Brining a well back into service - what's the likelihood?

[Jane Smith]

You should be able to enlarge these photos by clicking on them.

That top photo shows the access to the well cellar, which is the hole in front of the blue door; just beside it, between the access and the chimney, is the coal chute.

The middle photo shows the useful bit of board which we've wedged over the top of our glorious well to stop the odd stray sheep from falling in (the hole into the well is only about ten inches across, but sheep can be determined).

The bottom photo shows the big filter (covered in red stuff) which we have to scoop out and top up with filter gubbins about once a year; the finer filter is the upright turquoise cylinder, which contains a ceramic filter which gets changed when ever our water begins to taste a bit off; and the UV filter is the horizontal white bit.

There. Told you it was glamorous round here. No wonder I keep my gin to myself.

 

[Tom]

Thanks Jane for the photos. It gives me a much clearer idea of what's needed. Now I really can't wait until next year when we can start demolishing and rebuilding the extension!!! Thanks again.

Jaqy

 

[Penners]

Jane - I'm actually quite surprised that you need such a complex filtration system, considering your remote location and your (presumably?) limestone subsoil strata.

What is it that all these various filtration stages are taking out of the water?

 

[Penners]

By the way, I love those decorative soffit supports in the top picture. Incredibly deep eaves!

 

[biffvernon]

(although I think there's one in Wiltshire).

Gloucestershire, last time I looked, twixt Stroud and Cirencester.

 

[Penners]

That'll be the one.

 

[Jane Smith]

Thank you, Penners. I like those soffit supports (didn't know they were called that) too. We've got an awful lot of roof up there. And far too many windows: 52, I think. And that blue door and the concrete lintel above it is On My List.

The well water showed, when tested, all sorts of nasties. And it also turned all our white clothes a delicate shade of muddy rust--my white hair went a funny pinkish orange, too. That was because of the iron and, I think, manganese. Lots of bacteria (including e. Coli) from all the many sheep which hang around up here (if you look through the arch to the left, you'll see a round, white thing on the floor which is a sheep's bottom), too, which required the UV part.

Before we put the kit in our water smelled muddy and tasted mouldy. Now it tastes all fresh and clear and my whites are like a Daz advert. OK, the ones which show the "before" shot, but they're not orange any more.

 

[Penners]

I like those soffit supports (didn't know they were called that) too.

Purely my own terminology. Knowing the building trade, they're probably called something entirely different - like "gribbits" perhaps.

 

[MdB]

... like "gribbits" perhaps.

http://www.epilogue.net/cgi/database/art/view.pl?id=51936
"It is part griffon, part rabbit, and part kangaroo. All gribbits wear a hat and have no pupils."

 

[biffvernon]

It's certainly got its eye on us.

 

[Penners]

And there's me, thinking I'd made up the word. :roll:

 

[charlie-ia]

we have a well which hasnt been used for a while. it still has water in it which doesnt look too bad, though there is much mud and dead leaves. its all stone, though one of the stones is missing and stopping the water reaching the required depth.
How do we clean the well? just keep scooping mud untill we get to gravel?

how do we seal the replacement stone in? is clay the best thing? i dont see any lime used around the other stones. looks like "dry"stone wall, but would stand some further investigation.

what should the inside of the well look like? most the working ones i've seen have smooth straight finishes. this is ours. looks much the same inside as out.

http://www.firsthome.ie/admin/jsservice/resize_image.aspx?FileName=/images/properties/lst_10162_797905.jpg&Width=496&Height=372

 

[NT]

I presume that if you start using the water, as new water refills it it will steadily become clear.

There is no need to seal stones. There seems to be a real craze on for sealing everything, but really its not needed, its just another sale.


NT

 

[charlie-ia]

part of it needs sealing some how. the large slab at the front has a gap under it. the water is supposed to flow over this stone to the overflow, to give enough depth for the bucket. seal it with clay? what do i use if there isnt any clay? hydraulic lime?

 

[NT]

I'm not making clear sense of that. You're saying the well overflows?


NT

 

[charlie-ia]

it has a big slab to make the bit where you put the bucket deeper. its supposed to flow over this into a channel. the water is flowing directly into the channel at the moment, with only about 3"of water available to dip into.

you can see the top of edge of the big slab on the photo. the damage/leak is below the bottom edge (where the soil has eroded).

you can also make out a dark line just in front of the slab. this is where the water is supposed to overflow (if you know what it looks like for real its probably easier to see!). just a slot really, but you can get an arm in to feel around. the water then runs out away under the path somehow, towards you as you look at the picture.

hope this is a bit clearer?

so whats the reccomended thing to bung in the hole then?
i guess its just like building dams in streams. clay+rocks would be my first choice, but dont think we have the right kind of soil for clay(rocks on the other hand..)
would sandbags work? can you buy clay? if im buying something do you have any other recommendations?

 

[NT]

It sounds more like a spring than a well.


NT

 

[charlie-ia]

im sure it is a spring. spring well perhaps then.

so how do i mend it?

 

[NT]

I guess with a stone and some mortar that sets underwater. So either 1:1:6 or hydraulic lime - but let those with more experience on this one guide you.

Planning to bottle the water?


NT