| Planning |
Planning the construction of a well can be
complicated. There is the necessity to find the appropriate material,
the initial decision as to which sinking method will be
used, and the complexity in assessing the ground conditions of
the well site. These factors are difficult ones to evaluate,
especially when information about local conditions is incomplete. Because situations
change, the feasibility studies and planning may have to be
repeated and updated before well construction begins.
To help you to plan effectively, the following is an outline
of the wells construction process.
Overview of Well Construction
Initial feasibility questions
Is there a need for water?
Is a well the most appropriate water source to build?
Are construction materials available?
Who can do the work?
Community involvement
How will the community participate?
What training is needed?
How will they be organized?
Technical questions
Where will the well be sunk?
How will the well be sunk?
How will the well be designed to best prevent water
contamination?
Construction of the middle section
Initial site preparation.
Sinking the hole.
Lining (casing) the hole.
Construction of the bottom section
Testing the quality and quantity of water available.
Sinking and lining below the water table.
Constructing the bottom plug or filter.
Construction of the top section
Building the head wall.
Constructing the platform.
Installing the pump.
Well disinfection before initial use
Maintenance - The question of who will maintain the well
and pump after their construction should be realistically resolved before
construction.
After you have read the rest of
the manual and have decided how you can best sink
a well, you should use this overview as a checklist
to make sure that you have considered all the necessary
aspects of wells construction.