i have just looked at a terrace house in Almondbury in Huddersfield and love it! I went into the cellar and against the wall there is a part that is built into the wall with a well . to me this seems a little strange, especially given that there is cold crystal clear water in it. I asked the owner who didnt know too much only the water level has never changed. anyone any ideas?
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Well in the cellar!
- Thread starter timmyp
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biffvernon
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Not strange at all. Mains water suppy is a relatively new invention. You're lucky to have your own supply indoors - most wells were out in the back yard. How old is the house?
biffvernon
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Well, let's assume that the house predates the introduction of piped water to your area. So for the last century or three folks have lived without the well drowing them and your previous owner said the level never changed. I would regard the well as an asset adding serious value to your house. Now you just have to work out how to use it.
Bottles of Wellfresh Almondbury Water - Huddersfield's Own.
Hmmm...
Bottles of Wellfresh Almondbury Water - Huddersfield's Own.
Hmmm...
Hmmmmmm, £££££££££££££££££ chi ching! I just asked one of my friend about the date and they think it is about 1800 - 1850. We are going to make sure we buy the place so i will know more sooner rather than later hopefully! Anyone got any ideas of how to make it into a bit of a feature?
What you can do with this water depends ona number of things. It may be unfit for drinking. For drinking purposes you need water analysis, correctoin of any problems, uv sterilisation, potable pump etc. Non-potable use is much simpler, but for non-potable you'd need to do some plumbing to get it to loo and washing machine.
You still have to pay for water disposal, so if you want to use it you'd need to get your water bill and do some calculaitons.
NT
You still have to pay for water disposal, so if you want to use it you'd need to get your water bill and do some calculaitons.
NT
timmyp said:i have just looked at a terrace house in Almondbury in Huddersfield and love it! I went into the cellar and against the wall there is a part that is built into the wall with a well . to me this seems a little strange, especially given that there is cold crystal clear water in it. I asked the owner who didnt know too much only the water level has never changed. anyone any ideas?
Lucky you - that sounds wonderful.
There's a well on my property, under the paved back yard. Even if I did uncover it I expect it will be full of rubble and all sorts and completely useless. You have a real gem of a period feature there.
biffvernon
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What, like they did in 1800? Cholera was usually associated with public water supplies not private wells! You will need a bucket and a bit of rope though.NT said:For drinking purposes you need water analysis, correctoin of any problems, uv sterilisation, potable pump etc.
Aidan
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biffvernon said:What, like they did in 1800? Cholera was usually associated with public water supplies not private wells! You will need a bucket and a bit of rope though.
Cholera was mistakenly associated with miasmas and offensive odours, so lots of people died from it. There were cases of infections from wells, although I don't know if any private wells were infected. The famous public well in Soho was 28' deep and contaminated by a sewer above it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/snow_john.shtml
More recently, (1998ish) the Three Valleys Water Co., supplied water contaminated with crypto-sporidium from ground water. Most of the water was drawn from deep boreholes which had become contaminated, but there was no known previous occurence of this.
Given the UK population density and that it's probably a hand-dug well & not sealed to prevent contamination by surface water, I'd think there's quite a serious risk of the water being contaminated. I don't think testing costs much though. I wouldn't drink it, but I'd have a submersible pump down it within minutes of moving in.
biffvernon said:What, like they did in 1800? Cholera was usually associated with public water supplies not private wells! You will need a bucket and a bit of rope though.NT said:For drinking purposes you need water analysis, correctoin of any problems, uv sterilisation, potable pump etc.
there are many health risks associated with wells. Before water is drunk it needs a battery of tests to find if its safe or not. If not, just like in the 1800s, you take your chances. But unlike the 1800s, there are now more risks.
NT
biffvernon
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Well, if you're worried about nasty bugs then convert the water into beer. That usually improves the drinkability.
(Will the human race die of paranoia?)
(Will the human race die of paranoia?)
biffvernon
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True, but you'd be past caring.
mark_j_k
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In my boss's house, apparantly there's a well under the dining room floor. We've never investigated into it but next time he re-decorates a few floor boards will be removed.
Aidan
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biffvernon said:Well, if you're worried about nasty bugs then convert the water into beer. That usually improves the drinkability.
Sound advice and that's exactly what they did; the alcohol killed the bugs.
"Snow visited Mr Huggins of the Brewery in Broad St. He told him that they, too, had their own well but that as far as he knew the men never drank water at all - they stuck to beer. There were no deaths in the Brewery. "
It was far too dangerous to drink water and ale/beer was the usual drink. An artisan or agricultural worker might be on 6 or 8 pints a day. You wonder how they got anything done.