Water for the World

Designing

Hand Dug Wells

Technical Kate No. RWS. 2.D.l

Proper
design
of hand dug wells
is
important
to asure a year-round
supply
of water and to assure
efficient
use of
personnel
and materials.
Designing
involves
determining
the size and shape
of the well;
the method of lining
the
shaft;
the type of intake;
and the
necessary
personnel,
materials,
equipment, and tools.
The products
of the
design
process
are drawings
of the
shaft
and lining
and a detailed
materials
list.
These,
along
with
a
location
map similar
to Figure
1
RWS.~.P.~),
("Selecting
a Well Site,"
should
be given
to the construction
foreman
before
construction
begins.
There are several
good methods
of
designing
and constructing
hand dug
wells;
if you are familiar
with
a specific
method,
use it.
This technical
note describes
one method of designing
hand dug wells
and arriving
at the
essential
end-products.
Read the
entire
technical
note before
beginning
the design
process.
/

Useful Definitions
AQUIFER - A water-saturated
zone that will
yield
water
and wells.
GROUND WATER - Water
ground's
surface.

stored

geologic
to springs
below

Figure

tiny
pores or
water
or allow

WATER TABLE - The

of an aquifer.
\

top,

or upper

Map

the

KIBBLE - A large
bucket
for lifting
materials
when sinking
a shaft;
also
called
a hoppit
or sinking
bucket.
POROUS - Having
which
can store
to pass through.

1. Location

Size and Shape

spaces
water
limit,
/

When viewed
be any shape
This
round.
produces
the
for the least
a round lining
other
shape.

from the top,

we I 1 s can
but most of tklem are
is because
a round well
greatest
amount of water
amount of excavation,
and
is stronger
than any

The size of the well

refers
to its
depth and diameter.
Although
it is
impossible
to know the depth of a well
before
it is dug, an attempt
should
be
made to estimate
it.
This will
allow
you to roughly
calculate
the quantities
of materials
needed for construction.
Use information
from test
holes
or
existing
wells
in the area to estimate
the depth of the water
table.

Top View

Casson
thick

For practical
and economic
reasons,
diameters
are between
l.Om and
The smaller
diameter
results
in
1.5m.
a savings
in materials
costs,
and it
requires
less soil
to be excavated.
The larger
diameter
means a higher
materials
cost
but a more efficient
work output,
since
two men rather
than
one can dig the shaft.
A larger
diameter
provides
a greater
storage
capacity
and allows
more water
to enter
the well.
If pre-made
forms or precast
concrete
rings
are used,
their
size
will
determine
the diameter
of the
well.

150mn1

well

Side View

When the depth and diameter

of the
well
shaft
have been determined,
write
the dimensions
on a design
drawing
similar
to Figure
2.
lining

Figure 2. Design

of Well Lining

and Caisson

the Shaft

Although
various
materials
have been
used to line
well
shafts,
concrete
is
the best and most common lining.
It
is strong,
long-lasting,
and widely
known.

both methods
are employed
in
Often,
a single
well:
dig-and-line
is used
until
the water
table
is reached,
then
tile well
caissoning
is used to sink
The lining
is
into
the aquifer.
usually
75mm thick
and the caissorl
The outrings
are 125-150mm thick.
side diameter
of the rings
is r>O-100mm
less
than the inside
diameter
of the
lining
to allow
the rings
to freely
Tab1 e 1 shows common
move downward.
dimensions
of shaft,
lining,
and rings.

The two basic

methods
of lining
well
shafts
are dig-and-line
and sink lining
or caissoning.
In dig-and-line,
a portion
of the shaft
is excavated,
shutters
are set in place
in the shaft,
and
concrete
is poured
behind
the shutters.
When the concrete
hardens,
the shutters
are removed and the next portion
of the
shaft
is excavated.

Write
the dimensions
mine are best for your
design
drawing
similar

In sink lining,
concrete
rings
called
caissons
are cast and cured in
special
molds at the surface.
The
rings
are stacked
on top of each other
and attached
together
with
bolts.
As
soil
is excavated
from beneath
the
rings,
they sink
into
the earth
and
line
the shaft.

that
you deterwell
on ttir>
to Figure
2.

Intake
The caisson
rings
are sunk into
the
aquifer
as far as possible;
that
is,
until
the water
becomes too deep to

Dimension

Feature
Shaft

diameter

Lining,
meter

outside

Lining,

inside

Lining,

thickness

the pores or flow

through
the seepage
should
be made of
ho1 es, the rings
standard
concrete
witilout
perforations.
It may not be possible
to know which
type of intake
is needed until
the
Rut an attempt
aquifer
is reached.
should
be made to anticipate
the
based
on test
holes
necessary
intake,
or other
wells
in the area.

Table 1. Dimensions of Shaft, Lining

and Caisson Rings

1.45m
dia-

diameter

Caisson,
meter

outside

Caisson,
meter

inside

Caisson,

thickness

Caisson,

height

1.45m

When the type of intake

has
indicate
it on the
determined,
drawing
similar
to Figure
2.

1.30m

Personnel
The most important
person
involved
with
well
construction
is the foreman.
He
He should
have some experience.
must oversee
all
phases of construction,
including
excavating
and lining
mixing
concrete
for the
the shaft,
lining
and caissons,
and lowering
the
It is his responcaissons
into
place.
sibility
to see that
construction
proceeds
in a safe manner.

75mm
dia-

dia-

been
design

1.20m

0.90-0.95m

At least
four
One should
have
well
digging
and
experience
with
The workers
rnust
the construction
several
weeks or

125-150mm
0.50m
/ I

continue
the excavation.
Ground water
may then enter
the well
either
(1)
through
the opening
under the lowest
caisson
ring,
or (2) through
the rings
themselves.
In the first
case,
the
rings
are made of standard
concrete
which does not allow
entry
of water.
In the second case,
the rings
are
usually
made of porous
concrete
which
allows
water to pass through.
Another
way to allow
water
to enter
through
the
caisson
rings
is to build
the rings
from standard
concrete
and perforate
them with
seepage holes.
For all
types
of intakes,
the bottom
of the shaft
should
be covered
with a porous
base
plug made from porous
concrete
or
layers
of sand and gravel.
The plug
prevents
aquifer
material
from rising
into
the well.

worker:;
art: rir:i>ti<>c1.
some expcrit?rict?
wittl
one shoulc1 have
concrete
cotl:;tr'u(~t,ior~.
be rel iahl 6 t)r>c>;lil:;(x
proce:;:;
rn:iy t;tk<>
more.

Materials
The materials
necdcti
to 1 inr> a hanti
dug we1 1 are concrt>ti>
mix arl(i rc'iriforcing
steel.
One common mix 01' coricrt?tt'
is orIt>
part
cement to two p;Lrt:i
:iari~l Lo four
parts
gravel
by vol umt? and crioui:!~ wattr
'1'tic cerilc,nt
to make a workable
mix.
shoul tl be Port1 and cemerlt , atlti it
shoul d be dry and fret:
from tiar(l 1 umps.
be cl can, arid sized
f'iric> to
Sand should
concrete
is useli for
6mm. If porous
the caisson
rings,
ornit tkie sari(1.
Gravel
should
be cl earl and sized
6-36rnm
(lo-20mm
for porous
concrete).
W:tttlr
should
be clean
ancl clear.
Two sizes
of reinforcirik:
:it(:el ,
are g:erit:ral 1 y use11 : 8mrn
called
re-rods,
diameter
for the lining
and 15rnrrl
The
qll;L!ldiameter
for the caissons.
tities
of these materials
n<lctit:tl call be
roughly
estimated.

The type of caisson

ring
used
depends on the nature
of the aquifer.
Normally,
rings
are made of porous
concrete.
However,
if the aquifer
is
composed of fine
sand, which would clog

For each
lining
:

meter

of

depth

of

the

gravel
=
0.5m3
sand
= 0.25m3
cement = 0.125m3
(or about
19Okr,,
assuming
O.OOO66m3 = l.Okg)
8mm re-rod
= 33m
For

each

meter

of

caisson

rings:

gravel
= l.Om3 (1.4m3 for porous
concrete)
sand = 0.5m3 (none for porous
concrete)
cement = 0.25m3 (0.35m3
for porous
concrete)
15mm re-rod
= 4m
the estimated
For exampl e, suppose
depth of the shaft
and 1 ining
is 15m,
the height
of the caisson
rings
is 3m,
and the rings
are to be made from
porous
concrete.
The quantities
woul d
be estimated
in the following
way.
For

the

1 ining:

gravel
= 0.5m3 x 15 = 7.50m3
sand = 0.25m3 x 15 = 3.75m3
cement = 0.125m3 x 15 = 1.88m3
1.88m3
= 2850kg
O.Ooo66m3/kg
8mm re-rod
= 33m x 15 = 495m
For

the

Steel
siiutter:;
are r~ec-cic:~j to form
For caissons,
you wil 1
the 1 iriing.
need steel
mol (1:; anti templ ati::;
to po:;ition
the re-rotis.

porous

concrete

Two kibbl ~3:; arc; nt~e~iecl to tloi:;t

up
water
and excav:ite(l
soil . The ki t)t) 1~1:;
should
be watertif;tlt
ari(l rr;i~lta (11 :;t(>t>l ,
with
a Safety
IatCIl
011 tfli, h;iricll t to
TtlI,,y
s110111
ii
prevent
tliem from tippint:.
be wider
ar0uri(1 the mitl(I 1 ~2 t,tl:iti arounci
either
end to prevt:tit,
t,tii>rn f~rorn
catching
ori any pro,jtzi:tioli:;
wi t,tlitl
t.tifl
shaft _

cai:;:;on:;:

gravel
= 1.4m3 x 3 = 4.20m3
sand = none
cement = 0.35m!
x 3 = 1.05m3
1.05m3
= 1590kg
O.O0066m3/kg
15mm re-rod
= 4m x 3 = 12m

The total
quantity
of cement needed
for the lining
and the caisson
rings
=
Cement is
2850kg + 1590kg = 4440kg.
often
packaged
in 50kp; sacks,
so the
number of sacks needed = 4440 = 88.8 or
50
89 sacks.
Worksheet
A shows a further
example
of how to estimate
quantitic:;
of material
s needed for a hand dug
well.

Tools

Other materials
needed are those
USC
used to build
a storage
shed.
local 1 y avail abl e material
s anti traditional
construction
methods.

--

Worksheet

For

the

A. Estimating

2. Gravel

depth

of

= 0.50m3

3. Sand = 0.25m3

shaft

x Line
x Line

Cement

(m3)

= 0.125m3

5.

Cement

(kg)

6. 8mm re-rod

for Hand Dug Wells

x Line

Line 4
O.O0066m3/kg

concrete

of

8. Gravel

= l.Om3

1 = 33m x

one):

rings

x Line
x Line

/ii

/s

= /.88m3

= df=

kg

= y9fi

= 0.25m3

x Line

11.

Cement

(kg)

= Line 10
O.O0066m3/kg

12.

15mm re-rod

= 4m x Line

13.

Gravel

14.

Sand = none

15.

Cement

(m3)

= 0.35m3

16.

Cement

(kg)

= Line 15
O.O0066m3/kg

of

Cement

11 + Line

for

porous

m3

= -=

m3

7 = 0.25m3

x ___-

m3)
= (
O.O0066m3/kg

m3
kg

/Zrn

Concrete

7 = 1.40m3

x Line

7 = 4m x

Porous
x Line

7 = 0.50m3

(m3)

standard

Concrete

Cement

= 1.40m3

7 = l.Om3

10.

5 + Line

= ( /.8@
m3)
O.O0066m3/kg

(check

caisson

9. Sand = 0.50m3

Line

= 3 7&3

/3@

m3

Rings:

7. Height

Amount

= 753

x /r

1 = 0.125m3

Standard

Total

1 = 0.50m3

= 33m x Line

Caisson

Type of

= /5

1 = 0.25m3

4.

the

of Materials

Lining:

1. Estimated

For

Quantities

7 = 0.35m3
= (

Lining

16 = d@sdkg

= /Iorrn3
= /s90

/or
m)
O.O0066m3/kg
and Caisson

fiZOm3

kg

=
kg + /flokg

= yfmkg

Table 2. Sample Materials

Personnel

Supplies

Equipment

Foreman
Worker,
Worker,
Workers,

skilled
in
experienced
unskilled

Estimated

Quantity

Description

Item

List

1
1
1
2-4

sinking
well
with
concrete

Cement (Portland)
Sand (clean;
fine
to 6mm)
Gravel
(clean;
6-36mm)
Water (clean
and clear)
Re-rod
for lining:
8mm diameter
Re-rod
for caissons:
15mm diameter
Materials
for storage
shed
Headframe
Rope for caissons;
1OOm x 12mm
steel
wire with
diameter,
fiber
core tensil
strength
7kg/cm*
Rope for kibbles:
100 x 6mm diameter
Rope for trimming
rods:
1OOm x
3mm diameter
Steel
shutters
(1.30m diameter
x
0.5m high)
with wedges and bolts
Steel
shutters
(1.30m diameter
x
l.Om high)
with wedges and bolts
Steel
molds for caisson
rings
(1.20m outside
diameter,
0.95m
inside
diameter,
0.5m high)
Templates
for molds
Stretcher
for caissons
Total

--

---

k
m!i
m3

---

--

m
m

---

--

---

Estimated

Cost

= --

Cost