How to clean a concrete well. Do-it-yourself well cleaning - causes of pollution, basic cleaning methods and tools, step-by-step video

  • 03.03.2020

Over time, bottom sediments, debris, clay and silt accumulate in the well. To maintain the necessary freshness of drinking water, the owner will have to regularly clean the bottom and shaft. The frequency of the procedure depends on the composition of the water, the type of soil and other features of the area, but cleaning should be done at least once every five years. It is not difficult to clean the well - we will consider the main methods in this article.

Cleaning is a necessary preventive measure that allows not only to improve the quality of water, but also to extend the life of the well.

Can be distinguished several signs, indicating that it is time to carry out cleaning work:

  • appearance bad smell(most often hydrogen sulfide);
  • turbidity of water, the presence of suspension, which does not settle for a long time;
  • shallowing due to the accumulation of a large amount of quicksand sand;
  • ingress of foreign objects into the mine.

Any summer resident will be able to clean the well from bottom sediments, alluvial silt and debris, and without even going down into it.

Causes of pollution

There are many reasons why the water in the well loses its original purity and freshness. Let's single out those that owners face most often:

  1. Irregular use- stagnation and silting of water can be observed with rare operation. Most often this happens when no one lives permanently in a country dacha and the hydraulic structure is used only from time to time.
  2. Lack of cover- It is necessary to ensure that the well is tightly covered. It should only be opened at the time of use. Otherwise, dust, small debris, branches and leaves from trees will fall into the mine, significantly reducing water quality. The presence of a cover will also protect from direct sunlight, which will significantly reduce the rate of growth and development of algae.
  3. Incorrect mounting of the melt water shutter- the shutter is a permanent waterproof layer with a thickness of at least 50 cm, covering the upper casing ring. If the technology was not followed during construction, the top water containing eroded pieces of soil and other debris will penetrate into the tank.
  4. Seam damage- over time, cracks can form in the seams of concrete rings, through which groundwater enters the mine. You can correct the situation by draining the tank and sealing the cracks with a mixture mortar with the addition of liquid glass.
  5. Ring offset- most often occurs from the effects of quicksand or freezing of the soil. In the first case, the lower part of the barrel moves, in the second, the upper rings are pushed out. To eliminate damage, the rupture points are sealed cement mortar or they tighten the displaced rings with pins with thick wire.

Having found the reason why the well is getting dirty, you can determine the required amount of work and choose the most appropriate method of cleaning.

Cleaning methods

Drinking dirty water is not only unpleasant, but also dangerous to health. Therefore, if there was bad smell or smack, urgent action is needed.

There are several available ways, allowing you to quickly clean the well from concrete rings with your own hands, without even going down into it. With wooden log structures, the situation is a little more complicated, since for cleaning work you will have to go down into the mine and check the integrity of the lower rims.

Submersible pumps

During the construction of the well, the bottom is covered with filter layers of gravel, sand and crushed stone, making an embankment at least 40 cm thick. During operation, the particles of these bulk materials become covered with silt, and the water becomes cloudy. You can deal with the problem yourself with the help of drainage pump, picking it up taking into account the volume and depth of the mine.

The pump is lowered to a depth of 0.5-1.0 m from the bottom. Water is drawn into the pipes through filters and returns under pressure to the well, raising silt deposits from the bottom. Periodically it is necessary to turn off and remove the pump to clean the filters. The procedure is carried out until they remain clean. To verify the effectiveness and evaluate the effect obtained, you can give a water sample for analysis.

With the help of a drainage pump, they not only get rid of bottom silt, but also remove small branches, leaves and other debris. This procedure should be carried out regularly (2-3 times a year), and not only in cases of emergency.

The following video shows how to clean a well with a drain pump:

The accumulation of silt at the bottom leads to a decrease in the water level, which significantly affects its quality. In this case, you can clean the well with fecal (sewer) pump. Unlike drainage, it is more powerful and does not clog with sand. To organize such an event, you need to contact specialists - sewers.

Iron objects that accidentally fell into the well can be tried to get with a strong magnet.

Manual cleaning

If the previous options have not brought the desired result and the water quality is still low, manual cleaning of the walls and bottom is recommended. To do this, you will have to call one or two assistants for insurance, get special equipment and go down into the mine. Experts recommend for preventive purposes to perform manual cleaning and Maintenance annually at the end of summer, when the filling of underground sources is minimal.

Manual cleaning includes several stages:

  1. Water is gradually pumped out or scooped out in buckets from the well and at the same time cleaning is carried out inner surface. Contaminants are removed with a scraper and a metal brush without detergents and other chemicals.
  2. After removing the bulk of the water, they begin to thoroughly clean the bottom, removing the filtration layers of sand and gravel and replacing them with new ones. Large stones can be thoroughly washed and put back.
  3. Then, the seams are strengthened and defects are sealed, which become clearly visible on the cleaned surfaces.

After cleaning and repair work, experts advise treating with disinfectant solutions.

Safety precautions for manual cleaning of the well

Manual cleaning of the well is not only a very laborious undertaking, but also associated with an immediate risk to health. Therefore, we are obliged to talk about safety rules:

  • you can't clean the well alone. A person who descends into the trunk must be insured at the top by at least two;
  • main worker puts on a strong belt with a reliable cable attached to it. At the first signs of a deterioration in well-being, colleagues are obliged to understand it on the surface;
  • stairs down which a man descends into the well, equipped with a special wooden platform for greater stability;
  • after pumping water into the well shaft lower a container with a fortified burning candle. The fact is that gases dangerous to humans (for example, hydrogen sulfide) can accumulate at the bottom. If they are, the candle will go out. In this case, you will have to work in a gas mask;
  • chemical disinfection of walls should be done by wearing goggles and respirator, to avoid eye damage and poisoning;
  • air at a depth of 2 m or more contains much less oxygen than at the surface. Therefore p work in the well shaft cannot be trusted to persons suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system, arterial hypertension, bronchial asthma and pathologies of the respiratory system;
  • all works associated with the presence of a person in a well shaft, must be completed before dusk.

Final disinfection

Disinfection not only guarantees the safety of drinking water, but also improves its taste. The most effective and safest treatment for the walls of the well is the use of potassium permanganate solution(1 tablespoon per bucket of water). Also apply 10% bleach solution(such as the standard "Whiteness"), with which the walls of the structure are first covered, and the remains are evenly distributed along the bottom.

After chlorine treatment, the tank is tightly closed, the lid is wrapped with a tarpaulin and left until the barrel is filled with water to the usual level (this may take from several hours to several days). Then the water is pumped out, diverting it outside the site (it is impossible to water the beds with such a liquid). The procedure with pumping out the filled well must be repeated one or two more times to remove all residual disinfectant reagents. Water from a well that has undergone chemical disinfection can be used for technical purposes only after the final disappearance of the smell of chlorine (it is better to boil it for cooking and washing dishes).

As a result of properly carried out cleaning and disinfection, the water should be clear, devoid of any impurities, unpleasant odors and tastes. For further safe use, experts recommend letting the water stand for several days.

Video

Watch a video that shows the well cleaning procedure in more detail:

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Today, water supply to private houses, cottages and summer cottages carried out with the help of water pumping stations, and as alternative source water is often used and an ordinary well. Unlike the same pump, it will not fail and does not depend on electricity. However, like any economic structure, the well requires attention and care. In a neglected well, water loses its freshness over time and is suitable only for technical needs, and the well itself becomes silted up and eventually fails. Therefore, timely cleaning of wells is not a whim, but a necessity.

country well

It is considered correct to renovate the well once a season, they thoroughly clean the mine at least once every three years. In the event that the water becomes dirty, and the interval between cleaning the well is reduced, then the reasons should be sought. This will focus on problem areas.

There are the following types of problems dirty water:

  • The water is cloudy and opaque. Most likely, the well shaft lost its tightness, and the upper groundwater containing clay and earth penetrated into it. Impurities are deposited at the bottom of the mine, and the bottom filter cannot provide proper water purification. Sometimes the reason lies in the quality of the filter.
  • Fallen leaves from trees, street debris, etc. float in the well. The reason is simple: the shaft does not close at all or does not close completely. In an open well, water quality will inevitably deteriorate over time.
  • Water has dark shade. This sign indicates that the well is not used often, as a result of which the water stagnates, and microorganisms appear in it.


Dirty water in the well

  • Water is green. This shade indicates that there are algae in the water. The fault in this case also lies with the owners, who do not close the lid of the well. The sun's rays penetrating the mine contribute to the appearance of greenery inside the well.
  • The water is colored yellow or red. In this case, there is an excess amount of iron in the water. Cleaning in this case will not help because the reason lies in the aquifer. If water is used for cooking, a purification system will have to be installed.
  • The water from the well gives off a taste of sewage and has a disgusting smell, then the reason lies in the sealing of the mine. Most likely, sewer water enters the well. Although a similar effect occurs when an animal drowns in a well.

Having determined the cause of contamination, you can start cleaning the well shaft. The job will require some preparation. Therefore, study everything in advance available materials on the topic: "how to clean the well with your own hands."


Determine the cause of water pollution

Security

People, starting to clean the well, often ignore all safety requirements, and this can lead to sad consequences.

So, before you start cleaning the well shaft, take care to fulfill the following requirements:

  • The safety cable must be present without fail, and the depth of the well does not matter.
  • It is forbidden to work alone. Working with a partner, you will complete the planned amount of work much faster and most likely better. In addition, there will always be a person nearby who, if necessary, will provide assistance.
  • Before descending into the well shaft, you must make sure that there is a sufficient amount of oxygen in it. This is checked with the help of a lit candle, which is lowered into the well. If the candle is not extinguished, then the air in the well is breathable.

Starting to clean the well, check the attachment of ropes and ladders.

Important! At a depth of more than three meters, the amount of oxygen decreases, so for a person with diseases of the respiratory or cardiovascular systems, it is better to entrust cleaning to a partner or seek help from specialists.


Contact the experts to clean the well

Well mine cleaning technology

There are several methods for cleaning the well shaft. Which one should be used in this or that case depends on the nature and degree of contamination and the tools used. In difficult cases, cleaning methods will have to be combined.

Cleaning of wells is carried out in two cases: preventive or capital. The second option refers to deep drainage or manual cleaning of the well shaft.

Preventive cleaning

The owners of wells begin the summer season with their sanitization. Disinfection of the well shaft is always carried out, even if the water seems crystal clear. For garden well cleaning potassium permanganate, better known as potassium permanganate, is used. The solution is made in the following proportions: a tablespoon of potassium permanganate per bucket of water. The resulting mixture is poured into the well shaft. After two hours, all the water must be pumped out of the well. Sanitary treatment of wells located on household plots is carried out immediately after the snow cover melts. Water from wells being cleaned is poured onto future beds. A small disinfection of the soil will not entail any negative consequences.

Cleaning the well manually

So, how to clean the well in the country on your own? Obviously, buying specialized equipment is irrational. Fortunately, in most cases, to clean the well in the country, you can use the tools that are in the arsenal of every summer resident.


You can clean the well yourself

For convenience, the process of cleaning the well with your own hands in the country is divided into several steps:

  1. Preliminary work.
  2. Pumping water from a well.
  3. Mechanical cleaning of the well shaft itself.
  4. Replacing or repairing the bottom filter.
  5. Repair work. For example, sometimes it becomes necessary to seal the seams of the mine.
  6. Well sanitation.
  • preliminary stage

Well cleaning begins with the preparation of the necessary tools. To manually clean the well in the country with our own hands, we need the following tools and equipment:

  1. rubber high boots (the best option is fishing "bogs");
  2. work overalls (the work is very dirty, so it’s better to pick up things that you don’t mind throwing away);
  3. buckets;
  4. safety rope and ropes;
  5. stairs. Sometimes the depth and design of the shaft does not allow the use of a ladder. In this case, it is recommended to assemble a kind of swing from ropes and boards;
  6. scrapers, metal brushes and large sponges.


Well cleaning begins with the preparation of the necessary tools

After checking the availability of the necessary tools, free access to the well shaft. If there is a canopy, then it will have to be dismantled. Garbage accumulated on the surface of the water is removed with buckets or by hand.

Important! Do not work at depth alone. It is dangerous to life and health. Cleaning work is carried out by at least two people, so take care of finding a partner in advance.

  • Water pumping

It is possible to empty the well shaft with the help of buckets, but with the help of a pump cleaning works can be done much faster. A low-power pump of the "Rodnichok" type and its analogues will cope with pumping water from the mine. The price of such devices rarely exceeds 2,000 rubles. However, such a pump may well be found with friends or neighbors.

By the way, it will not work to completely drain the well, there will always be some water at the bottom.

  • Manual well cleaning

The walls of the shaft are cleaned with pre-prepared tools (brushes, scrapers, etc.). Dirt removed from the walls will fall down the well shaft. It's not scary, removing bottom debris, you will throw out these remnants. The walls of the shaft after cleaning must be washed several times. When cleaning the mine, check its integrity. It is possible that it needs repair.


Manual well cleaning

  • Well wall sealing

The integrity of the walls of the mine is broken as a result of displacement, the appearance of vegetation. Mortar is used for repair work, the only difference is the increased content of cement. However, recently special mixtures have appeared on store shelves. For better adhesion, it is recommended to clean the surface to be treated.

  • Bottom filter

You can clean the bottom of the well using ordinary buckets or using a special grab bucket. Such a bucket consists of two interlocking halves; it serves to lift silt. It is lowered to the bottom with a cable or winch. After lifting the bottom filter, evaluate its condition, wash or replace it if necessary. When forming the filter, large stones are placed on a loose clay bottom or bottom shield. If the bottom is sandy, it is advisable to use small stones.

  • Well sanitization

When disinfecting a well shaft, it is recommended to use a solution based on bleach or similar substances. The solution is diluted based on the following parameters: 1 liter of water accounts for 20 mg of lime. In order to find out the required amount of mortar, it will be necessary to multiply the diameter of the well shaft by its depth. That is, the usual formula is used, with which you can calculate the volume of any cylinder.


Special cleaning of the country well

After adding the solution to the well, close it for 5-6 hours. Water from a well treated in this way will have to be pumped out at least twice, and then boiled for a week. Such disinfection is recommended if traces of organic matter or bacteria were found in the well.

Important! After completion of all treatment activities, it is recommended to give a sample of water from the well for analysis.

Brief summary

Cleaning a well shaft is hard physical work, but its implementation does not require special training and skills. You can make work easier by regularly performing preventive work to clean the well. A cleared well is a guarantee of a consistently high yield and a comfortable summer vacation.

Sometimes I hear bewilderment from our clients - “Why clean the well? We've been using it for many years now and the water is still just as clean."

Copanca provides a full range of services for the repair and restoration of wells. We have been working in this area for more than 10 years, during which the company's specialists managed to achieve a high level of professionalism and gain experience in solving any problems with individual water supply sources.

In this article I will tell you why you need to clean wells, how often to do it, what methods exist, “pitfalls”, how to avoid problems and save a hydraulic structure for decades.

Helpful Hints

  • - do not try to clean the well yourself, or at least do not do it alone
  • - use the well often. Don't let the water stagnate. Share water with a neighbor. Then you will not need cleaning for about 10 years.
  • - check the filters - if they are quickly clogged, then water with impurities.
  • - check the water for smell, taste and color
  • - always close the lid of the well
  • - never arrange a place for washing a car, clothes, a place for sewage and septic tanks near a well
  • - do not wait for the contamination of the well, carry out a planned cleaning of the structure

Why is well cleaning necessary?

The reasons for the silting of the well are different:

  • High content of mechanical impurities in water - springs carry a lot of sand, wash out loam
  • Destruction of the bottom bulk filter or its incorrect initial arrangement
  • The appearance of quicksand - sand supersaturated with water with increased quickness
  • Soil movements are a rare phenomenon for the Moscow region, more often associated with construction work carried out near the well
  • Depressurization of the mine, the joints of the rings
  • Depressurization of a clay castle, blind areas
  • Salvo water pumping

All this leads to the fact that dirt begins to accumulate at the bottom of the well - sand, clay, black soil.

Consequences of silting

Among the most negative consequences of silting is a decrease in flow rate, up to the complete filling of the water column in the rings with sand, and deterioration in water quality. If you use a pump, then it is very likely to fail or be brought under a thick layer of sediment. The water may have an unpleasant odor, as a result of stagnation, it will turn into a favorable environment for the development of bacteria, it will become cloudy. It cannot be used for domestic purposes.

Important!

To avoid such negative consequences, based on my extensive experience in the Moscow region and knowing the rate of silting firsthand, I recommend that you carry out preventive cleaning of the well at least once every two with intensive, constant operation, and once a year - with seasonal. .

Well cleaning methods

The main methods of cleaning wells in the Moscow region:

  • Vibration and drainage pumps. Two vibration pumps sink to the bottom of the well. A hose is connected to one of them, which pumps water to the surface, while the second pump simply “troubles” it at the bottom, lifting sand from the stone. I do not recommend carrying out such cleaning on your own, since you can ruin the pumping equipment, and such cleaning will be effective only with a small layer of sand at the bottom - clay or silt cannot be raised that way. The drainage pump is somewhat more powerful, but it will not cope with serious pollution.

  • Mechanical method - using a grab or manual labor (shovels, buckets). We completely pump out the water from the well and manually remove the silt from the bottom

  • The use of high-pressure apparatus for cleaning rings - powerful jets of water knock dirt, overgrown vegetation from the inner surface of the mine

As a rule, we use a combined method, depending on the degree of contamination of the well.

You ask, we answer

Below I will answer the most FAQ, which we have to deal with in the process of drilling, arranging and cleaning wells and wells in the Moscow region.

How often do you need to clean the well in MO?

The following factors influence the frequency of scheduled or preventive cleaning:

  • Soil type - the predominance of sand, clay, loam, the degree of natural filtration
  • Depth - as our experience shows, the deeper the well, the cleaner it is
  • Type of sources - basically I mean the difference in chemical composition
  • Intensity of use of the hydraulic structure – permanent/seasonal
  • The type of pump and the correctness of its installation - vibration models can contribute to the destruction of rings, depressurization of seams

To maintain water quality high level, I recommend cleaning the well at least once a year.

Our Well Repair Services

  • Shaft alignment;
  • arrangement of a clay castle;
  • ring replacement;
  • deepening;
  • repair of seams and joints;
  • elimination of cracks, etc.

Cleaning a new well - is it necessary to carry it out?

If we carry out drilling / digging and arrangements, then you will not need to clean the new well, since we deliver the result on a turnkey basis. In rare cases, cleaning may be required shortly after the start of operation of the well, if the aquifer is oversaturated with water for some reason (an abundance of precipitation, for example) or a natural disaster occurs (flooding as a result of floods). Also, cleaning may be required if the work was carried out by non-professionals, and the bottom of the well was not properly equipped.

Cleaning the well after downtime - is it necessary?

If you use the well seasonally (spring-autumn), or leave for a while (from three to four weeks), then after each such downtime, I recommend that you clean the well, even if it is completely closed and there is no access to the water mirror from the outside. During this time, the water in it stagnates, the bottom silts up, harmful microorganisms can begin to develop in the well.

In the spring there was a smell from well water - what to do?

We often encounter such a problem in the Moscow region. The source of an unpleasant odor in 80% of cases is the vital activity of microorganisms - harmful bacteria. The remaining 20% ​​are due to changes in the chemical composition of water - an increase in the level of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, iron and other components. We solve the problem by carrying out a complete cleaning of the well, followed by water disinfection, and if the problem lies in the chemical change of sources, we recommend an effective filtration system. But most often the matter is cleaned, because during the winter the water in the well has time to stagnate.

What to do if there is swamp water in the well?

Swamp water in the well causes real panic for many, but I want to reassure you. If it contains fragments of vegetation (algae) or even small amphibians (newts, frogs), this indicates the chemical purity of the water. The problem is solved by a major cleaning of the well, mine and dumping a good bottom filter. I can advise you to use the well more intensively, not to let the water stagnate in it. Then she will not have a marsh smell, change color.

Cleaning an abandoned well - justified or not?

An abandoned well is almost completely silted up within 2-3 years. If it has not been used for longer, then there is a chance that the underground springs are completely gone or clogged. Here I recommend that you clean the well in the event that signs of water remain in it. If the bottom is completely dry, then a deepening will be required. This is justified only if the mine is well preserved. I often came across abandoned wooden wells in the Moscow region, which make no sense to restore. If we are talking about a hydraulic structure with a shaft of concrete rings, then the game is worth the candle - you will spend much less than on arranging a new well.

Cleaning the well from silt - can you cope with this task yourself?

I want to immediately dissuade you from the idea of ​​​​cleaning the well from silt on your own. The point is not only that without experience and a special tool you will spend a lot of effort without achieving the desired result, but also at high risks. The well cleaning service in the Moscow region costs about 6,000-10,000 rubles. Agree - it's quite inexpensive, given how difficult such work is. Unlike sand, silt creates a very dense, viscous layer at the bottom, which can be removed only by going down, having previously pumped out the water. We will do this work faster, better, safer.

Can sand be pumped out of a well?

The answer is yes, but not all. Keep in mind that you will have to pump out all the water, and this is from 1.5 to 3.5-4 tons. Only a very powerful one can handle sand pumping drainage pump, and it is possible to stir up the water well only with the help of special vibration equipment. The usual "spring" will not give the expected effect.

Important!

Under no circumstances should you attempt to use centrifugal household deep pumps! They are extremely vulnerable to any tiny impurities of sand in the water, and quickly fail because of it.

Below I provide a table that shows the average maximum solids sizes for various kinds pumps.

How do you know when it's time to clean the well?

Everything is very simple here - pay attention to the following factors:

  • The flow rate and storage capacity of the well decreased
  • Water quality has decreased - there is a smell, turbidity, sand
  • It's time for scheduled maintenance
  • There was a long (from 4 weeks) downtime
  • Filters in the water purification system began to clog faster

Bacteria in the well - how to kill?

Firstly, it is possible to determine the presence of bacteria in the well only as a result of its laboratory analysis. If he showed their presence in the well, then the most common way is fresh (not slaked) bleach, which is added to it in the proportion of 300-400 grams / 1 bucket per 1 ton of water in the well. After that, it is impossible to use the hydraulic structure for 6-12 hours. Moreover, the water in the well must be periodically “shaken”. Then it is completely pumped out. I do not advise you to carry out these manipulations on your own, since there is a high risk of incorrect calculation, incomplete pumping, and it is important to eliminate the very cause of bacteria by cleaning the bottom of the well.

When is well disinfection required?

The need for disinfection of the well is determined by the results of laboratory analysis in case of detection of harmful microorganisms in the water. Don't be fooled by diversity chemicals for disinfection - the basis of any solution is sodium hydrochloride or simply bleach. Therefore, I recommend disinfection only when absolutely necessary, since even after the complete pumping out of chlorinated water, a certain percentage of it still remains in the well and ends up on your table.

Additional work during well cleaning

  • Deepening the well to increase the storage capacity, increase the flow rate
  • Installing an aspen shield when a quicksand is detected
  • Sealing joints of rings, cracks
  • Clay castle laying, blind area
  • Conducting laboratory water analysis

Deepening the well on the site

There are several reasons why an existing well depth needs to be increased. The deepening method is effective and economical, which is why it is popular.

It is carried out in the following cases:

  • drying (partial or complete) of the old well;
  • decrease in water inflow per day.

In both cases, the owner of the site is faced with the problem of lack of sufficient water. The "revitalization" of the old well will allow the use of natural water for various needs. However, you cannot carry out deepening on your own or trust this business to amateurs. There are several reasons for this.

Reasons why you should not deepen yourself

There are several reasons why you should not deepen the wells yourself. Of course, you can entrust such a thing to novice well diggers, but in this case it is impossible to guarantee the success of the deepening. Deepening is carried out once. This time-consuming and expensive process is possible only once. Because of this, the deepening is carried out immediately to the maximum possible depth. Usually the well deepens into 3 rings at once. The need for insurance and special knowledge.

A well is a complex hydraulic engineering device. There is a certain set of operations that prevents the destruction of the well due to the movement of soils. These include the reinforcement of the well column, the removal of water-lifting equipment, etc. Without such special work, the risks increase, which is undesirable. In addition, the special knowledge of the masters allows you to know the potential of the soil layers. Different types of soil require a different approach. So, for example, in dense soils, a recess can be made in an open way. There is no need for casing with well rings. The floating soils require a special technology. Calculation of optimal depths. Deepening a well requires taking into account all factors. Only an experienced specialist can calculate the ability of soils to hold the walls of the well without settling, the depth of the aquifer, the daily water inflow into the well.

Ordering the deepening of wells from our professionals is beneficial, as specialists can restore even badly neglected wells.

The recesses, carried out according to the rules of work, are able to ensure the flow of water into the well for more than half a century. Trusting professionals in this matter is a manifestation of foresight. After all, it is better to order high-quality and worthwhile work once than to resort to the services of amateurs several times.

Well deepening technology

After the arrival of specialists to your site, a conclusion is made about the expediency of deepening a particular well, since there are cases when it is more rational to dig a new source than to try to reanimate the old one. It makes sense to deepen the well if the following conditions are met:

  • absence of displacements of rings and strong curvature of the mine;
  • satisfactory quality of water from the source;
  • there is not enough space on the site for the arrangement of a new well;
  • the depth of the well shaft is 10 rings or more.
The deepening of the well is carried out using special repair rings, the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the main part of the shaft.


Initially, water is pumped out of the well with the help of drainage pumps, after which a worker descends into the shaft of the mine, who extracts sludge from there, then the ring moves into the mine using a winch mechanism.

The ring located at the bottom of the well is dug up from the inside until the reinforced concrete structure sinks under its own weight to the required depth. The remaining rings are mounted in a similar way, the process is completed only after the mine deepens 2 meters below the beginning of the aquifer.

Safety precautions when cleaning a well

What can be dangerous cleaning the well? There are certain risks, including:

  • Probability of collapse or skew of the mine - we carefully study the rings, their condition, if necessary - we strengthen
  • The possibility of suffocation due to the accumulation of carbon dioxide at the bottom of the well during a long stay there - therefore, we use special equipment to supply fresh air from the surface into the mine
  • The risk of getting bogged down in quicksand in the absence of special climbing equipment that we have

Possible consequences of unprofessional cleaning of wells

Among the consequences of unprofessional cleaning of wells are the following problems that we encountered in the Moscow region:

  • Decrease in flow rate - incorrect filling of the filter blocks the springs
  • Deterioration of water quality - increased sand alluvium
  • Decreased storage capacity due to improper arrangement of the filter - the distance between it and the water surface decreases
  • Depressurization of joints between shaft rings
  • Damage to pumping equipment

Do-it-yourself well cleaning

If you decide to carry out this rather time-consuming procedure with your own hands, then this article will be useful for you. To begin with, you should pump out all the water from the well, for which you will definitely need a pump. Next, make sure that there are no gas accumulations at the bottom of your well, which, even in the smallest quantities, can harm the human body. To check for gases, lower a lit candle on a rope into the well. In the event of its attenuation, going down into the well is considered dangerous. Among other things, we advise you to consider a way to get up from the well in case you become unwell. And of course, you should not clean the well alone.

As you can see, cleaning a well in Solnechnogorsk is not only a laborious process, but also a dangerous one. Especially for an inexperienced person. In addition, the lack of experience and knowledge will inevitably lead to the fact that the cleaning will be carried out poorly and internal shortcomings will be missed. As a result, you will use water from an untreated well, which can be detrimental to your health. Trust the experts - here it is, perfect option for cleaning the well. After all, they are able to perform all the necessary manipulations quickly, competently and efficiently. And you will only have to enjoy the delicious and clean drinking water.

Professional Well Cleaning Services

Under my leadership as a lead engineer, a team of professional and experienced craftsmen provides a full range of well cleaning services. We guarantee the quality of the result, carry out the work promptly and accept the wells for service. To find out the price of well cleaning specifically in your case, contact us using one of the methods suggested in the "Contacts" section.

Prices - Cleaning and repair of wells

Type of work Price
Well cleaning: pumping out water, cleaning the bottom of debris and other contaminants up to 10 rings 8000 rub.
10 to 15 rings 10 000 rub.
15 to 20 rings 12 000 rub.
from 20 rings negotiable
clay castle 6000 rub.
Sealing interring joints with cement mixture 0 rub.
Sealing the current seam with a hydraulic seal, for one seam 1500 rub.
Aspen shield at the bottom of the well 3 000 rub.
Drainage (river washed pebbles with a diameter of up to 10 mm) in bags of 50 kg, per bag 2 000 rub.
Quartz sand in bags of 25 kg, per bag 700 rub.
Surcharge for a stationary pump, the hose of which runs through the middle of the well (If it complicates the work) 500 rub.
Surcharge for non-removable house/lid, narrow rings, manhole on the well (If it complicates the work) 500 rub.
Dismantling-mounting of the pump (in the presence of all components and fasteners) 1000 rub.
Removal of soil more than 10 m from the well 500-1500 rub.
Using a generator (when there is no or power outage) 500 rub.

The word "well" evokes many associations. This is an old cracked "crane" in the middle of the village, and a sip of scalding cold clear water straight from the bucket on a hot day, and a beautiful house-teremok in the center of the summer cottage. Once upon a time, the only rural well was a meeting place: here one could not only stock up on water, but also learn all the village news. Times are changing, there are more wells - almost every yard has its own sources of water dug. They are actively used for water supply to houses, watering vegetable gardens and orchards, sometimes they become clogged or displaced - which is why timely repair of wells is required. That is what we will talk about today.

Quite often, in the well, it is simply necessary to thoroughly clean the walls and bottom so that the water becomes clear and safe again. The appearance of biological deposits on concrete or wooden walls is a natural process that occurs in stagnant places. Debris entering through the top opening begins to decompose, forming pockets of bacteria. They, in turn, settle on the side walls in the form of a thick layer of mucus. Heavy particles fall to the bottom and accumulate there, forming silt and reducing the usable area.

Sometimes the cause of pollution is damage to the structure - rupture of seams, displacement of rings, rotting of wood. To eliminate the consequences of major breakdowns, cleaning and repair of wells are carried out simultaneously.

Well cleaning steps:

  • pumping water with a pump;
  • removal of silt from the bottom;
  • filter installation;
  • cleaning the walls with special compounds.

If the remains of dead animals are found at the bottom, the well must be disinfected. The simplest and most affordable option is "treatment" with chlorine. Water is pumped in, a sufficient amount of chlorine solution is poured in, covered with a dense cloth (for example, tarpaulin) on top, and left for a day. Then the chlorine water is pumped out, the well is completely washed. To completely remove traces of disinfection, you will need to change the water several times until the specific smell disappears, but as a result it will become absolutely safe.

Before cleaning the well, it is necessary to prepare devices for descending: a ladder, support rods, safety ropes or belts, wooden platforms on cables


One of the traditional compositions for cleaning the walls of the well is the familiar solution of potassium permanganate. It should be saturated, dark in color.


To clean the well in the country, you can purchase a ready-made composition, for example, a disinfectant stabilizing chlorine solution for Chemoclor pools

Repair work

Under the complex repair of the well means a number of activities related to sealing the seams, replacing parts, strengthening them. It is also any work to deepen the bottom. Some structural defects are easy to detect when cleaning. Let us consider in more detail the cases in which urgent repairs are needed.


If an old well has been preserved in the country house, do not rush to build a new structure in its place - perhaps enough minor repairs and it will start working normally again

Seam sealing

A slight displacement of concrete rings can be provoked by spring snowmelt, especially when low-quality concrete was used during construction. Significant cracks appear between the rings, through which soil penetrates into the structure. In the future, in addition to constant pollution, a complete descent of the ring may occur - and then a more serious repair will be required.

To get rid of small damages, cracks and potholes, use a waterproof sealant. The most elementary type of putty is a concrete mortar, with which all cracks are carefully smeared. Before this, it is necessary to clean the work surface, removing crumbling material.


One of the options for sealing joints and cracks: filling with Peneplug solution, processing with Penetron with a brush, finishing with Penekrit

Note! There are many modern compositions for repairing wells with your own hands. One of them is Fasi RM concrete surface restoration mortar. It is applied, like a conventional cement mortar, with a spatula or spatula. So 15 kg of the mixture is enough for high-quality processing square meter concrete, if applied in a layer about 20 mm thick.

Large cracks require intervention from the outside. In this case, a trench is dug around the rings to the depth of damage, the seam is processed, allowed to dry and buried back.

Strengthening concrete rings

It happens that the rings are constantly shifting to the side - how to repair a concrete well in order to increase their strength and obtain the desired stability?

This requires serious intervention. First you need to dig a well from all sides and disassemble the place of damage. Then it is necessary to install the displaced element in place and reinforce all joints with metal brackets, then close the seams and seal with Hydrolast or Penetron. If there is no professional sealant at hand, you can use a mixture of cement and PVA glue. Seams should be processed on both sides.


Not all concrete rings have special holes for staples. In case of their absence, it is necessary to use a drill and drill holes at a distance of 10-15 cm from the edge of the ring

A clay castle will help to give stability to the structure. It is done in the following way:

  • A trench 1.5-2 m deep and 1.5-1 m wide is dug around the well.
  • All free space is filled with clay, compacted.
  • The top layer is decorated (turf, boards, sand).


In order for the clay backfill to be truly considered a “castle”, it should be laid in layers of 10-15 cm and carefully compacted each layer

A thick layer of clay serves as a barrier against the effects of surface water, as well as a mechanical fastening element for concrete rings.

Rising water level

The only way to return the former water level or even increase it is to deepen the well. Depending on the age of the structure, the following actions are taken:

  1. The well is relatively young - it was built no more than six months ago. In this case, it is enough to remove the soil from under the lower ring so that the entire structure slowly sinks lower (as happened during the construction process). When the structure drops to the final mark, additional rings are mounted on top.
  2. The well is old. It is “built up” in the lower part, in depth, but with the help of rings of a smaller diameter (or a thick plastic pipe). At the bottom of the well, a hole is dug to the depth of a new aquifer and the prepared rings are placed in it. The junction of old and new elements is carefully sealed.


Before starting work on deepening the well shaft, it is necessary to repair the existing structure: it should not have displaced rings and weak points

Repair of wooden structures

Over time, one or more logs of a wooden well rots and becomes unusable. To change damaged bars, the upper segment, which cannot be repaired, is lifted with the help of a goat, and at the end of the work it is lowered into place.


Sometimes damaged logs are under water. In this case, to release the crowns and insert new parts, the water must be pumped out


Often the condition of the well can be judged by the water: clean, transparent and odorless water indicates that the structure is in perfect order

Rotten logs are replaced with new ones, and sometimes reinforced concreting is used instead of wood: a mesh of reinforcement is installed, formwork is mounted and poured with concrete. The work is carried out from a specially prepared platform lowered into the well on strong cables. If the repair of a wooden well is not done in time, the water will become cloudy and an unpleasant, musty smell will appear, and the structure will eventually completely fall apart.

Installation of bottom filters

To prevent clouding of the water, crushed stone is placed at the bottom of the well - this is the bottom filter. Silicon or other mineral has a strong structure, therefore it does not dissolve in water and does not create suspensions. A filter is especially useful if water from a well is supplied by a pump. Silt particles or sand can damage the equipment, and they also clog the water that enters the house.


Stones, pebbles or gravel for the installation of a bottom filter can often be found right on the summer cottage: they remain after the construction of foundations, paths and pools

The thickness of the layer of minerals should be at least 10 cm. If the bottom has a movable or viscous structure, then it increases to 50 cm - in this case, even in the presence of quicksand, the water will remain transparent.

To prevent damage to the well structure from becoming an unpleasant surprise, about once every six months it is necessary to do a routine inspection and regularly check the quality of the water.

If you follow all preventive measures during the operation of the water source, then cleaning the well with your own hands can be carried out no more than 1 time per year. The frequency of cleaning depends on several factors. These factors are:

  • the quality of the materials used to equip the mine;
  • the quality of sealing the seams inside the mine;
  • bottom drainage quality;
  • the presence of a good shutter from melt water;
  • equipment of adequate protection against foreign objects and debris entering the mine.

Even knowing how to clean the well with your own hands, you can turn to specialists, but you should keep in mind that these services are not cheap. Therefore, even before the installation of the structure, one should be aware that it will be necessary to acquire not only a source of water, but also a pump for cleaning wells and other equipment for independent cleaning work, otherwise you will have to pay for keeping your water source clean annually.

Preventive cleaning

A similar event is held in the spring, after the snow melts. This is the easiest of cleanings, since you can clean the drinking well without helpers. Even if the water seems normal, you need to sanitize with potassium permanganate, 1 tbsp. l. which is dissolved in a bucket of water and this solution is poured into the well shaft. After 2-3 hours, the water is pumped directly into the garden. This event achieves 2 goals at once - and the well is sanitized, and the land in the garden is disinfected.

Complete cleaning

There are options here. The first (lightweight) is used when the bottom filter becomes clogged. Then you need to clean the well from sand and silt that clogged the bottom drainage, consisting of crushed stone, gravel and coarse sand.


Bottom filter cleaning

Pumps will be needed: a drainage pump and an ordinary water pump of the Brook type, which will stir up the water. Cleaning is carried out according to the following scheme:

  1. Screw a short hose (up to half a meter long) to the water pump and lower it closer to the bottom. Its main task will be to lift debris from the bottom due to the intense movement of water created.
  2. Lower the drainage pump almost to the very bottom, leading the hose to the place where the dirty water, stirred up by the water pump, is drained.

Then it remains only to monitor the purity of the flowing water. In about 2 hours, you can cope with a 10-centimeter layer of silt. It is better not to drain the water flowing out during the cleaning process into the beds and flower beds, as they can become covered with a layer of viscous dirt.

Capital cleaning with repair of seams

It is carried out when organic debris enters the water, with the growth of algae, depressurization of the seams. In this case, you will have to manually clean the well in the country, descending into it. To do this, you will need at least 2 assistants and the following devices:

  1. A long wooden (metal) ladder, a rope ladder or a swing from a board tied to two ropes, on which the cleaner will have to stand with his feet - the most appropriate device in this case is selected from this list.
  2. A device for lowering and blocking if a swing is to be made.
  3. Brush or sponge for cleaning the walls of the well. Usually, a soft metal brush is used for this purpose.
  4. Bucket.
  5. safety rope, rubber boots and a helmet for the cleaner. The latter is necessary in order to protect the head from a tool that accidentally fell from above.
  6. Pump for pumping water.
  7. Cement mortar with the addition of liquid glass for the repair of seams.
  8. 10% (10-20 mg per 1 liter of water) bleach solution for mine disinfection.


You need not only to know how to properly clean the well yourself, but also to carry out each stage of work carefully and carefully. You need to work with at least three people: one person is in the mine, the second one insures him, and the third one accepts and releases buckets of silt, supplies and accepts the tool.

Cleaning wells is not so much difficult as laborious.

It should be borne in mind that people with diseases of the heart and blood vessels are contraindicated in working in the well shaft, because everything deeper than 3 m is associated with a lack of oxygen. In addition, there may be an accumulation of gases in the mine. To make sure that they are absent, you need to lower a bucket with a burning candle to the bottom. Only oxygen supports combustion, so if the candle goes out, you need to pump out the gas before manually cleaning the well.

Pumping can be done using a home vacuum cleaner or an ordinary potbelly stove located near the well. You need a long pipe, one end of which is attached to the blower, and the other goes down almost to the water. The potbelly stove is melted, and with the help of stove draft, the gas is brought out.


Do-it-yourself capital cleaning of wells is carried out according to the following algorithm:

  1. Water is being pumped out. This is done immediately or in stages, and as it is pumped out (for example, 1 well ring), the cleaner descends and washes the walls of the mine.
  2. Complete cleaning of the walls of the mine from dirt and formations.
  3. Washing the walls of the mine with running water from a hose, after which you will need to turn on the pump for cleaning and pump out this liquid from the bottom.
  4. Cleaning the bottom of silt until the bottom filter appears.
  5. Cleaning of the existing bottom filter or complete replacement. To clean the filter, its components will have to be lifted and rinsed well, and then put back in place.
  6. Covering cracks.
  7. Disinfection of walls and water with bleach. You can also purchase a special tool.
  8. Removal after disinfection of water from the well. This water cannot be drained into the garden, you need to bring the hose into the cesspool. This action is performed several times until the odors of the disinfectant disappear. After that, it is recommended to boil the water used for drinking for 1-2 weeks.

Safety measures must be observed. The bottom filter is an unreliable device. If you stand on its surface for a long time, your legs can tighten, so you need to do the work faster and switch from foot to foot more often, checking your own stability.

Own well makes it possible to be independent from city services and receive water around the clock in the right amount and good quality. Cleaning and repairing wells are mandatory activities that must be carried out regularly to maintain the source in working condition and maintain the quality of drinking water.

Mandatory maintenance is required not only for mines for obtaining water, but also for sewer systems, which are responsible for the removal of wastewater, their accumulation and disposal.

Every home, to ensure normal conditions living and comfort has a water supply and sewerage system, each of these systems has its own wells and periodically needs maintenance and cleaning. Repair and cleaning of the well are carried out at certain intervals, which are set depending on the type of soil, the intensity of use of the building.

A lot depends on the material used in construction, as well as on compliance with the construction rules themselves and the quality of the work performed. If during the construction low-quality material was used, the type of soil was not taken into account and the technology was not observed, then the source shaft will constantly fail and require repair work.

Types of repair work

All repair work can be divided into two types:

  • scheduled maintenance;
  • unscheduled work.

So, now in more detail:

  1. Scheduled repairs are carried out after a certain period of time to maintain proper water quality, timely detection and elimination of minor malfunctions or damage. It is worth noting that any major accident does not happen by chance, it is always preceded by a number of minor faults, and if they are left unattended and not eliminated in time, their combination leads to major breakdowns.

Planned repairs include:

  • cleaning the mine from growths and deposits;


  • cleaning or replacing the bottom filter;
  • disinfection with special solutions;
  • pumping water after repair and prolonged downtime;
  • sealing small cracks in the walls of the mine.
  1. major malfunctions that arose as a result of improper operation of the source, extraneous mechanical influences or violations of construction technology.

Unscheduled work includes:

  • elimination of displacement of concrete rings;


  • fastening the rings together (if this was not done during construction);

  • replacement of damaged rings in the head of the well;
  • deepening of the well with a sharp decrease in the water level or clogging of the filter.

When arranging sewerage and water supply systems, they are most often used. Plastic wells practically do not need repair work, since they are a monolithic shaft made of a material that is durable and resistant to mechanical stress.

Concrete ring shafts are also used in both systems, so the repair of sewer wells is practically no different from the repair of water pipes, since they have the same faults.

Carrying out repairs in concrete wells

Sealing joints

Work on sealing the joints between reinforced concrete rings is the most common type of minor damage and is easily repairable, so anyone can do such a well repair with their own hands, without special skills, but observing elementary safety rules.

Cracks in the rings appear as a result of shrinkage of the soil and its displacement. This is the normal behavior of the soil in different seasons. To eliminate cracks, you can use ordinary cement mortar mixed with ordinary PVC glue.

You can use ready-made mixtures for sealing, but their price will be much higher than the components for cement mortar.

To seal cracks at the joints of the plates, you will need:

  • putty knife;
  • cement mortar;
  • metal brush;
  • a hammer.

Tip: Before filling a crack, it is necessary to first tap it with a hammer to remove old putty and remove loose elements. After that, clean the place with a metal brush, remove dust as much as possible and cover with a solution using a spatula. Try to push the solution as deep as possible into the crack.

If large cracks are found through which soil and perched water penetrate, then the repair of the well from concrete rings in such cases is carried out from the outside of the mine. To do this, a hole is dug from the side of the crack to the desired depth, the seam is processed from the outside, and the hole is dug back.

It is important to remember that from the outside after coating the seam with cement mortar, you can additionally coat the seam bituminous mastic for better waterproofing. If large cracks between concrete rings are not eliminated in time, this will lead not only to water pollution, but also to displacement of the rings.

Displacement of concrete rings

Repair: displacing the rings in the well is a rather complicated operation that requires partial disassembly of the entire well shaft. Displacement usually occurs as a result of ground movement, if the rings were not fixed to each other during the construction of the shaft or a cushion of sand and crushed stone was not installed around the walls of the shaft.


The technology for repairing wells in such cases involves dismantling all concrete rings above the displacement point, reinstalling them in the right place and fastening them together with special metal brackets. On the outer part of the mine, an additional layer of coarse crushed stone is laid, which softens the pressure of the soil on the mine during its movements.

Well deepening

Deepening also applies to repair work. With incorrect initial calculations of the depth of the well or as a result of a number of other reasons, the water level in the source may significantly decrease or even disappear. In such cases, measures will be required to deepen the mine, where repair rings for the well are used.

Note! Rings are called repair rings, the outer diameter of which is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of already installed rings. Repair rings for wells are lowered to the bottom of the mine, installed on top of each other and carried out, where all concrete rings are lowered under their own weight as they deepen (see photo).


When carrying out deepening work, it will not be possible to use already installed rings, because after the expiration of time, they are tightly clamped by the ground as a result of minor seasonal movements. You should not try to lower the installed concrete products by force, this can lead to significant damage and, as a result, more complex repairs will be required with partial dismantling of the well, which will inevitably entail additional financial costs.

Before you repair a well with your own hands, you need to clearly assess your capabilities, the availability of special knowledge and the necessary tools. In many cases, carrying out any work on your own can not only harm the source itself, but also harm your health. Therefore, if you doubt your own abilities, it is better to seek help from a specialized company and hire a team of qualified workers.

Cleaning the sewer well


Repairing a sewer well is not much different from similar troubleshooting work in fresh water sources, where the same concrete rings are used to build the shaft and cap.

The difference is that these wells perform different functions, but the technical device is almost the same for everyone and the types of malfunctions too.

Conclusion

For carrying out any work in deep mines, there is a special safety instruction, which provides for the availability of personal protective equipment and safety elements, as well as certain rules for the use and composition of building materialused in the implementation of repair work.

In order to pass without excesses, be sure to watch the video in this article.

For private houses or located in countryside timely and competent repair of the well with their own hands remains relevant. The well in this case is often the only available source of water supply in the absence of a centralized system. Therefore, maintaining it in working condition, ensuring the receipt pure water are the prerequisites for comfort.

Quite often in recently regularly supplying clean water In the well, the liquid acquires an unpleasant taste and odor, it acquires color, indicating the presence of impurities. Such water should not be used for drinking or culinary purposes. In addition, the increased amount of impurities can ruin plumbing, household appliances, and quickly render filter cartridges unusable. Do you need to repair wells in the country with your own hands - in each case, you can decide after thorough inspection of the structure, but cleaning and eliminating the causes of pollution is always required. There can be several reasons for the appearance of dirt.

  • Natural silt deposits on the walls and bottom of the channel, which are a mixture of unicellular algae, microparticles of organic matter, bacteria, etc. that have entered the water. Like any organic matter, such a mixture begins to decompose, giving the water an unpleasant odor and taste.
  • Large pollution that accidentally fell into the well - leaves carried by the wind through the upper part that was not closed by a lid, a small animal that fell and drowned, etc.
  • Soil particles and organics from the soil that enter through the walls in case of violation of their tightness.

If in the first two cases you can limit yourself to cleaning and sanitizing the structure, in the latter you will have to think about how to repair the well.

For repair work, you will probably need it. How to make it yourself, read our separate article.

Cleaning steps

The well is cleaned in stages.

1. Before proceeding to any other work, the mine will need to be freed from water. Since it is impossible to stop the arrival of liquid during cleaning or repair, it will be necessary to pump out (using a pump) several times:

  • completely as preparation for inspection and further operations,
  • as necessary - in the process of repair or cleaning to ensure the convenience of work,
  • after completion of all necessary activities.

2. By cleaning the walls, you not only eliminate organic matter polluting the water (deposits removed from the surface with a brush should be removed from the shaft), but also prepare the surfaces for inspection.

3. The cleaned walls are carefully examined: the integrity of the structure itself, coating, joints of elements is checked(often do-it-yourself repair of a well made of concrete rings is required when they are displaced relative to each other and cracks form). Found violations are eliminated.

4. Cleaning the bottom most often consists of removing deposits and replacing. The easiest way is a bucket on a rope and a shovel. More experienced homeowners often use a grapple for this purpose.

Repair work

How do-it-yourself repair of wells will be carried out depends on the design of the structure and, first of all, on the material from which it is made.

Important: All repairs are carried out in special clothes, with insurance and a partner.

Wooden wells and their features

Repairing a wooden well with your own hands can, without exaggeration, be attributed to the most difficult. He will require the device and use of auxiliary facilities:

  • a securely fastened working platform (in the manner of a construction "cradle"),
  • a structure that will fix and hold the crowns of the well over the repaired area so that the entire wall does not collapse, losing support.

The main reason for the repair of wooden structures is putrefactive processes that occur in wood under the influence of water. In this case, organic pollution is not organic matter brought into the well from the outside, but its own walls. It is possible to eliminate this phenomenon the only wayreplace rotting logs with new ones.

The procedure is performed in a certain sequence.

  1. The constructed working platform is fastened with reliable cables on beams that are installed above the well. It is important that the platform can move up and down safely.
  2. Moving in a similar area along the wall (helpers are required, it is almost impossible to cope with such a task alone), they accurately determine the boundaries of the damage zone.
  3. Logs higher than those to be replaced are fixed on both sides, excluding the possibility of collapse.
  4. The area where the logs are rotten is disassembled. All damaged elements rise to the surface.
  5. Elements for replacement are selected (the availability of the necessary building materials should be taken care of in advance).
  6. The selected whole logs are installed in place of the removed ones, driven in. The achieved strength is checked.
  7. Self-repair of a wooden well ends with dismantling and removal of auxiliary structures from the well shaft.
  8. The mine is being cleaned.

concrete structures

In order to decide how to repair the well with your own hands in this case, you should assess the degree of damage.

The main problems of concrete wells are:

  • violations of the surface layer (plaster, sealant),
  • formation of cracks in the structure,
  • depressurization of seams,
  • offset elements.

The reasons for the destruction of concrete wells can be:

  • materials (primarily concrete) of poor quality,
  • ground mobility,
  • activity of ground or flood waters destroying seams.

After draining the concrete well, assess the degree of destruction.

How to repair a well from concrete rings when they are displaced? In this case, it is impossible to do without lifting equipment - the structure will have to be partially dismantled and reassembled in accordance with all the rules, restoring the geometry, ensuring the strength of the seams and the tightness of the mine as a whole.

Important: In order to avoid repeated displacement, the rings are fastened together with special brackets.

Brick mines

Repair of brick wells is technically easier than others. When cracks appear in the brick or the seams are washed out by groundwater, the brick of the damaged area is selected, and a new one is laid in its place using mortar. After the joints have hardened, the plaster layer and waterproofing are restored.

Rising water level in a well

Insufficient water levels can make it difficult to lift liquid to the surface, whether this operation is done manually or with pumping equipment. There are two reasons for the level decrease:

  • incorrectly selected source location,
  • insufficient depth of the mine.

In the first case, most likely, the error will be noticeable immediately, and the only way out will be to move the well to a new location.

Before moving the well, you can try.

  • If the age of the structure is not more than six months, the structure can be lowered by sampling the soil from under the lower part of the structure. Earthwork should be carried out until a sufficient number of keys appear. After the well settles, its upper part is increased to the required height.
  • Do-it-yourself repair of an old well when the water level drops, it is performed in a similar way, but at the same time it is necessary to narrow the structure (use concrete rings of a smaller diameter, change the parameters brickwork etc.).

Many believe that by digging a well in their area, you can use a clean and healthy source for many years without making any more effort. In reality, everything looks a little different. If suddenly the water has changed its taste, become cloudy, and an unpleasant smell comes from the depths - it's time to clean. This event can not be called too pleasant, but it is necessary to maintain sanitary norms in drinking water. Therefore, each owner of the site must know how to clean the well, and when to do it.

There is no consensus on how often cleaning should be done, since several factors can affect the condition of the well. Only constant monitoring of water quality and periodic visual inspection of the structure will allow you to choose the right moment.

We list the main symptoms that indicate that it is time to clean the well:

  • The water has an unpleasant odor. This indicates the ingestion of leaves, birds or animals, as a result of which the process of decay has begun.
  • Increased turbidity of the water. Most likely, there was a silting of the well or depressurization of the rings, which led to the ingress of clay or sand into the water.
  • The analysis shows an increased content of metals and nitrates. In this case, there is a high probability of poisoning well water with surface runoff.
  • The inner walls are covered with mold and moss. This process indicates the activation of the reproduction of microorganisms.

Improper well care can lead to serious diseases

Cleaning the well with your own hands: the main steps

If you decide to clean the well and want to do it yourself, then this process must be taken very seriously, strictly adhering to the instructions below.

Tool preparation

Before proceeding with cleaning activities, you need to prepare the appropriate tools and accessories, namely:

  • ladder (rope or ordinary);
  • safety devices (belt, slings);
  • bucket;
  • sapper shovel;
  • a large sponge or brush for metal;
  • drainage pump (if any);
  • means of disinfection.

You should also take care of your own equipment. It is advisable to use waterproof clothing, high rubber boots and a construction helmet. At the same time, clothes and shoes should not hinder movement and cause any discomfort.


To clean the well you need to thoroughly prepare

Water pumping

Unfortunately, it will not work to clean the well without going down into it. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to pump out all the water from it. There are two ways of pumping: manual and using a pump. In the first case, you will have to lift all the water with a bucket, which is extremely difficult and tiring. Given this, it is advisable to purchase or borrow a drainage pump from friends, which will greatly simplify the task.

Note. Emptying a well with buckets can take a whole day of light, while a pump will pump out the liquid in a few minutes.

When using a drainage pump, it is necessary to remove large debris from the surface of the water so as not to clog the device’s hose, and also periodically clean the filter element.


The use of a drain pump greatly simplifies the pumping of water.

Cleaning walls and flushing drains

To clean the walls of the well, large sponges or a soft metal brush are used. In this case, the use of household cleaners is strongly discouraged. In the process of cleaning the walls, attention should be paid to the integrity of the joints between the concrete rings. If necessary, they must be sealed with cement mortar or liquid glass.

An important prerequisite for the purity of well water is the condition of the bottom filter. It must be thoroughly rinsed or completely replaced. Drainage for a well is usually made of shungite, crushed stone, gravel, pebbles or quartz sand. The layer thickness must be at least 10 cm.


Shungite bottom filter device

Well disinfection

To purify the water in the well from harmful bacteria and microorganisms, the walls and bottom are disinfected at the last stage. The most common remedy for this is a solution of bleach. After processing, the well is covered with a tight lid and tarpaulin, and left in this form for 48 hours.

Advice. Before disinfecting the block with a chlorine solution, it is advisable to consult with specialists about its amount per specific volume of liquid.

After disinfection, the water from the well must be pumped out several times until the smell of bleach is completely gone. Usually two or three cycles are enough for this.

Precautionary measures

Cleaning the well is not the safest event, so some rules should be followed during its implementation.

  • You cannot work alone. Find at least one assistant who will help you and belay from above.
  • For equipment, you need to pick up waterproof and comfortable clothes, fishing or wading boots, and protect your head with a helmet. Also mandatory elements are a safety belt and a cable.
  • Make sure that there are no harmful gases in the well shaft. The easiest way is to light a wick at the bottom. If the flame burns, then you can work.
  • With a large amount of silt at the bottom, you can’t stand in one place for a long time - a viscous medium can suck your legs.

Important! Only strict adherence to safety rules and the responsible approach of your assistants will allow you to clean the well without any negative consequences.

If you want to clean the well from sand, silt, pathogenic microorganisms, but at the same time do not burn with the desire to deal with this process yourself, then you can contact a specialized company that will quickly and professionally do the work, providing you with an absolutely clean well.

It is not always possible to use the benefits of civilization in the country today. Therefore, as a source of water supply, they often dig their own source, which allows you not to worry about the amount of water for irrigation and household needs. However, even such a water intake point requires careful treatment and regular maintenance. And cleaning the well here is the main point.

After all, the irregular use of water from the source, the absence of a top cover, or simply the appearance of small cracks in the rings of the shaft can lead to water pollution, the growth of bacteria in it, or simply siltation of the bottom. We talk about how to clean the well with your own hands and do everything right in this material. And for a clear example, we will offer you a video below.

Important: you can judge the types and causes of water pollution in the well not only by external signs (garbage particles), but also by the shade of water and its smell.

By the way, if you are interested in how much it costs to clean the well, then contact the professionals. They will review your drawings, identify the cause of contamination, and, depending on the data studied and received, will name the price of the work.

Often the owners of their own wells are faced with problems of water pollution in wells of this type:

  • Turbidity, impurities of small debris in the form of chips. The cause of this phenomenon can be either the appearance of shifts of the rings or small cracks in the concrete. Through them, particles of soil, ground contaminated water and small debris enter the source shaft. Another reason for this type of dirt in the water from the well can be a silted bottom. A layer of silt prevents the penetration of clean water and more and more "reclaims" the territory of water in the mine.
  • Large inclusions of debris in the form of sticks, leaves, feathers and other objects. In this case, the fault is the lack of a door at the head of the well. Under the influence of wind, a lot of ground debris gets into the water. Perhaps the presence of an animal that fell into the mine. In this case, it will be necessary not only to clean the well, but to disinfect the water and the mine itself.
  • Changing the color of the water. If the water has a reddish tint, then this indicates a high content of iron in the water. If the water has acquired a cloudy greenish color with an unpleasant marshy odor, then the reason is also the lack of a door. The sun's rays in this case heat the water, which promotes the growth of bacteria and the growth of algae in it. Hence the swamping of the liquid in the source. Urgent cleaning of the well in this case is essential. And it needs to be done right.

Disinfection of the well with manganese

In order not to start a long-term treatment of water in the well and cleaning the mine itself, it is necessary to carry out preventive treatment every year with the onset of spring. Such a do-it-yourself cleaning of the well will help prevent much more complex problems.

Simple manganese is used as a disinfectant. The product must be diluted in one bucket of warm water at the rate of 1 tablespoon per volume. Mix well and pour into a well. We cover the source with a lid and stand for 2-3 hours. After such a sanitation, it is necessary to pump out all the water from the mine and drain it into the garden. By the way, the soil is only good for it.

Important: such processing must be carried out in the spring, but after the convergence of all snow and water. Otherwise, there is a risk of drained water penetrating back into the top water and back into the well.

Video on cleaning the well with potassium permanganate

Careful processing of the well

If you decide to completely wash the well from the inside, then you will have to free the mine from water. For work you will need:

  • Safety ropes;
  • A large staircase or a homemade elevator (a board attached to a rope);
  • Bucket, ladle and coarse brush;
  • Disinfectant chlorine solution;
  • Drainage and water pumps.

So, if the quality of the water basically suits you and you don’t want to pump it out, but there is still a suspicion of the presence of sand and silt, then you can try to clean the bottom of the well with a drainage and water pump. To do this, we first lower the water pump with a thin hose about 1 m long screwed to it to the very bottom of the mine. We turn on the unit and stir up water from the bottom. After 5-10 minutes, you can lower the drainage pump into the water and turn it on. In theory, particles of silt, mud and sand raised from the bottom will be pumped out by a drainage pump. Professionals assure that sediment up to 10 cm thick can be removed from the bottom in 2 hours of such work.

Important: the drainage pump should not reach the bottom of the shaft by 30-40 cm. And you should stock up on powerful pumps for work. Weak fixtures will become clogged with sand particles and quickly fail. Watch the video for the work being done.

Well washing

If the above method of cleaning does not suit you, then you will have to completely pump out the water and wash the mine. Therefore, stock up on a protective helmet and two assistants. In this case, it will not be possible to cope on its own, since a lot of strength is required, and the lack of a sufficient amount of oxygen in the well shaft forces the craftsmen to change places.

  • So, first of all, we start pumping water. As the liquid decreases, you can lower yourself on ropes or a ladder into the shaft and start washing the walls. From above, the employee must be insured.
  • If cracks occur along the perimeter, then they must be sealed with liquid glass mixed with cement.
  • As it descends into the mine, it is necessary to check the amount of oxygen and the presence of gas inclusions. To do this, a lit candle in a bucket is lowered into the well shaft. If the flame burns evenly, then everything is in order. If the fire goes out, then the mine will have to be ventilated. You can use a fan or lower a large blanket to the bottom of the devastated mine a couple of times and raise it again.
  • After all the walls are washed, it is necessary to start cleaning the bottom. For this, silt and dirt are chosen with a bucket or bucket.

Important: it is necessary to work only in a protective helmet. Since the bucket or bucket of silt may break when lifted. In this case, injury cannot be avoided.

  • All layers of the bottom filter are thoroughly washed and laid again.
  • If dead animals were found at the bottom of the well, the mine will have to be completely chlorinated. To do this, a sufficient amount of bleach is diluted in a bucket (ladle) of water and rubbed into the walls of concrete rings. The remains of the solution are poured to the bottom and the well is covered with polyethylene so that chlorine vapor does not evaporate.

Video how to clean the well with your own hands

Important: chlorination should be carried out only in a protective mask, since there is a risk of poisoning with volatile chlorine vapor.

  • In a covered state, the well is kept for 1-2 days. After that, the water must be pumped out completely 2-3 times. The smell of chlorine will stay in the water for about a month. And during this period, it is not recommended to use water for cooking and drinking. Only after the water takes on a natural smell, it can be used on the farm.

Important: If the smell of chlorine in the water is not for you, then manganese can be used as a disinfectant. But in this case, the result will be slightly weaker. And therefore, as an additional system for cleaning the source in the country, you can use a grid with silicon, which is laid on the bottom of the well. You need to change such a device every six months.

Well disinfection video.