Regular water supply is one of the conditions for a comfortable living for a person. Centralized communications are usually present in apartment buildings, but private housing construction has to be equipped independently. Of the existing water supply options for suburban areas, the choice is most often made between two sources: a well and a well. These two options have fundamental differences. And it's not just about price. A dilemma arises: a well or a well, which is better for private water supply?
Where does the water supply come from?
Before thinking about the source of water supply, it does not hurt to find out what kind of water this source will supply us. Aquifers can be divided into three types:
- Verkhovodka. The layer closest to the earth's surface. The maximum depth of occurrence is 4 meters. Its fullness depends on precipitation and has its maximum value during the spring melting of snow. The minimum level or complete absence of water occurs in the autumn-winter period. This water is suitable only for irrigation. During the construction of a well or well, this layer must be isolated to prevent it from entering drinking water.
- Ground water. Located below the perch, it is an unchanged aquifer. This means that the water level in the well will be the same as in the rock. Saturation of the ground aquifer occurs due to filtering of sediments, river waters and other aquifers through the soil. The depth of this aquifer reaches ten, and in some places even 40 meters.
- Artesian waters. They are located between the layers and are under pressure. During the drilling of an artesian well, water rises above the aquifer, in some cases it can gush. Artesian waters protect impermeable layers from pollution. Therefore, it is the most suitable for use. However, in order to “extract” such water, it is necessary to go deeper by more than 40 meters.
Which is better: a well or a well depends on the depth of the aquifer, but the lower the aquifer, the purer the water
The depth of occurrence of each aquifer in different areas is different!
What structure can be built?
For individual water supply, several options are possible:
- well;
- Abyssinian well;
- filter well;
- artesian well.
Well - a cheap option for arranging water supply
A well is the simplest design for water supply. The depth of such a structure varies from 5 to 15 meters, depending on the depth of the aquifer. Building a well is considered the cheapest option for arranging water supply. However, the quality of the water in it depends on climatic conditions and proper construction.
Advantages:
- relative cheapness of construction;
- water supply is uninterrupted;
- accessibility and ease of use;
- there are no problems with the extraction of an accidentally dropped object;
- With timely cleaning and proper operation, it can last up to 50 years.
Flaws:
- the possibility of contamination with top water;
- small amount of water supplied;
- the ingress of foreign objects into the water, which can lead to its infection with bacteria and microbes;
- the need for constant water withdrawal to avoid silting;
- regular cleaning and disinfection is required.
Unlike a well, electricity is not required to get water from a well.
Abyssinian well or well needle
In fact, this is a well with a depth of 4 to 12 meters. From such a structure, the same water is obtained as from a conventional well. The difference is in the method of construction, in which a pipe with a sharp end is manually hammered into the ground to the required depth.
The water from the Abyssinian well is cleaner due to the fact that there is no access to foreign objects and perched water in the structure. However, the device of such a structure is not possible everywhere. In addition, you will have to buy a self-priming pump.
Advantages:
- construction will not take much time;
- it is possible to equip a well in the basement or other room;
- the tightness of the structure prevents foreign objects from entering the water;
- with rare exceptions, water from the Abyssinian well can be consumed without purification;
- sufficiently high performance;
- in favorable conditions, the service life is up to 30 years;
- it is possible to restore the well after its failure due to clogging of the filter.
Flaws:
- due to the geological features of the area, the device of the Abyssinian well is not possible everywhere, but only on soft and loose soils;
- the water layer must be at least 8 meters, since the self-priming pump used to extract water is not able to lift it from a greater depth;
- the impossibility of connecting several water points without reducing the pressure;
- the need for constant use of the well due to the threat of silting.
An Abyssinian well equipped in a basement or other room does not need to be insulated for the winter
Filter well (for sand)
Its depth does not exceed 30 meters. Drilling such a well will cost less than an artesian well, but it will last a maximum of 15 years. This is provided that the work will be carried out by professionals.
Advantages:
- drilling is done in one day;
- for the arrangement of the well, small-sized equipment is used;
- iron content in water is minimal.
Flaws:
- winter decrease in water loss is possible;
- the arrangement of several similar wells in the neighborhood can lead to a decrease in the aquifer;
- regular use is necessary to prevent silting.
Artesian well - expensive, but reliable
Its depth is more than 30 meters. Drilling an artesian well is expensive. In addition, the pressure under which the water is not always sufficient, so the use of a pump will entail additional waste.
Nevertheless, the quality of water and the durability of such a structure are an indisputable advantage. To reduce costs, you can drill a well for several houses.
Advantages:
- high productivity due to the high water loss of limestone;
- uninterrupted water supply regardless of the season;
- the ability to connect several water points without reducing the pressure, which allows you to use one well for several owners;
- surface water pollution is excluded;
- regularity of use is not important;
- the life of an artesian well is about half a century.
Flaws:
- high cost of building a structure;
- high mineralization of water is possible, especially saturation with iron;
- the need for permits for drilling a well.
Using groundwater without permission is fraught with penalties.
We make a choice with an emphasis on the required amount of water
The saturation of the well depends on the season and climate. On average, the maximum that can be extracted per hour from such a structure is 200 liters. If this amount is enough for you, then you can get by with a well. To provide yourself with uninterrupted water supply in sufficient quantities, you will have to drill a well. However, keep in mind that the sand well must be constantly used, otherwise siltation will occur and the structure will fail.
Financial aspects of construction
Some owners are primarily interested in the question of the price of such facilities. Definitely building a well will be cheaper. More expensive may be its further use. The quality of the water supplied by the well is often unsatisfactory. Therefore, in addition, you have to buy a cleaning system. Plus annual cleaning of the bottom and disinfection.
Sometimes the deep occurrence of groundwater increases the cost of building a well, and quicksand that comes across makes it impossible. You can reduce the cost of drilling a well by agreeing with neighbors on joint use. In addition, the service life of a well is longer than a well. Therefore, the price of the issue is decided in each case separately.
Thinking about what is better for water supply, a well or a well is often guided by the price of building a structure. But do not forget that human health depends on the quality of the liquid consumed. An artesian well can provide the most suitable water for drinking. It will also help to arrange uninterrupted water supply in private housing construction. You choose what is more important to you.
In the warm season, most owners of suburban areas are fighting for the harvest. Happy summer residents who enjoy the benefits of centralized water supply intensively water their green spaces. The owners of plots to which water pipes are not connected solve the problem of water extraction as best they can: some hope for rain, others carry water in buckets from the nearest pump or order a water carrier, others decide to get their own source of water, but cannot decide: a well or a well, which is better ?
Well builders, answering this question, are ready to give a sea of arguments, proving that wells are a brilliant invention of mankind. Well drilling firms believe that a well is the best source of water. Each of the methods of extracting water, whether it be a well or a well, has its own advantages and disadvantages, the main of which we propose to consider.
Pros and cons of wells
The popularity of arranging and using wells in suburban areas is explained by a number of advantages that these functional structures have:
- Minimum setup costs.
Due to the low cost of digging without the use of heavy drilling equipment, most of the villagers, summer residents and gardeners can afford to install wells. The price of a pump for a well is also an order of magnitude lower than the relative cost.
The well, as one of the most ancient ways of extracting water from the bowels of the earth, is still a popular and in-demand water supply option.
- Versatility.
This is especially true for areas where power outages are not so rare.
The well is a universal design, since it is possible to get water to the surface both with the help of an electric pump and in the traditional manual way.
- Long service life.
A well-equipped well will regularly serve as a source for more than half a century, giving fresh and tasty water that does not taste like “rust” and chlorine.
The disadvantages of this water supply system include primarily:
- Risk of water pollution.
The unfavorable ecological situation in cities and nearby areas also affects the quality of water.
The aquifer, which acts as a source of filling the well, is from 5 to 30 meters. At this depth, groundwater is located, which, after rain or flood, does not always have high quality characteristics.
- The need for regular use and care.
In the case when the well is used irregularly, after 3-4 years the water in it silts up. In addition, the well wall twice a year is desirable. As necessary, treat with disinfectants and change the bottom filter.
- Small water intake.
Due to the fact that the well is filled with surface water, the volume of water supply is limited to an average of 150-250 liters per hour. If such an amount of water may be enough to serve a small cottage, then there will be clearly not enough for watering green spaces in the garden and garden, arranging the pool, as well as many other household needs of larger plots of this volume.
A step-by-step example of building a well will also be useful:
Advantages and disadvantages of wells
Spring water has long been considered the most useful and pure. Due to the fact that the well takes water from the depths of the earth, the deep waters do not mix with the riding thawed ones.
Even after rains, the water in the well does not become cloudy
When deciding to equip a well on our site, each of us gets the opportunity to use a quality product.
Some of the key benefits of well drilling include:
- Hygiene.
The narrow mouth of the well, closed with a lid on top, prevents debris, leaves and harmful substances brought with precipitation from entering the water.
No insects, small amphibians and other representatives of the microscopic world can penetrate through the narrow pipe closed by the head, which can cause toxic substances during the process of decay, thereby contributing to the reproduction of dangerous microbes.
- Volumes of water reserves.
Compared to wells built on clay, the sandy layer gives good water return, providing a stable flow of water.
Water reserves in sandy soils, in the layers of which wells are mainly drilled, are practically inexhaustible.
- Ease of maintenance.
With proper arrangement of the well, care of the system is reduced only to monitoring the operation of the equipment. The design does not need an annual cleaning procedure. Water purification is carried out by installing a filter.
- Durability.
The life of wells can reach 50 years or more. It all depends on the quality of the arrangement of the system, the chemical composition of the raised water and soil, as well as the maintenance of the well.
Among the disadvantages of this method of water extraction should be highlighted:
- High price.
If when drilling a sand well, you can often get by with relatively low costs, having done most of the work on your own, then more significant financial costs will be required to equip an artesian water supply system.
The cost of arranging a well depends on the time of year, the equipment used and the depth of drilling.
The expenses for the purchase of casing pipes, pumping equipment and a head should be added to the expense item.
- The smell of water.
In the case when the material for arranging the pipe is not sufficiently high-quality metal, the water can acquire a “metallic” taste, and sometimes even a “rusty” color.
Material on how to properly analyze and purify water from a country well will also be useful:
As practice shows, there is no only correct decision, which is better than a well or a well. When choosing a water supply system, everyone is guided by personal preferences and financial capabilities: someone chooses a cheaper and easier-to-operate well, the other chooses a technologically advanced well.
The subtleties of choosing a source of drinking water for a summer residence. Their features and comparative characteristics in terms of location, quality, quantity of water produced, installation and its cost, autonomy and durability.
Features of the well and well
To choose an option between digging a well or a well, you should have a clear idea of \u200b\u200bthe device of these structures, as well as the pros and cons of each of them.
Wells are among the most ancient hydraulic structures. For water intake from them, the aquifer closest to the surface of the soil is used. The well shaft crosses it and ends with a deepening of 0.5-2 m into a solid layer of rock. Most often there are round shapes, less often - rectangular. Their usual depth is from 10 to 15 m.
Gates or pumps are used to raise water from the spring. Water flowing from the sandy horizon can accumulate in the source. Its quantity is limited. If you have to pump out all the available water, it will come again, but after a certain period of time.
Wells include more modern sources of water. They are sandy, artesian, differ in depth. The former serve to pump water from the sandy aquifer. Their diameter usually ranges from 50 to 100 mm, depth - from 20 to 50 m. The latter pump water from layers located in solid rocks. The depth of an artesian well reaches 100 m or more, the diameter is from 120 mm. In the lower part of the well, both types are equipped with special filters.
Water from the pipe shaft of such a structure is constantly pumped out by a pump and again continuously enters the well, seeping under pressure through the filter device. The operation of the system is organized in such a way that the pumping out of water is constantly compensated by its inflow. Therefore, the well is always full of water.
Comparative characteristics of a well and a well
Now, after getting acquainted with the fundamental differences between the above sources of water supply, they can be compared in order to figure out under what conditions this or that structure will be better.
Location of sources
Consider the differences in the arrangement of a well or well for a private house regarding their location. And the differences are quite significant. A well, for example, should be located at least 30 m from manure heaps, cesspools, toilets and other sewage collectors. For a well, this distance can be reduced by 2 times. Digging a well near a reservoir is undesirable; the slope of a ravine should not be used for this purpose either. Otherwise, the source will be filled with dirty soil water.
When choosing any of the two water supply systems, it is necessary to ensure convenient passage and parking of equipment, whether it be an excavator or drilling equipment. In addition, it is important to determine the place for storing materials. The device of the well requires additional territory for the earth from the excavated pit. As for the well, it can be drilled even at the site of the construction of the house, if it is not already there. This will significantly reduce the cost of pipes, but may then create problems with the repair of this water source.
It is sometimes much more difficult to choose a place for digging a well than for drilling a well. Much more is needed. Especially if we take into account the fact that mobile drilling rigs do not require a large area for their work.
Water quality
Today, man-made pollution harms groundwater, especially if the latter are shallow. The peculiarity of the lower aquifers is the presence of their additional protection by geological layers of clay. Therefore, water taken from a great depth is cleaner, but may contain impurities of mineral salts.
Water intake facilities, made in the form of wells, collect water from a depth of only 15 m. And water intake from wells comes from the lower aquifers, due to which the water extracted from such sources is better in quality, and its quantity is greater. Although an ideally pure liquid does not exist either in wells or in wells.
As a result, comparing the water of a new well or well, we note:
- The quality of water in the springs is steadily declining as a result of an increase in the volume of waste of various origins, some of which penetrates into the upper horizons of soil water.
- Due to the considerable depth of the well, better quality water is supplied, however, it may contain impurities.
Amount of water
Consider our sources in terms of their performance. A good well can supply 3-5 m 3 of water per day. This means that almost 5000 liters of liquid can be pumped out of it during the day. However, in practice, the indicators of the liquid arriving in the well are of a different value - up to 2 m 3 per day. Such cases force the inhabitants of private houses to face its lack and save in every possible way, resorting to collecting rainwater in tanks or installing hydraulic accumulators.
Well performance is much better. If such a source has a depth of about 50 m, it can give out 1-3 m 3 of water per hour or 5-6 m 3 at a depth of 100 m. This suggests that as much water can be pumped out of a well in an hour as much water can be pumped out of a well in one day. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the capacity of the sewerage, which, due to the large consumption of water, must be increased.
In order to calculate the amount of water consumed on the farm to select its source, you need to sum up the consumption data. So, according to SNIP, on average, one person needs 200 liters per day for their own needs. Therefore, this number must be multiplied by the number of inhabitants of the house.
In addition, the amount of irrigation liquid should be taken into account, which will require 3-6 l / day per 1 m 3 of soil. Washing the car and filling the pool can also be included in the expense for technical needs. After such accounting, the total consumption for a family consisting, for example, of 4 people, may be 2-4 m 3 per day or more.
Thus, when planning significant water consumption, it should be understood that the performance of the well may not be enough to satisfy it. But it is perfect if the water consumption is low, or as a fallback. Based on the calculations, it is easy to decide on the choice of building a well or well in the country.
Arrangement and price
The method of arrangement is one of the main differences between sources of private water supply. To create a well, special equipment is required. Therefore, almost all work here is mechanized; full-size and mobile units can be used. If there is not enough space on the site for the arrival of vehicles, such a problem will not stop drilling a well. To service this water source, a technological pit is made, which is located above the trunk. The tank is made of concrete or clay bricks, always has a hatch with a lid and inside a pump for pumping water.
Digging a well is a manual job. In addition to the owners, employees can also perform it. When the depth of the pit reaches 2-3 m, concrete rings are lowered into it one by one, periodically selecting and digging the soil under the lowest of them. Under the weight of concrete, the products sink lower and lower until the well reaches the desired depth.
If we compare the speed of the work performed, then the well takes the leading position in the arrangement of the water source. During the working day, a link of workers will be able to install a maximum of 3 rings in the well pit, and if the soil is very dense, their number can be greatly reduced. As a result, it turns out that a ten-meter well will have to be dug for almost a week, while a well of the same depth can be drilled in just a couple of hours.
As for the cost of work, digging a well will be less expensive. The price at the same time depends on the depth of the future structure and includes excavation, delivery, insulation and installation of concrete rings. The costs of warming the spring and auxiliary equipment - pipes, etc. are not excluded.
The cost of drilling a wellbore is related to the location of the site, the diameter of the pipes, and also depends on the terms of reference for water supply. However, if the sand layer is shallow within 15 m, the well device can be cheaper than digging a well, but this is not often the case.
Autonomy of sources
The use of a well or a well for water is characterized by their autonomy. Well water can be collected manually with a bucket or a pump, supplying it through pipes.
To manually collect fluid from a well, you will have to buy a mechanical installation, but electric pumps are usually used. If the electricity on the site is turned off for any reason, it will become impossible to take water from a drilled well, which cannot be said about the well.
Longevity of sources
It depends on the location of the aquifer used in their operation, and may depend on chance. For example, neighbors in the area, digging a well for themselves, can get into “your” aquifer, thereby reducing the supply of water in it.
According to statistics, cases of the disappearance of water in the well are rare. The reasons for this may be silting of the shaft due to a long downtime of the structure or a malfunction of its filter. Wells can dry out much more often and therefore require more attention than wells. It is expressed in the timely maintenance of the facility - cleaning, disinfection, etc.
Supply of communications
The design of automatic systems that distribute water to consumers is almost the same for our sources. The line transporting the liquid consists of a PVC pipe, a roll insulation, an electric heating wire. In the variant of the well, it is longer.
The well pump is the central hub of home water supply. With a rational choice of this unit, its durability and convenient operation will be ensured.
Sometimes the installation of a pump with a supply of communications from a well is a difficult task, which can only be solved by a competent specialist. With a well, everything is easier - even a home master can install a pump in it.
It is advisable to take care of the future water supply of your household plot even at the stage of choosing and purchasing a land plot. To prevent it from happening that there is no clean water in its bowels at all or it is very deep, it is necessary to know the results of geological research in the area or consult a drilling organization. The people who work there have the right information.
Another option is to ask the owners of neighboring plots about their sources of water, its quantity, about the company that carried out earthworks or drilling for neighbors, about the results of water analysis, whether they were carried out, etc. Such information will be the most reliable. If the neighbors in the area use wells and are happy with this, then this type of water supply should be chosen as the most reliable option.
Thus, digging a spring will be rational only when it is absolutely impossible to get water from the depth due to the natural features of the soil conditions of the construction zone. The well will take drinking water from high water horizons. If it is of unsatisfactory quality, you can purchase a treatment plant.
When choosing which is better - a well or a well, many people often think about the price of their device. However, we should not forget that your health and those close to you depend on the quality of the liquid taken orally. Water from an artesian well is the most useful for drinking.
What is better a well or a well - look at the video:
To determine the type of individual water supply, it is necessary to take into account all the pros and cons of a well for water. A traditional well and an artesian well are the most popular water supply options in the absence of a centralized system, but sometimes it can be very difficult to decide which design is best to do.
In recent years, classic, traditional wells and columns are gradually fading into the background and being replaced by individual wells for home water supply. Such structures on the site do not take up much space, and their performance is at a fairly high level, which allows you to make your stay in the country as comfortable as possible.
Well advantages:
- obtaining clean and high-quality water without pollution by perch and plant debris;
- its own artesian well and well-needle have been functioning without problems for half a century, and sometimes more;
- the composition and level of water are practically constant, which allows for constant use in significant volumes;
- a properly equipped well will not require regular cleaning, and installing a high-quality filter will completely minimize the need to perform such a procedure;
- operating costs are lower and maintenance is cheaper, and this is the main and very important difference between a well and a well.
The disadvantages of borehole water supply include the high cost of drilling and the need to involve special equipment, casing pipes and submersible pumping equipment. If the pump breaks down and fails, it is impossible to get water manually. Among other things, silting can create big problems.
Well or well: choice (video)
Advantages and disadvantages of a well
The unconditional advantages of arranging well water supply in a suburban area are presented:
- relatively low costs for proper arrangement. The cost of digging without the involvement of special equipment is relatively low, and the price of pumping equipment for the high-quality functioning of the well structure is much lower than the cost of equipment to ensure the well's performance;
- versatility of use, which means that there is no need to use energy-dependent equipment for water extraction. This advantage is very important when arranging a well water supply system in areas deprived of electricity supply.
With proper arrangement of the structure, wells have a long service life and function for half a century or more. The main disadvantages of wells are the high risk of water pollution, especially in regions with an unfavorable ecological situation and near megacities, as well as the likelihood of obtaining water of not very high quality.
Among other things, problems can also arise during irregular operation, which is due to frequent silting and the need to carry out cleanup measures. Periodically, it is necessary to treat the structure with disinfectants and replace the bottom filter. Even under the conditions of compliance with all operating rules, the performance of the well is most often limited to a volume of 150-200 liters per hour.
How to choose a place for a well (video)
What is better to do in the country, a well or a well
Underground water horizons are divided into the following types:
- perch, located with a minimum depth, which does not exceed 3-4 m. The level of filling of such a horizon directly depends on the amount of precipitation. Most often, a significant replenishment of the layer is noted during the period of melting of the snow mass, and the minimum amount of water is noted in the last decade of autumn and winter. The layer, in most cases, is intended to receive a liquid suitable for irrigation activities;
- ground water, the amount of which is not directly dependent on the amount of precipitation, and the water level inside the water intake is equal to the amount in the lens. The filling of the horizon is carried out in the process of soil filtration, and the depth of occurrence can vary within 10-40 m;
- artesian deep pressure water, suitable for filling wells. The horizon is characterized by cleanliness, and is most often used in the water supply of private households. A hydraulic structure can be buried by 40 m or more.
It is possible to correctly determine the depth of the aquifer using conventional exploratory drilling, which will allow you to decide on the choice of the optimal option for a hydraulic structure:
- mine wells;
- Abyssinian wells or wells-needles;
- artesian wells;
- filter water intakes.
The simplest option for water intake in a personal plot is a traditional well, which is optimally suited for use in order to supply water to small cottages. As a rule, the standard depth of such a water supply structure does not exceed 5-15 m.
When choosing the depth of water intake and design, it is necessary to take into account the level of occurrence and the filling indicators of the aquifer.
The opportunity to spend a minimum amount of money also speaks in favor of the construction of a well. However, the use of such a water supply structure does not guarantee a sufficiently high water quality. In addition to the depth of the aquifer, it is necessary to take into account the soil features of the area, environmental and climatic conditions, as well as the possibility of complying with the established construction technology.
The difference between a well, well and column
In addition to wells and various types of wells, in the absence of a centralized water supply, water intake columns are often used, which are distinguished by a relatively simple design installed in a well or directly on the ground, and represented by a valve, an ejector, water pipes, and a column with a special lever.
Despite sufficient performance and visual appeal, such designs have a number of disadvantages:
- the mandatory presence of a sufficiently high pressure in the water supply network, which will allow the equipment to fully function;
- the likelihood of water freezing in winter, especially if there is too low pressure in the system;
- risk of groundwater or rainwater ingress, even if there is an appropriate valve system that is designed to limit the intrusion of foreign liquids.
The main functions assigned to the column are water intake and fluid supply, which combines such a design with wells and wells.
How to choose a source of water supply for a country house
When choosing a well as the main source of water supply in a private household, it should be remembered that this is a fairly simple and relatively inexpensive option for arranging autonomous water supply. To provide access to water, it is enough to deepen the structure by about 30 m. But such a system is at risk of drying out, and the incoming water can be so polluted that even modern purification filter systems can not cope with it. In order to obtain clean water, it is recommended to drill a well.
To use wells of any type, you will need to purchase quite expensive equipment, including a filter system and a powerful pump. A standard sand well is drilled to a depth of 40 m, and sometimes more. The water in such a source is cleaner, and the arrangement process will not take much time, effort and money, but during the period of drought, the water level drops noticeably and siltation can be observed. The highest quality water can be obtained from an artesian well, the depth of which often reaches 200 m. The aquifer here is clean and stable, but for the development it is necessary to obtain a permit and license.
How to dig a well (video)
The choice of a source of individual water supply is a very responsible event and requires certain knowledge. It is necessary to take into account a large number of factors, including the soil and climatic features of the region, the purpose of water use, the necessary and optimal level of productivity, the availability of electricity, as well as financial possibilities.
In these difficult times, a summer cottage for an ordinary Russian family can be a good help for the budget. In addition, home-grown vegetables are always tastier and safer than store-bought ones. However, to get a big harvest, you need not only high-quality seeds and hardworking hands, but also good watering of your summer cottage. This problem becomes especially relevant in hot dry years, when rain in the summer can be quite rare, and a well or well will help us.
It’s great if there is a central water supply in a village or a dacha cooperative, and especially if it is connected to the site. Otherwise, the problem of watering the summer cottage will be one of the most acute in the battle for the harvest.
Drilling a well in a private house
The easiest way out is to have within walking distance of a reservoir from which you can carry life-giving moisture. But a lot of energy will be spent on it. Of course, you can install a certain container or tank and collect precipitation in it. But then the availability of water for irrigation will directly depend on weather conditions.
And, finally, the most optimal in terms of saving time and nerve cells is the arrangement on the site of a well or well.
The main criterion for choosing a structure for raising groundwater to the surface should be the depth of the aquifer in the soil. It is optimal to build a well in a summer cottage in the presence of groundwater at a depth of 5-8 meters from the surface or with a small amount of water in the soil throughout the depth.
Another factor in favor of the well may be the lack of electricity to connect pumping equipment. In all other cases, a well in a summer cottage will be the most worthy alternative to a central water supply.
Well
The main characteristics and rules for arranging wells,
you can dig yourself, without using equipment. It is enough to get the necessary amount of material for the arrangement and find a couple of people who are ready to help free of charge or for a fee. A team of 3 people per day is able to dig 3-4 meters.
The average depth of the well is 5-10 meters, but in some cases it can reach 15-20 meters. Thus, the arrangement of the well by hand usually takes several days. Digging a well with the help of technology can greatly facilitate this process, but it will require large cash injections.
To equip the well, you can use reinforced concrete rings or wood.
To prevent pollution, the part that comes to the surface should be above ground level and have some kind of shelter. It can be either a minimalist design in the form of a canopy, or a small log house with a sloping roof. The area around the well can also be decorated to your liking by laying out a path or setting up a bench.
A properly dug well, with proper care and maintenance, can last up to 50 years. Even in the absence of electricity, using a bucket or any other suitable container, you can always get water from it.
However, often water pollution in the well in spring with meltwater and after heavy rains in summer and autumn, the low rate of water supply to the surface and the need to periodically clean the walls from silt accumulation overlap all the advantages of a well in a summer cottage. The Abyssinian well, in essence, is already a small well dug to a slightly shallower depth. It is a pipe about 10-15 meters long, at the bottom of which there is a filter made of small cells, and at the top there is a pump. Such wells are operated for no more than 10 years.
Well
Before the well is the purity of the water and the rate of its supply. To meet the needs of watering the garden and drinking, a standard well for sand will be quite enough. Firstly, one day is usually enough for drilling it, and, secondly, you can save a lot by choosing a vibration pump as a means of supplying water, the use of which is unacceptable in artesian wells. A filtration well for sand usually has a depth of several tens of meters. And the term of its operation varies within 10-15 years.
Abyssinian well filter
An artesian well in a summer cottage will require additional investments in high-quality equipment, a fairly long process of obtaining a license and annual payment of tax deductions. However, such a well will allow you to get the highest quality and cleanest water from the deepest bowels. An artesian well for limestone, drilled to a depth of 20 to several hundred meters, will last about 40-50 years.
In both cases, the temporary power outage is resolved by purchasing a small generator. And savings on cleaning the well from sludge compared to a well can be achieved, as a rule, only by independent work without the use of special equipment.
For well construction, seamless steel pipes are used. Sometimes an additional plastic pipe is installed inside the steel column. The upper part of the well can be brought directly into the house or a water column can be installed on the street.
Using water from a well or well
Requirements for the quality of water obtained from wells and wells are currently regulated by the Sanitary Rules and Norms 2.1.4.1175-02 (since March 1, 2003). Water from the well must be taken for verification at least once every three months, and from the well - once a year. Laboratory testing of samples will not only protect against the use of low-quality water, but will also allow timely adjustment of the use of technologies for its purification. In any case, you should never drink water from a well or a well without first filtering or boiling it.
A well or a well in a summer cottage is the choice only of its owner. Someone decides to save money by using manual labor to equip and maintain the well, while someone chooses to invest in an automated and modern well. After all, the main thing here is the achievement of the goal of water supply to the site.