Many bored and dug wells, sunk years ago, afford such excellent water
that their owners prefer to keep them. This is often made possible by
the use of concrete. Remove the brick of the wall down to dense clay
through which water will not run, usually not more than 6 feet. If the
earthen wall stands firm, only one form, fitting inside the brick wall,
is needed. Make this form of narrow flooring securely fastened on the
inside to wagon tires or to curved wooden templates, and long enough
to extend 2 feet below the point to which the brick are to be removed
and 4 inches above the ground level. If the earthen wall shows signs
of crumbling, before taking out the brick, dig back the ground to the
necessary depth and use an outside form. Lower the forms into place and
fill them with 1: 2: 4 concrete. In placing the concrete follow the
directions given under UNDERGROUND CISTERNS, page 68.
The steel casing for driven well must end below the frost line so as to
keep the underground connecting pipes from freezing. This construction
exposes the house supply to the dangers of surface water. Concrete
walls or housings are the only means of protection. Make the forms and
build the housing according to the rules laid down for UNDERGROUND
CISTERNS, pages 68-70. The housing shown in the photograph is 5
by 6 feet by 4 feet deep, sufficiently roomy for inspecting, adjusting
and repairing pipe connections. The walls and floor are of 1: 2: 4
concrete 6 inches thick. One-half inch bolts project 2½ inches above
the walls for fastening the wooden cover. A 4-inch removable cover of
concrete, molded in two pieces, makes a more sanitary covering. The
service pipes were laid in 4-inch drain tile slightly above the floor
of the housing. A tile of the same size, laid on a grade, carries away
all the leakage of the fittings. Two men built the housing in one day.
[Illustration]
=Materials Required=
Screened gravel or crushed rock 3 cubic yards at $1.10 $3.30
Sand 1½ cubic yards at $1.00 1.50
Portland cement 5½ barrels at $2.50 13.75
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$18.55
Well platforms are made like cistern covers (see page 69) except that
they are not molded fixed in place, but loose and removable, so that
the well can be cleaned at any time. Concrete well covers keep mice and
frogs out of the well. Even scrub water cannot seep in.