Re: Basic groundwater well questions.

"GK Thompson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Hi,
>
>   I have a few basic questions to ask about how ``old-fashioned''
> groundwater wells work.  We have bought a run-down old manor house in
North
> England that has at least two hand-dug wells, possibly a third (just three
> feet away from another).  These would have been used approximately 200-300
> years ago for house water, and possibly for farming purposes.  My
questions
> are quite basic, but I searching the Internet has so far revealed few
> answers.
>   To my knowledge a well must be at least as deep as the water table,
after
> which point hand-digging a well becomes very difficult (as the well
fills).
> Two wells appear to have been dug around the same time (while the third
> might have been earlier), but are of very different depth -- the smaller
is
> approx. 6ft deep, while the larger is might be 10-12ft.  Is this really
> possible (through the problems with the well filling), or maybe for just a
> few feet this does not pose a significant problem?
>   Also, it would appear that one well has a different water-level than the
> other -- both never overfill.  I am sure there is an explanation for how
> wells ``know'' how not to overfill, could somebody please outline how/why
> this is, or point me to somewhere with details.
>   A final question is that there is a cellar which is very as deep as the
> smaller 6ft well, yet it is dry -- why is this?  Is it possible that due
to
> its position it does not fill, or is it more likely to be lined with some
> impermeable (correct word?) material?
>
>   Many thanks,
>
> -Lewis Thompson.
>

First of all, you should never drink shallow groundwater unless you know the
source, and know it is safe to drink.  I would recommend having it tested
for pollutants and bacteria before drinking it or using it for livestock.