetermined pattern. This material also requires the creation of a metal frame. Without it, over time, water can wash away the solution and the structure will sag.
• Concrete rings. The most popular type of material. It has an ideal ratio of quality and price. Installation of concrete rings does not require much time; the availability of lifting equipment is sufficient. It is possible to install the rings manually; it is placed on the ground and dug in from all sides until the ring sag.

Features of plastic frames for drinking wells

In modern construction, practical and inexpensive plastic frames are used to create drinking wells. Installation of such structures occurs quickly, they have less weight than concrete rings, which significantly reduces transportation costs and simplifies the installation process.

The main advantages of plastic structures:

• Plastic rings are produced up to 1.5 m high. This makes the installation process simpler and faster.
• They have less mass than concrete rings, wooden frames or brickwork.
• The corrugated surface ensures a reliable connection between the rings. The rings are screwed into each other at a certain distance. For greater tightness of the system, various types of construction sealants are used.
• The service life of plastic structures is more than 50 years. These materials are not only durable, but also completely safe for humans.
• They have an affordable pricing policy.

In loose soil, conventional installation of plastic rings is not possible. First, one ring is installed, all the soil is removed from under it, and the ring is pushed further into the trench. A second ring is installed on top of the first ring and the process is repeated until the shaft is completely completed.

What sanitary standards and rules exist for drinking wells?

Every owner of a private plot should know some standards according to which the construction of a drinking well and its further operation should take place. These requirements are determined by the chief state doctor.

The main stage of the well is the place where it is to be installed. Exploratory drilling is used to select a location. Its cost is much higher than natural methods, but this method can provide almost 100% results. Exploratory drilling also provides data on the sanitary conditions of the site where the well will be located in the future.

If chemical industry facilities, plants or factories are located at a distance of 50 m from a private house, then installation of a well is prohibited. The same distance should be maintained from cesspools and toilets.

There is such a thing as source debit. It allows you to determine how many people a drinking well is designed for. Usually, owners of private houses do not pay too much attention to this condition.

Installation of the well head (the part that rises above the surface) is required. The head serves as a protective element and prevents debris and dirt from entering the water. The minimum height to which it must rise above the surface is 0.7 - 0.8 m. Installation of a roof or hatch is also required.

To protect water from the appearance of dirt and turbidity, a filter element should be made at the bottom of the drinking well. For it, an embankment of clean sand or pre-washed crushed stone is usually used. According to some regulatory documents, the height of the filter should not be less than 60 cm.

It should be remembered that every well requires cleaning. Also, sometimes it is necessary to repair the mine. For ease of descent, metal or cast iron brackets are installed in the walls of the well during construction. To prevent corrosion, they are coated with a primer.

When to clean a drinking well

Cleaning of the well is carried out depending on the contamination of the source. On average, this occurs every 1.5-2 years. There are no strictly regulated rules. The most convenient period for carrying out this event is late spring, due to the withdrawal of lead waters.

During cleaning, other operations are also carried out: sealing the seams with a special solution, strengthening the metal frame. In addition to the water intake part of the well, attention should also be paid to the base of the shaft. Dirt may form on the walls of concrete rings or brickwork, which must also be thoroughly cleaned.

After the cleaning is completed, the water intake part should be thoroughly disinfected. To do this, use various reagents that contain chlorine concentrate. After adding this substance, the well should be thoroughly rinsed. It is prohibited to drink water without flushing the well.

How to monitor the water quality of drinking wells

When the relevant authorities check the quality of water in drinking wells, the surrounding area is also subject to inspection. The main types of water quality control:

• Planned. It is carried out after a certain period of time. Includes a set of basic measures to determine the water quality of all water supply sources (wells, wells).
• Selective. It can be carried out in regions where problems with water supply systems were previously noticed.
• According to one-time applications. The initiator of such a check is the direct owner of the land plot. Performed to check the suitability of water.

Often, indicators of the first water intake may include too many harmful bacteria and microorganisms. Then a more in-depth examination of the water is carried out, which determines the cause of the deterioration of the water. All indicators are compared with the standards of the relevant instructions.

To improve the quality of water, the drinking well can be cleaned and subsequently disinfected. If after this the problem has not been eliminated, then the quality of the water is improved by using special preparations with a high chlorine content. If the pollution is of a chemical nature (especially pollution with aggressive substances), then a decision may be made to eliminate the source.

Choosing a suitable location

The correct location is the main indicator of the longevity of the well and the availability of water of appropriate quality. To select a location in modern construction, the exploratory drilling method is used. The advantages of this method are 100% determination of the water layer. The disadvantages include the high pricing policy of this process.

Where should not install a drinking well:

• Near cesspools, septic tanks, utility rooms. Waste can seep into the ground and subsequently into the water.
• On the slope of a river or in a ravine. The vertical direction of the well will reduce the water flow.
• Less than 5 m from the house or any outbuildings. A well located so close to the house will cause gradual leaching of soil from under the foundation. This threatens rapid subsidence of the load-bearing wall.

Also, you should not build a water source near bodies of water. This may lead to contamination of the well and harm to the user's health.

Concrete rings are very popular when constructing a sewer system. Concrete is one of the strongest building materials, so its use guarantees the durability of the structure. Wells are constructed from concrete rings, which serve as a sump or drainage element. The technology has not changed even after a long time; it has minor drawbacks, but remains in demand.

What elements does a concrete well consist of?

Installation and installation are the main activities when working with concrete wells. But the correct equipment of this element of the system is no less important. Ignoring well equipment can lead to improper operation of the system, reduced service life and safety violations.

The first thing any concrete well consists of is its base. The base can be either round or rectangular. For the drainage system, a hole is made in the base to facilitate better contact with the ground.

Next comes the installation of concrete rings, plates or monolithic pouring. You should know that the outer surface of the base must be perfectly smooth, otherwise this may lead to difficulties during installation. The body will constantly brake due to too close contact with the ground. The correct solution is to install wooden formwork, then the installation process will happen faster.

A ceiling is installed on top of the system. Many manufacturers create ceilings that initially have a standard hole for a hatch. Usually this hole has strictly regulated dimensions.

The last element of the well is the manhole cover, which can be made of any material. Nowadays, polymer material is considered the most popular. Previously, cast iron and various types of metals with impurities were used. Due to their high cost, metals are gradually being abandoned.

The main advantages of concrete rings

Concrete wells are more practical than brickwork, since you need to install a ready-made product. Even the use of lifting equipment does not force the choice of other materials.

Pros of concrete rings:

• Quick installation. If you have equipment of a suitable category, you will not need more than two people to install the rings. The products are transported to the construction site in a ready-made state; it is enough to install them and properly fasten them together.
• Affordable pricing policy. Concrete rings are qualified as a product; only high-quality and high-grade cement grades are used for production.
• After installation, the structure becomes a single integral element of the site. Concrete wells do not require securing with additional elements (cables, brackets or reinforcement).
• Long period of operation. Even low grade cement only becomes stronger over time. Therefore, concrete wells have very high durability.

The main disadvantage is the need to use lifting equipment. Without it, the installation process is possible, but requires excessive effort and a large number of people. Concrete rings with large diameters and thick walls cannot be installed without a crane.

Types of concrete wells

Concrete wells are not classified too broadly. They are divided into 3 main types:

• Monolithic structures. The installation process is too long. As an initial step, a well of suitable size is dug. Next, the formwork is installed in which the reinforcement must be placed. After all operations have been completed, you can begin pouring concrete. After completing the pouring, it is necessary for the concrete to sit (at least one week) and the formwork can be removed.

The main advantage of this method is that there is no need to use heavy equipment. All operations are carried out directly in the place where the concrete well will be located in the future.

• Using concrete rings. This type of building material is very popular because of its ease of installation. Often concrete rings are made independently, but it is better to use factory products. Concrete rings should be installed evenly and without distortion. Without lifting equipment, you should use the old method. The ring is installed on the ground and dug up from all sides. Under its own weight, the product sags until its upper part is level with the ground. You can install a second ring on it and repeat the process.
• Using concrete plates. The process is similar to the above, except for joining the slabs. You can install them overlapping so that one overlaps the other slightly, or use welding. In addition to welding, for better bonding of two plates, it is necessary to additionally coat the joints with mortar. This also helps reduce the penetration of sand and dirt.

The choice of well type directly depends on the pricing policy and area. For example, a bottleneck for sewerage will make the process of installing concrete slabs difficult. In some places, only filling the well is possible. In all other cases, convenient and inexpensive concrete rings are used.

Detailed classification of concrete wells

Concrete wells are used in various industries. Their design and composition imply use in an area where this will create all the conditions for long-term and high-quality operation.

Classification of concrete wells:

1. Operating conditions for a specific network:

• In wastewater drainage structures. Wells can have both domestic and industrial significance.
• In drainage systems. They have a special design, the distinctive feature of which is a cushion of sand and crushed stone.
• Stormwater systems. They are easy to install and use less building material.

1. What function are they intended for:

• Perepadny. It can consist of several levels and have great depth.
• Lookout. It is purely observational in nature. Such a well may be small in size.
• Changing the direction of flow. They have the most complex design, since access to the structure is required from all sides.
• Turning. Installed where the system has a turn. Serve for ease of maintenance of the turning point.
• Linear. Installed in a location where the system is straight. Serves for quicker access for cleaning or troubleshooting.

Each type of well has certain features during installation and installation. It is necessary to know how the environment for which a concrete well is installed is used in order to maximize its durability.

What are the criteria for making a mixture for a concrete well?

Most often, concrete is used when installing monolithic wells. But a certain amount of material for sealing seams will also be needed when installing concrete rings. In order for the product to serve for a sufficiently long period of time, when making a concrete mixture you should adhere to certain rules and not break the sequence.

The main parameter of a good solution is a sufficient amount of water. If you slightly exceed the norm, then the too liquid material will not be able to be given the correct shape. After final drying, the concrete will begin to delaminate and crumble.

A special cone, which is used by concrete pourers, helps determine the degree of plasticity of the mixture. Plasticity is also an important indicator and requires strict adherence to criteria. The cone does not require any special operations; it is enough to place it on the mortar, press it and measure the distance to which the concrete will settle.

Do not use gravel, crushed stone or sand if it contains dirt. Such debris will lead to a solution of poor quality with a short service life. Even ordinary construction dust can interfere with setting. To avoid such consequences, all materials are thoroughly washed.

To make rings with the correct parameters, you should adhere to the following indicators:

• Height – no more than one meter. This height is standard.
• The wall thickness is no more than 10 cm. Allows you to lay reinforcement inside the solution.

Particular attention should be paid to the reinforcement, which must be placed in concrete. You can use rods from 8 to 12 mm. Smaller products will not create the necessary tightening of the solution, and rods with a larger diameter will provide cost overruns.

Summing up

A properly installed and equipped concrete well can last a long period of time. This design only becomes stronger every year. Also, concrete products have affordable prices, which makes them very popular in construction.

Many owners of private houses install concrete wells themselves, ordering only lifting equipment. This product is used in many construction fields.

By following the recommendations and some rules, you can quickly install a concrete well, which will have increased strength and other high performance characteristics. If you don’t have extra time, you can use the services of specialists who will carry out the required work quickly, efficiently and for an affordable fee.

The lack of a centralized water supply system ceases to be a problem when an alternative water source is installed in a suburban area or simply in a place remote from the city. There are various types of wells, and the owners of the territory themselves choose what is more suitable: a small, beautifully decorated log house or a deep well with modern equipment. Let us consider in more detail the design features and stages of construction of structures of various types.

In summer cottages there are rarely bodies of water that meet sanitary standards. Most often, if high aquifers allow, a pond is dug out, which is actively used for watering the garden plot, household needs, and swimming. However, a pond, like any other open-type reservoir, is not suitable as a source of drinking water. Natural springs or springs gushing out of the ground can be found extremely rarely, usually over a large area on country estates. A standard summer cottage site is usually devoid of any natural body of water.

Modern well in the country as a decorative element

To provide a separately located area with the required amount of water, wells of various types are installed. The choice depends on many factors, including:

• location of groundwater;
• the volume of water required for a comfortable life;
• availability of materials necessary for construction (financial capabilities);
• possibility of installing pumping equipment, etc.

The decisive factor for dividing all types of structures into two large categories is the depth of groundwater. If they are located shallowly, then it is enough to dig a pit mechanically or manually, strengthen its walls, and refine the head. The result will be a shaft-type device - one of those that our ancestors have used since time immemorial. Of course, building materials have become more durable and wear-resistant, wood has been replaced by monolithic concrete blocks and “eternal” plastic, but the principle of the device has remained virtually unchanged.

Choosing a well depending on the location of the aquifers

The deeper occurrence of aquifers does not allow the construction of a conventional pit; drilling a well using special equipment will be required. This process is quite expensive, sometimes time-consuming, but the volume of water extracted from an artesian well is much larger, and the quality of the liquid is much higher. Independent drilling rarely leads to a positive result, since a necessary step is a preliminary study of the soil, and this is done by geological research companies. You can make a well with your own hands to a depth of 15-20 m if you have a mobile drilling rig. And now in more detail about the different types of water wells.

Mine wells: choosing material for construction

All mine-type structures are united by the same design - an elongated pit 5-15 m deep with reinforced walls and a neatly designed head. The differences relate to the nuances of construction, material, and method of water extraction. The advantages of a well shaft are constant access to a certain amount of drinking or technical liquid, the reserves of which are preserved and replenished naturally over time. Complete drainage of the reservoir occurs only in rare cases, for example during an extremely dry period.

Types of mine wells depending on depth

Wooden log house

Wood has been used for a long time, as it tolerates moisture well and is easy to process. A structure resembling a log house is made from logs or thick boards (from 150 mm and thicker). The elements are attached to each other in various ways, for example, “in the paw”. Not all breeds are suitable. The lower part in contact with water is assembled from elm, alder or oak. To ensure that the water remains clear and does not have a bitter taste, the oak is pre-stained. Cheaper pine is suitable for making the top and head.

Scheme of a wooden shaft well

It is irrational to dig pits of less than 5 meters: they collect only surface water horizons that contain many impurities and, therefore, are not suitable for drinking. The soil layers lie at a depth of 10-15 m; this is exactly the height that a kind of “log house” should turn out to be. Assembly is carried out in fragments, which are lowered one by one, hammering with a sledgehammer, to the bottom. The role of a bottom filter is played by a sand and pebble cushion. The upper part is protected from high water with a clay castle 1-1.5 m wide.

Masonry

It is customary to lay stone mines in areas where wood is in short supply. Most often they can be found in mountainous and foothill areas with poor vegetation, but a large amount of granite or dolomite deposits. Stone masonry is also used for decorative purposes, but the beautiful cylindrical shape made of colored rocks takes a lot of time and effort, and is not highly functional, since the stone is recommended to be used only for shallow pits.

Nowadays stone is more often used to decorate the above-ground part - the head

To ensure the stability of the structure, a metal frame is initially welded to a stable base placed on the bottom. Reinforcement, wire, metal rings create a semblance of stiffening ribs, between which the masonry is placed. A composition of dolomite, rubble, granite stone, impermeable to water, is bonded with sand-cement mortar. Limestone or sandstone are not suitable due to their porous structure and water permeability.

Brick mine

Despite the difference in the material of manufacture, the construction of different types of wells has much in common. For example, if you replace stone with brick, the difference will be small. The main structural difference is the arrangement of bricks, which are laid according to a certain pattern, while the stones are in a chaotic order. To create reliable walls, masonry is made one or one and a half bricks wide. The rounded shape is given using a special stabilizing profile.

Brick well shaft

Without a frame, which forms a kind of “skeleton” of a well structure, stone and brickwork cannot exist for long. Despite the strength of the Portland cement that holds the individual elements together, over time, underground currents wash away the solution, and the structure may crumble. The support frame is welded from a metal profile, pieces of reinforcement, or assembled from waterproof wood. The minimum thickness of the base is 100 mm.

Factory-made concrete rings are popular among summer residents due to their low cost. The process of installing them takes much less time than laying a brick wall or installing a wooden frame. Convenient dimensions (diameter from 0.8 m to 1.5 m, height from 0.7 m to 0.9 m) allow you to assemble a structure of the required depth. The elements are connected end to end using special brackets and bolts, and the cracks between them are filled with cement mortar to ensure complete sealing. Sometimes, for strength, the joints are connected with 6-centimeter steel strips and staples (3-4 pieces around the circumference).

Installation of concrete rings

The shaft is dug gradually so that the first ring goes down, the second is installed on top of it - and so on until the full depth. At the bottom, a sand cushion 0.3 m thick is formed, covered with a layer of crushed stone. The upper part is reinforced with a clay castle. It is not needed if there are stones, peat or dense sand directly under the fertile soil layer. The first few portions of liquid must be pumped out, and the subsequent ones are initially best used for household needs.

Video: The process of lowering concrete rings into a finished shaft

Prefabricated plastic frame

Modified polymers are actively used for the production of prefabricated well structures and other equipment located underground and in contact with a moist environment. They are not yet as popular as their concrete counterparts, but the advantages of alternative rings are obvious:

• the maximum height of an individual part is 1.5 m, which increases the speed of construction and improves the tightness of the shaft;
• the mass of plastic elements is much lighter than concrete, brick or wood;
• the threaded connection ensures water tightness over the entire area of ​​the walls;
• working pressure – up to 50 kPa;
• cost – from 11 thousand rubles. for the ring.

Polymer pipes for wells

Rings are installed in two ways. On dense, stable soils, first dig out the shaft, then lower and screw together the rings one by one, coating the joints with sealant. If the soil is loose, dig a small pit, insert the first element, and then take out the earth from under it and lift it up. Then it is pushed down, the second element is mounted on top - and so on until the end. Polymer structures last more than 50 years.

Borehole water supply for a suburban area

Shafts with a depth of more than 20 m are called pipe (tubular) or artesian. If underground aquifers lie very deep, it is necessary to drill wells up to 200 m, but most often this happens for industrial purposes. The quality of the liquid in artesian springs is much higher than that from wells: it practically does not contain nitrates, salts of harmful metals, or pathogenic bacteria that enter wells from perched water. The only disadvantage of well equipment is the high cost.

Shallow well (for sand)

Sand wells are the most acceptable way to provide a country house with the best quality water. Their depth ranges from 15 m to 35 m (less often 45 m), and the water consumption is on average 0.8-2.2 m³/h. Drilling must be carried out by specialists, since it is necessary to detect underground horizons of aquifer sand and correctly install the filter. The drilling process lasts 2-3 days, then it is necessary to line the shaft with pipes made of steel or propylene. The lower part of the equipment is equipped with a sand filter or a more powerful filter column.

Sand well construction diagram

The productivity of the structure is enough to provide water to a family of 3-4 people. The quality of the liquid is not as ideal as that of an artesian, but much higher than that of a well, since the ingress of surface water is excluded. If you install a centrifugal pump and automatic equipment, the sand well will function uninterruptedly throughout the year. Drilling is possible using a compact drilling rig; a license and a package of permits are not required.

deep well

The depth of an artesian well is from 30 m or more, in suburban areas the maximum does not exceed 200 m. A package of permits is required for its installation. Drilling must be done by specialists, as you will need heavy construction equipment (ZIL, KamAZ) and a powerful rotary unit. The drilling process involves breaking up hard rock, removing it from the mine, and installing casing pipes. The maximum number of casing pipes for one structure is 3 pieces; such a prefabricated structure is called telescopic. Welding has recently been used extremely rarely; the main method of connecting elements is threaded. The lower water layers are isolated from the upper ones using a special material - compactonite, granulated dry clay.

Artesian well with double casing

After installing the pipes, experimental flushing is required until clean water is obtained. Samples are taken for analysis to give permission to use water as drinking water. The owner is issued a passport, which indicates the technical data of the structure and terms of use.

Features of the Abyssinian well design

When there is no need to equip a powerful well, you can make an autonomous Abyssinian well. Its installation does not require long digging or heavy equipment. The technology consists of installing a pipe of minimum diameter (up to 4 cm) to the depth of the upper aquifer. The lower part of the pipe is equipped with a filter that protects it from contamination. The water supply to the top is provided by a self-priming pump. To make the pipe easier to sink into the ground, it is equipped with a conical tip, the diameter of which is 4-5 cm wider than the diameter of the pipe.

Comparative diagram of a tube well and an Abyssinian well

The above-ground part is decorated or ennobled with a small structure, such as a gazebo. Any convenient location for installation is suitable, but it is necessary to avoid areas close to septic tanks, drainage collectors, and sewers.

Video: comparative characteristics of a well and an Abyssinian well

Having figured out what types of water wells there are, it is easy to choose a structure that is optimally suitable for a specific suburban area. But keep in mind that it is prohibited to build deep structures without permits.