Ways to protect the well from melt water

Effective methods for waterproofing wells

We are talking about verkhovodka, a type of groundwater that forms on small aquicludes, differs open, without a waterproof layer, surface and is usually temporary - seasonal, fed by thawed snow.

Many owners of household plots faced the problem of melt water getting into the well. On the one hand, the upper water raises the level of well water, but it can carry with it pollutants, chemicals, oil products, pesticides and other harmful components. Therefore, the ingress of melt water into a drinking source is highly undesirable. And there are a number of rules, following which you can reduce the likelihood of harmful substances entering the well to zero.

Our members of the forum are actively discussing the issue of how to protect the well from upstream. Here's what our regular user writes boa2011.

boa2011

FORUMHOUSE member

Well in Moscow region, Istra district. Depth 7 rings. Water runs from quicksand in a stream. But quicksand is made of coarse sand. The water is not cloudy. The problem is overhead water. In the spring of water on the surface of the earth, and even now in June the level only fell on the ring. Rings without locks. Between the rings it must be whipping.

The question is how to protect from verkhovodka? I read literature, everywhere it is said about an earthen castle, but even so the earth is grimy clay, why trample it down? I read about all sorts of putty in the joints. But there is no definite recommendation for the material of the sealant. And the problem is that the joint would be motionless otherwise all the sealing to hell in a season. And the upper ring, as I understand it, moves with the ground, from the heaving forces (there is already a displacement).

There are several ways to help protect the source from the water.

Choosing a place for construction

If the well has not yet been built, the project is only being developed, there is time to pay more attention to the correct choice of location. To prevent melt water from entering the mine, it is better to build on a hill - taking into account the standards for distance from objects that may be pollutants.

If the well is in a lowland, then in the spring, when the snow melts, puddles will stand near the source of drinking water. This can quickly destroy the waterproofing. Over time, it will be necessary to clean, replace the protective layer. It will be important to send water for analysis to ensure its safety, suitability for drinking and domestic needs.

Precautions

During snowmelt or heavy rainfall, appropriate precautions are usually taken. Your actions will help prevent undesirable consequences of drinking contaminated water for the health of people living in the house. Key recommendations in spring and beyond:

• Do not use well water for drinking and cooking (without making sure of the source).
• Boil water or buy bottled water.
• Monitor the source, pay attention to the color and smell of the liquid, the appearance of deposits, films, etc.
• Take water for analysis. This can be done at the nearest sanitary station; you can also send a sample for testing through representatives of companies selling filters.

If there are characteristic changes in smell, taste and color, sediment - experts recommend cleaning and disinfection of the well. Otherwise, poor quality water can cause a number of diseases.

It happens that the site itself is damp, water often accumulates on it. Then you can equip the drainage system.

Waterproofing

Over time, even a well-built well can begin to miss the water. Therefore, it is better to detect leaks in a timely manner and eliminate them.

Rash98

FORUMHOUSE member

I have the same problem, or rather they are going to dig a well for me (from the rings) The problem of gaps between the rings has long been known to me from many. But no one has ever proposed a single intelligible solution. Except for continuous concreting instead of rings.

An interesting idea about the outer concrete shirt. And, probably, this shirt should be on the top edge of the same level with the top ring. And it would probably also be nice to make this shirt in the form of an inverse cone so that the soil does not bulge it.

It is not always profitable to take such radical measures for the owners of the sites. Modern concrete rings usually have a locking mechanism. But this also does not guarantee the absence of leaks. The well is built from special rings with locking joints at the joints and uses effective waterproofing, which is:

• Outdoor. Equipped during the construction of a well.
• Internal. It can be applied to the joints after the start-up of the source.

The building materials market today has a large selection of mixtures and compositions that allow you to create a sealed protective hydro-barrier. Means for eliminating non-pressure and pressure leaks are on sale.

External waterproofing

If the well is just being built or it is possible to excavate it, then an external waterproofing is arranged. For this, roll materials are suitable, for example, roofing material or other special films and coatings. Typically, such tools are used to work with the outer surface of concrete rings before being installed in a mine.

The walls of the well are wrapped with roofing material or its analogs in several layers, bringing them to the level of the upper sides of the well.

You can use liquid impregnations, which are used to coat the walls from the outside, for example, "GS Penetrat" ​​or its analogues. The product is applied according to the manufacturer's instructions, usually in several layers. Separately coat the seams with appropriate compounds for processing joints. It is advised to use "Penetrat Seam" or other similar means for these purposes.

Internal waterproofing

Over time, the outer waterproofing layer collapses and leaks appear. To restore the tightness of the joints, compounds developed for the internal treatment of the surfaces of the well are used. These are special impregnations for processing joints:

• Free-flow. Used for treating surfaces where there are traces of water seepage but no active leakage. Free-flow trains are used for scheduled, non-emergency maintenance of the well. For example, Construmax TLC and its analogues are suitable for these purposes.
• Pressure. If water gushes out of the crack, you need to urgently repair the break. For this, emergency pressure mixtures are used. They harden within minutes even when in contact with water. There are many seals, for example, Penetrat Aqua Stop, Powder-Ex, Waterplag and others.

All materials intended for the treatment of wells inside are designed for contact with drinking water. The products are made on the basis of polymers, so seals and impregnations do not crack, do not affect the quality of water and withstand harsh operating conditions.

How to locate a leak?

The entry of the top water into the source occurs through the joints of several upper rings. To a depth of melt water, if it seeps, it is filtered. Therefore, you need to look for leaks in the upper tiers. During the snow melting season, you need to carefully examine the walls inside. If they are dry, restoration work may not be carried out this year.

Violation of the tightness of the joints is first manifested by the appearance of condensation, the accumulation of moisture at the places of the locking joints of the rings. Sometimes trickles are visible that appear from the joints. If such undesirable signs of destruction of waterproofing are detected in the spring, protective actions are urgently taken.

Preparation of surfaces for interior decoration

To create a reliable protective layer, several sequential actions are performed using sealing compounds. This procedure applies to new and old wells.

At the initial stage, it is planned to prepare the walls of the well for further processing. The surfaces are cleaned with a high quality metal brush. There should be no dirt, moss, fungus, plaster or other mortar residues on the substrate. At the joints, strobes are made approximately 2.5 cm wide and 2.5 cm deep. If there is a leak, in this place the joint is expanded even more (up to 50x50 mm). It is advisable to treat the walls with a special primer or simply moisten it abundantly with water.

Sealing joints

At the joints of the concrete rings, a hydraulic seal must be installed. If there is a leak, water from which runs under pressure, a special emergency compound is used. The filling is prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions. The prepared material is used to seal the joint with high quality. Some formulations set in literally 30 seconds.

If the water does not run under pressure, non-emergency compounds are used to treat well seams. The material will hold better if you cut a dovetail groove when creating the strobe. The expansion should be directed towards the depth of the base.

The material is mixed according to the manufacturer's instructions and applied to the prepared hole. We'll have to wait until the composition hardens. The curing time for different manufacturers does not coincide, it is usually indicated on the packaging with the material.

Internal finishing of rings

When the joints have been carefully sealed, you can proceed with the complete waterproofing of concrete or brick surfaces. For these purposes, deep penetration mixtures are used. Once in the pores of the material, they react to form a reliable protection against water seepage. A thin waterproof film is formed on the surface of the rings, which has a number of features:

• provides protection against moisture penetration from the outside;
• maintains efficiency throughout the life of the rings;
• does not crack over time (unlike bitumen);
• small damage to concrete surfaces does not lead to leaks, unlike membrane waterproofing.

Using modern penetrating impregnations for concrete, you provide reliable protection of the source from the ingress of melt water.

Application of penetrating waterproofing

The composition is prepared in the proportion indicated on the package. A dry mixture is poured into a container with water (not vice versa), stirred with a construction mixer or a drill with a special nozzle. When the mass becomes homogeneous, it is allowed to brew for several minutes. Then the composition is thoroughly mixed again.

In the process of applying the solution to the walls, it is periodically mixed (manually). Be sure to control the time to formulate the composition. After the specified limit has expired, the material cannot be used, therefore it is better to prepare the impregnation in small portions.

The waterproofing is applied with a roller or with a mortar in at least 2 layers (can be increased up to 4 layers). A minimum of 2 hours should elapse between each subsequent coat. The drying speed is influenced by the composition and the ambient temperature. Moisten the surfaces again before applying the next coat. The finished finish is kept wet for several days.

After drying, the composition is not subject to harmful effects, does not wash out and does not crack. The product does not allow water to penetrate into the source and does not affect the quality of water in the well.

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