What is the optimum depth for a drinking water well?

Despite the fact that in modern times it is possible to drill a well in any suburban area, people often prefer standard wells. Today I will talk about what depth is best to make a well at a summer cottage.

Many people are mistaken in thinking that the liquid level depends on the depth of the well. This opinion is wrong. After filling the well, the liquid stops at the place where the groundwater level (GWL) is located in a particular area. Depending on the season, the GWL often rises and falls. But the volume of accumulated liquid directly depends on the depth. Volume is the amount of fluid that has accumulated in the well.

How deep is it worth making a well? In general, the choice of the depth of the well does not depend on the wishes of the owner of the site or on the builders. It all depends on the natural and hydrological characteristics of the area. Experienced well diggers and hydrogeologists believe that there is no single standard for well depth. Arrangement of a well is possible only if the underground waters lie at a shallow depth. Otherwise, you can dig the so-called "dry well", and never reach the water. On average, the maximum depth of the mine is 30-40 m. But it can be up to 2 meters. It all depends on the area.

The deeper the well, the greater its capacity. If your water consumption is higher than your fluid intake rate, then you should consider a deeper well. In this case, even with a low flow rate, the well can be filled in time. It is important to consider here that the cost of installing the well will increase.

When choosing a depth, it should also be taken into account that the wells are filled from below with groundwater. Groundwater is precipitation that has seeped through the layer of the earth. Accordingly, if the bottom of the well is at a depth of about 200 cm, then it will already contain liquid that meets generally accepted sanitary requirements. This is due to the fact that the water, before entering the well, has already passed a natural step-by-step filter, consisting of a two-meter layer of earth. Accordingly, in order for the water to be drinkable, the optimal well depth should start from two meters. In this case, the well shaft, which does not pass through the "earth" filter, must be protected from moisture ingress.

In conclusion, I will add that the arrangement of the well is a kind of "lottery". The volume of water in the well, as well as its quality, are prone to change. It happens that the water in the well disappears, although there were no obvious prerequisites. This is due to the fact that the well is filled with groundwater. And if changes occur in the territory due to which water accumulates in the deep layers of the earth, for example, the drying up of a river or lake, this will certainly affect the water in the well.