3016 wells and cisterns

does anyone have any advice on well digging versus cisterns? we are in umbria (lots of rain) don't have a lot of land and have been told that an underground cistern may be cheaper or more effective than drilling a well. we have also been told that we need to make sure that a well is drilled rather than thumped in. finally that we would need a higher wattage electricity supply to draw up water from a well. any experiences/wisdom to share?

Category
Gardening & Agriculture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/29/2006 - 07:21

Lots of rain in Umbria this year - but you would be unwise to rely on this.

Most deep drilled wells (I think in the UK these would be called boreholes) run on a 1.5hp (about 1.2kW) electric pump motor - that copes down to 100m depth. This isn't a huge load, even on a 3.3KW supply, and with appropriate controls (the pump does not run constantly) I think this is a fairly minor worry.

To get the water out of a cistern, or a less deep well, you could use a 750W pump.

To drill a well you will need a permission, including a geologist's report. Don't know about necessary permissions for cisterns.

Have you got any water supply at all? I ask this because perhaps you could feed a cistern off a meagre supply of spring or well water - but I would be very reluctant to be dependent on rainfall. It's never there when you want it!!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/30/2006 - 06:11

You can fill cisterns via water tanker about 30e for 7000 litres but if water shortage is that bad then that may be a problem too. 7000 litre cistern lasts about 8 weeks for family of four average usage. Wells can be expensive depending how deep they have to go, in Puglia which is mostly rock about 3000e.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/03/2006 - 13:08

v. helpful responses thank you. The next challenge is that we have been told that there are apparently two ways of making a borehole - you can drill it or you can bang it. apparently banging is usual but damaging to the area around it (rather old chapel in the vicinity) but drilling is more expensive and uncommon.

Also heard that a v small tank/cistern near the top is a good thing. any more wise thoughts?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/03/2006 - 13:22

I think probably the small tank/cistern that you are being told about is called an autoclave. This is a device which means that when you turn on a tap water arrives, and when the autoclave realises it needs water it asks the pump to supply it with some ready for your next demand. Often located "in" the top of the well, but can be remote from the well.

As for banging or drilling. I had a well "drilled", but it was with percussion assistance - I haven't heard of a device which simply "bangs" a well, but maybe somebody else has!

There is a very professional well drilling firm in the vicinity of Perugia, if you are in that part of Umbria.