How do you cover a dug well?

If necessary, install a concrete pad to support and protect the well casing and cover. You can construct a pad by using wood or bricks to create a form that you can fill with concrete. Concrete pads typically extend at least 2 feet beyond the casing.

Are dug wells good?

A DUG WELL IS NOT TYPICALLY RECOMMENDED; however, in some instances a dug well can provide water where it is limited and a shallow aquifer is the only source.

How deep can a hand dug well go?

More commonly hand dug water wells range from about fifteen feet (4.5 meters) in depth, to a practical depth of around 100 feet (30 meters) though 200 foot deep hand dug wells certainly exist.

Why do you need a casing for a well?

This tube-shaped casing is inserted after the well has been dug to support the sides of the well and keep dirt and groundwater out. It also stops contaminants from making their way into your water supply.

What are the features of a dug well?

Dug wells are holes in the ground dug by shovel or backhoe. Historically, a dug well was excavated below the groundwater table until incoming water exceeded the digger’s bailing rate. The well was then lined (cased) with stones, brick, tile, or other material to prevent collapse. It was covered with a cap of wood, stone, or concrete.

What to do with water from a dug well?

The Ministry of Health recommends that drinking water from dug wells be treated by disinfection, especially after any work is done on the well, such as casing or surface seal repair. For increased safety, a filtration system could be added.

Are there any problems with a hand dug water well?

Dug wells have the same sanitation difficulties as springs and cisterns: they are easily contaminated by surface runoff and in some cases may have limited ability to deliver water at modern quantity and flow rates. Hand dug wells range in depth from a few feet to as much as three meters and are used worldwide.