Well builders are ready to give a lot of arguments that would prove that such structures are brilliant invention. If you turn to the specialists of companies involved in drilling wells, then from them you can hear your advantages and disadvantages of the mentioned water source. And you, in turn, can independently decide for yourself the question of what is better - a well or a well. Pros and cons, user reviews will let you understand this.
The main advantages of wells: minimal costs and versatility
It is worth recognizing that wells are often used in suburban areas, this is due to a number of advantages that these structures have. Among the advantages, it is worth highlighting the insignificant cost of arrangement. You can dig a well without the use of heavy equipment; any villager, gardener or summer resident will be able to handle this.
You can buy a pump for a well at acceptable cost, this equipment will be cheaper compared to what is used in the well. If you still cannot decide for yourself which is better - a well or a well, it is recommended to consider the pros and cons of these structures. Among the advantages of the well, versatility can also be distinguished. This quality lies in the relevance for those areas where power outages are quite common.
Why else should you choose a well
A well or well, the pros and cons of which are recommended to be considered before starting work, must be properly equipped. In this case, we are talking more about a well, which, subject to all the rules, will be ready to serve for a long time, it will be possible to use it for about half a century, during this period you will be able to get tasty and fresh water, which does not contain chlorine, and also does not has a rusty taste.
Cons of wells: the possibility of water pollution and the need for care
It also happens that the suburban area is located close to the city, in which the ecological situation is rather deplorable. This cannot but affect the quality of the water. The source of filling the well is the aquifer, it is located at a depth of 5 to 30 m, where groundwater flows. After floods and rain, they are not always of high quality.
When summer residents think about what is better - a well or a well, the pros and cons, they carefully consider the shortcomings of wells. Among the latter, it is certainly worth highlighting the need for timely care and periodic use. If you operate the well irregularly, then after 4 years silt will appear in it. Among other things, the walls must be thoroughly washed and cleaned twice a year. If necessary, it is necessary to carry out the treatment with disinfectants, as well as to replace the bottom filter.
Why summer residents refuse wells
As you know, the well is filled with surface water, the volume of water supply is limited to about 250 liters per hour. If it is necessary to provide a small cottage with water, then the indicated amount may simply not be enough. After all, you will have to not only water the green spaces and the garden, but also fill the pool, as well as solve many household problems. Thus, for larger areas, this volume of water will not be enough.
Well benefits
If you are also deciding what is better - a well or a well, the pros and cons, the advantages of these systems should definitely be considered. All the reasons why it is worth choosing a well or abandoning it have been discussed above, now it is the turn to get acquainted with the main advantages of wells. Since ancient times, spring water has been considered the purest and most beneficial. The well is fed with water from the depths of the earth, the liquid there does not mix with the upper melt water. That is why, if you decide to equip a well, you will get a unique opportunity to use a high-quality product.
Among the additional advantages of wells, hygiene can be distinguished. The system has a narrow neck, which is closed with a lid, which prevents leaves, debris and small animals from getting inside. Insects and amphibians cannot penetrate through a narrow pipe. In the case of wells, they quite often cause decay processes, which contribute to the multiplication of microbes that are dangerous to human health. If you are considering a well or well as a potential source of water, it is recommended to evaluate the pros and cons of these structures. For example, a well is famous for its high volume of water reserves. This distinguishes it from the well. The latter is quite often equipped on clay, while the sandy layer allows you to achieve high water loss and a stable flow of water. According to experts, the water supply in sandy soils is almost inexhaustible, and it is on such layers, as a rule, that wells are drilled.
Why choose a well
If the well is equipped in accordance with all the rules, then its care will be reduced to monitoring the operation of special equipment. This design does not require annual cleaning. Water can be purified by installing a filter. If you still cannot decide which is best for you - a well or a well, the pros and cons of these devices should be considered. For example, among the additional advantages of wells, one should single out a rather long period of their operation, which can reach 50 years or more. Everything will depend on how well the work was carried out. It is impossible not to take into account the timely Maintenance and chemical composition pumped out water.
The main disadvantages of the well
Summer residents sometimes refuse wells for the reason that they can be quite expensive. When it comes to a sand well, you can get by with low costs, because most of the work will be done independently. But the arrangement of the artesian system involves financial costs. The cost also depends on the time of year, the depth of drilling and the equipment used. In the item of expenses it is necessary to add the costs for the head, pumping equipment and
Cons of the well: possible smell of water
You can choose for a long time which is better - a well or a well, the pros and cons of these systems are described in the article. Perhaps these factors will help you make your choice. As practice shows, when not very high-quality steel acts as a material for arranging a pipe, the water in the well can acquire a metallic taste and a rusty color. There is no single correct solution for this issue. You can be guided by your own opinion, given the allocated budget, as well as the frequency of use of the structure. If your priority is low cost and ease of arrangement, as well as operation, then it is better to choose a well, while for household needs that require a large amount of water, it is better to prefer a well.
Comparative review of a well and a well
If you can also be attributed to those summer residents who decide what is better - a well or a well, the pros and cons, it is recommended to consider a photo of these devices. If we think objectively, then the comparison of these structures is incorrect. When it comes to relatively primitive, even in this case it will surpass the modern well in terms of manufacturability. In addition, the construction of the well should be carried out with an eye on the location of the septic tank. According to the norms, between these systems there should be 200 m or more, this is hardly possible in an area of 8 acres. Whereas with the help of a well, these problems can be solved.
The fact that it will be cheaper to dig a well is also important, but it is doubtful. A mine with a depth of 10 rings, which is standard, will cost the summer resident $ 1000, it is not so expensive, but there is no need to talk about the high quality of water from such a well. This is due to the fact that it will be only a slightly filtered product of human life. In spring, the water will become completely cloudy, and its level will depend on seasonal fluctuations. It also happens that in summer the water completely disappears. For this reason, this method of saving can be called doubtful. If you are still deciding which is better - a well or a well, the pros and cons, comparative review let you understand it. For example, the well also has its drawbacks, which were discussed above. Therefore, when choosing a particular option, it is necessary to take into account not only the material side of the issue, but also the sanitary requirements prescribed by the standards.
Factors affecting the choice of water source
When rather high requirements are imposed on water quality, and the volume should cover all needs (despite the fact that the material side of the issue is not very important), the best solution would be. If, when examining the site, you noticed that the groundwater level is too high or low, then the well on the sand will be the only right decision, because for its arrangement it will not be necessary to spend extra money or make great efforts. Such conditions may persist in swampy areas where the groundwater level lies 3 m above the ground.
If you still have not decided which is better - a well or a well, the pros and cons of these devices should certainly be evaluated independently, on the opinions of specialists. Thus, if the groundwater on the site lies at a depth ranging from 5 to 10 m, then you can safely start digging a well. However, it is recommended to first obtain data from neighbors or geologists, because water from such a depth is allowed to be used not only for domestic needs, but also for drinking.
Advantages of some wells
Summer is still far away, but some summer residents are thinking about what is better - a well or a well, the pros and cons, disadvantages and advantages of wells, they consider for this. But before that, it is necessary to figure out what types of wells exist, among them one of the most popular should be singled out - the Abyssinian well. Its advantages are insignificant time for arrangement, the possibility of building in the basement or in another room, the tightness of the structure and high productivity.
A well or a well (pros and cons, types of wells are discussed in the article) - you can choose on your own, but you can also first consider a filter well that is drilled into the sand. The arrangement is carried out in just one day, and for this you can use small-sized equipment. As a result, you will be able to use water, the iron content of which will be minimal.
Majority country houses not connected to the public water supply. Therefore, the owners have to choose on their own: a well or a well - which is better in the country. Each of the options has its positive and negative sides.
The choice between a well and a well.
Water sources for private water supply system
The choice depends on the characteristics of the source available to the site.
there are these types:
- Verkhovodki (often called the first aquifer). They lie at a depth of up to 4.5 m. The pros and cons of such a source of water supply are associated with this. On the one hand, it allows you to get water for domestic needs with minimum expenses. On the other hand, these waters are characterized by strong anthropogenic pollution, and they cannot be used for drinking. In this case, the fullness of the source directly depends on how much recent times atmospheric precipitation fell. Therefore, in winter there is little water in this layer, and in summer, in drought, too.
- Groundwater is called the second aquifer (or interstratal water, which already indicates where they occur). Such a source has an average depth of occurrence - from 10-12 to 45 m. Anthropogenic impact is less felt here, since the source is filled with moisture from natural reservoirs, so it can also be used to obtain drinking liquid, but cleaning is required.
- Artesian waters. The purest source of water. The depth of occurrence in this case is at least 40 m (and up to 200 m). To take water, it is necessary to arrange a hydraulic structure that could lift the liquid under pressure, which would ensure its stable flow. This type of source is used to obtain water for domestic and food purposes.
The shallower the water depth, the cheaper the installation and maintenance of the water supply system. But it all depends on the characteristics of the site, its location, topography and even the composition of the soil.
Wells - an affordable way to supply water
To organize an autonomous water supply system, you can arrange a well or well.
Moreover, the first option is considered a universal and simplest solution, but is only suitable for those areas where the depth of aquifers is 4-16 m.
When choosing a source of water supply for a house, it is worth taking a closer look at which option the neighbors settled on. If they have wells, you can design a similar structure, focusing on its location in neighboring areas. Otherwise, you need to contact a private company engaged in exploration and drilling in the area, and at the same time designing water supply systems.
Based on the well, it is possible to organize an automatic system that includes a pump and filters.
Well for the house.
For a private house, wells are a popular option.
The benefits include:
- uninterrupted water supply;
- relatively low cost of construction work;
- simple operation, maintenance and repair;
- long term use of such a structure.
But the well that provides water on the site always has a number of disadvantages. The design uses water from a water intake point with a low resource. In addition, in dry summers, the source may dry up, and during floods or heavy rains, there is a risk of flooding the well with water from the first aquifer. For such structures, the costs for regular cleaning and disinfection are always higher.
mine wells
There are different types of wells. Shafts are structures with a diameter of up to 3 m, and the depth of subsidence can be up to 16 m. To strengthen the walls, an engineering solution is used such as a casing made of durable materials - most often brick or concrete (in the form of rings).
At the bottom of the well, a sand cushion and a layer of gravel are poured - they play the role of a filter. The head of the structure must be protected by a lock, for which clay is mixed with additives (for example, sawdust). Water is supplied by a pump (depending on the conditions, it can be submersible or surface).
Drilling wells
Hydraulic structures are more complex in design. The intake shaft in this case must be protected (polypropylene or asbestos-cement). Also, it is necessarily equipped with a water pipe and a bottom filter.
Water intake is carried out using a pump. An example of such a structure is the Abyssinian wells.
Wells - a reliable, but time-consuming option
Wells are a labor-intensive option, but no less common. For the device, it is necessary to drill the rock to a depth of 10 to 100 m, i.e., they affect a deeper layer of groundwater than wells.
There are 2 options for a well - sandy (or interlayer) and artesian (also called limestone drilling).
Filter sand wells
The difference between a well and a well is a wider range of drilling for the first one. It can be deeper (up to 35-55 m) and wider (diameter is 5-12 m). Such a hydraulic structure is designed for 17 years of operation.
The well is almost always characterized by a lower cost of the device and the relative availability of development. This option has few disadvantages - sensitivity to lower water levels and siltation.
Wells are of several types:
- Shallow penetration, i.e. up to 3 m, so that the flow of fluid occurs due to the operation of a hand pump. They provide water for agricultural purposes, such as irrigating a plot.
- Medium depth - up to 6 m. This allows you to get water for domestic needs, and with an appropriate degree of purification, the liquid can be used for cooking. In this case, it will already be necessary to install metal pipes to form the casing.
- Deep wells require the use of specialized drilling equipment and typically use concrete rings for the casing string.
Scheme of a filter sand well.
In the latter case, expensive pumping equipment is also required, since the water supply cannot be established.
Artesian wells
Such wells provide greater productivity, sometimes they are even used for several sites. Drilling is carried out to a depth of 35 m. This water supply option is expensive, it requires a more powerful well pump, but the system is considered reliable. For the construction of a well, it is also necessary to obtain permits.
The advantages are the possibility of drawing cleaner water from a greater depth, which is considered a safer way of water supply from an environmental point of view.
The only disadvantage is the risk of bottom silting, and in some regions it is possible high level mineral concentrations.
Choosing a place for a water source
When a place for a water intake point is planned, it is necessary to take into account the approved sanitary norms, according to which the well or well should be at a distance from possible sources of pollution. For a well, this distance is 31 m, and for a well, 15 m.
The location of the waters for drilling a well or well.
It is impossible to drill on the shore of a reservoir, in a ravine or lowland, so that surface water does not flow there. An equally important limitation concerns the maintenance of a well or well - they must be provided with transport access.
Qualitative and quantitative indicators of water
To get a reliable picture, you need to check the water quality indicators not immediately after the development of a well or well, but only a month after they are put into operation.
Based on the information obtained, it is possible to resolve the issue of the need for additional purification of the liquid. But not a single hydraulic structure can ensure the purity of water, so you still need to take care of installing a filter.
It is necessary to take into account the quantitative indicators (flow rate of the source), i.e. the volume of water that it can provide per day - for a well, 2-5 cubic meters are considered the norm. m per day, for wells - from 1.5 to 6 cubic meters. m per hour depending on the depth.
In this case, the flow rate of the source must be compared with the needs of the family. For example, when living in a house of 3-4 people, consumption is 2.5-5 cubic meters. m per day.
The main difference between a well and a well
Sources of water supply for the house.
An important role is played not so much by the depth of drilling as by the technology of arrangement. For wells, the percentage of manual labor is high. Well drilling is always carried out using special equipment and tools.
A well can be built in 3-4 days, while a well device using the manual method will take a couple of days more. But if a more complex pumping system is used during the installation of the well, then the construction time will increase.
Financial side
When carrying out earthworks, the cost directly depends on how deep the mine will be. The smaller its depth, the cheaper the device will cost the owner of the site. From this point on, the cost of a well will be less than that of a well.
The cost of the device of the latter is affected by the relief of the site, the type of soil, the depth at which the aquifer lies, etc.
If the waters are at a depth of up to 16 m, and the terrain does not create difficulties, then the cost of the device will be comparable to the cost of a well, and well maintenance will cost even less. It is necessary to consider the costs not only for drilling a well or shaft and installing a pump, but also for water filtration and disinfection.
When is it better to equip a well, and when a well
The main criterion is the depth of the aquifer. But other things being equal, you need to focus on the volume of water consumption, more precisely, on the daily value of this indicator.
If the consumption rate is 200 l / h, then it is worth building a well on the site. The construction time is shorter, it costs less, and for a summer cottage, where the water supply source is operated only during the summer season, this will be the best option.
But if the owners of neighboring houses are ready to invest in drilling, then it can also become profitable from a financial point of view. And the performance is enough for several areas.
But even before the time comes to make a choice, it is necessary to order an analysis of the soil and the organoleptic properties of water. This is done by specialized companies that have information about the geological and climatic conditions of the area. Firms can be ordered both design and construction of a well or well.
Owners summer cottages, to which water supply is not connected, you have to think about digging a well on your site or drilling a well. About what features both one and the other option has, what standards exist regarding the location of a well or a well on a site, and what is easier to arrange in the Moscow region, read the material of the portal website.
Well
Source: RIAMO
Well, according to experts, it is best to dig in late summer - early autumn - at this time, aquifers have a lower level. But after heavy rains, you should not dig a well, because if the aquifer is above the usual water level, then in dry summer weather the well will be empty.
When choosing a place for a well, it is important to take into account the standards of SNiP 30-02-97, according to which the distance from the well to the restroom and composting device must be at least eight meters. From the foundation of the building should be at least three meters, from buildings for animals and trees - at least four meters, from other buildings - at least one meter. It is important to comply with these requirements based also on the development of the neighboring site.
The advantage of wells is that they do not need to be registered with the cadastre. Also, wells are not subject to taxation.
Well
Source: Ministry of Ecology and Nature Management of the Moscow Region
Wells are usually drilled much deeper than a well is dug, so the water in it is likely to be much cleaner, and the likelihood that it can be used for drinking is higher. can be divided into two types: an individual sand well (on the first aquifer) and an individual artesian well. To use the well, you will need a pump, and hence the electricity from which it will work.
According to SNIP 2.04.02-84, the distance from the well to the septic tank must be at least 20 or 50 meters, depending on whether the soil layers are isolated from each other.
From the house to the well, it is better to provide a distance of at least seven meters.
An individual sand well is advisable if the aquifer lies deep and it is costly to dig a well. Before drilling such a well, you need to consult with specialists from water disposal companies whether there is a first aquifer in your area, otherwise there is a chance of encountering a dry well. Water from a sand well is likely to be cleaner than well water. Such a well does not need to be approved and licensed, since, in accordance with the Law of the Russian Federation “On Subsoil”, in order to use a well without a license, it is necessary that it does not exploit the aquifer in which the central water supply of the settlement lies. You can find out which aquifer is used for the central water supply of your area at the Department of Subsoil Use of the Central Federal District.
An artesian well is located in a lower aquifer, the water from it will be much cleaner than from a sandy well and, moreover, from a well. In this case, you may need, which can only be obtained legal entities and entrepreneurs, subject to a number of requirements, one of which is the organization of a sanitary zone around the well at a distance of at least 30 meters.
Water quality check
In order to determine which is better - a well or a well, you need not only to study their advantages and disadvantages, but also to consider each option in your particular case.
Since whether the source will fully reveal its potential depends not only on its theoretical advantages, but also on the hydrological situation in a particular area.
1 Comparison of a well and a well
In general, it is better to create a well in regions with a clean environment, and clay soil. In the case of sandy rocks, it makes sense - there will be much less problems with its operation. Also a well better fit for polluted regions.
We will analyze in detail the strengths and weaknesses of each technology.
Well advantages:
- Long service life. If there are no problems with the flow of water at the site, then we can talk about at least a fifty-year period of using the well, which exceeds the resource of the well (20-25 years).
- Cleaning and repair work on the well can be done by hand, as it has a sufficient diameter to penetrate inside.
- There is no need to purchase expensive submersible pumps. Getting water from the well can be done by hand, using a conventional winch mechanism.
- in the country can be done by hand, which significantly reduces the cost of the project, since there is no need to rent professional drilling equipment.
- There are no restrictions on use: when the electricity is turned off, the well becomes simply useless - since without electricity, submersible pumps do not work, and there is nothing to get water. Water can be drawn from a well with a bucket.
The well also has its downsides.
A large number of factors affecting water quality. The purity of water strongly depends on the depth of the well, as well as on its location. Typical pollutants are particles of the soil layer: sand, clay and other mechanical substances.
To obtain clean water, in most cases, you will have to buy additional filtering equipment.
Limited well depth. When creating a well with your own hands, you can count on a depth of 5 to 10 meters, even when using special equipment it is difficult to make a well deeper than 20 meters.
Limited water intake. Since the filling of wells occurs at the expense of surface water, one can not count on a high efficiency of water replenishment (about 150-250 liters per hour). Of course, this will be more than enough for the domestic needs of a small house, but watering the garden, or filling the pool, is unlikely to be enough water.
The inconstancy of the surface aquifer can be the cause of a decrease in the debit of water, or even its absence.
The main advantages of wells:
- will become a supplier of an unlimited amount of the purest water, saturated with all the minerals necessary for health.
- Great productivity and water return. Drilling a well to an artesian aquifer allows you to build 3-4 full-fledged water supply points inside the house from one source.
- Unlimited depth.
- Minimum time spent on well construction.
Wells also have disadvantages.
It is worth mentioning right away that the disadvantages of a well are very different from its type - in the case of a sand well, there will be one disadvantage, but if we talk about an artesian well, they are completely different:
- The high cost of arrangement - well drilling can be performed only by specialists with the right equipment.
- Sand wells do not have a long service life, at best, it will be 10-15 years. If we talk about artesian wells, everything is much better here - they can last 30-40 years.
- Dependence on external factors. In the event of a power outage, submersible pumps become useless, and it is impossible to extract water from the well with your own hands.
- With a rare exploitation of wells for sand, they become contaminated very quickly.
- Good submersible pumps are expensive, in addition, they are poorly maintainable.
Still, the water provided by an artesian well cannot be called impeccably clean - there are practically no mechanical pollutants (sand, clay, etc.) in it.
But in artesian water, in comparison with the surface aquifer, there is a large amount of mineral salts, some of which are the cause of hard water.. So you still have to take care of iron removal and water softening.
2 Intermediate options
Repeated attempts were made to combine the main advantages of both designs, many of which ended unsuccessfully.
But there are two not quite traditional sources of autonomous water supply for houses and cottages that are worthy of your attention: the Abyssinian well (borehole well) and the caisson (well for a well).
2.1 What is an Abyssinian well?
The Abyssinian well consists of a pipe 10-15 m long (sometimes it is important to drill deeper workings - for example, a borehole well 25-30 meters long), on the lower part of which there is a special needle-shaped perforated tip.
Special pumps are installed on the upper section of the pipe, which pump water into the system.
The Abyssinian well differs from the classical well in the smaller diameter of the casing pipe, but at the same time, the Abyssinian well is in no way inferior to it in terms of productivity, since the water intake in such a system occurs according to the principle of forced suction (pumps inside the pipe are responsible for this), and not free inflow.
The Abyssinian well can be equipped in any area (even in the basement of the house), since it does not require much space to equip it. In addition, the Abyssinian well has a minimum installation time: its drilling can be completed within 5-6 hours.
The only caveat is that it will not work to make a borehole with your own hands, since it is necessary to use special drilling equipment.
2.2 Well under the well
A caisson (aka a well for a well) is more of an additional modification of a traditional well than an independent device. However, its creation helps to get rid of many of the problems that conventional wells have.
The well under the well is a kind of shield that also protects submersible pumps from icing in the cold season. The caisson creates free space between the elements of the well and the soil, the freezing of which in winter becomes the main reason for the failure of the water supply system.
The well for the well is made of metal, or with a diameter of 1 m. This is the optimal diameter, which, if necessary, allows you to perform repair robots with your own hands, and also provides the necessary properties of the entire protective structure.
The depth of the caisson corresponds to the depth of soil freezing in the coldest season, and this is about 2-2.5 meters.
After analyzing all the information received, we can conclude that both the well and the well are self-sufficient water supply systems, each of which can be the best option for a water source in the country.
Equipped well with a "house" on suburban area
It is simply impossible to say which is better - a well or a well, in order to draw any conclusions, it is necessary to take into account a number of related factors.
If you are limited by the budget, and want to receive water of the highest quality, then it makes sense to create an artesian well. Such a source will provide you with the purest water, but you need to remember that its arrangement will cost you a pretty penny.
You will have to buy expensive, filtering devices that iron and soften water, and also in the event of a well failure, pay repair teams, since it is rather problematic to repair the well with your own hands.
The well is suitable for those for whom financial question is of paramount importance. For its operation, expensive pumps are not needed, and you can dig a well with your own hands without spending money on third-party services.
In general, a well is a more versatile option than a well, but you should be prepared for the fact that such a source may surprise you with highly polluted water, which will require additional water treatment.
Although it is impossible to make an Abyssinian well with your own hands - whatever one may say, it requires specialists, and you also need to purchase pumps for supplying water, but the time and financial costs of arranging it are much less than spending on a well and an ordinary well.
The Abyssinian well is better suited for those who lack free space, or want to get the most simple and utilitarian device. The Abyssinian well is better than a well in terms of material costs and maintainability, better than a well in terms of productivity and water flow.
In general, this option of a source of water supply is worthy of attention.
