Water has been restored to the estate

[Stefan cel Rau]

The wells have been dug out and the water in the house is once again running clear. The process by which a well is dug is very simple and primitive.

To Begin digging the well you need to be sure it is roughly five feet across in a circular shape. The digging of a well can be a very dangerous process and takes at least two people. One person stands at the 'bottom' of the well and starts to dig with a pick and shovel. The digger then fills a bucket with rock and dirt to be pulled up by the second person. The digging should continue until the water in the well is about 6 feet deep. It gets dangerous as the water starts to rise. The 'digger' is usually tethered by a strong rope which makes him able to be hoisted out if there should be any trouble.

• Once the well water reaches roughly 6 feet, the bottom of the well is then covered with about four or five inches of small rocks. These rocks acts as a filter and will help keep debris from entering the well from the dirt below.
• The well should have a reinforced brick wall. The well diggers use brick only for the first 5 or 6 layers. After that, they use mortar also. It is wise to reinforce the edges with two layers of bricks.
• Continue with the brick and mortar to the very top. Once reaching ground level, continue building the bricks  up until about two feet above ground level.
• Cover the top of the well with a stone or concrete slab, leaving a hole for the pump. Once the pump is installed, the well is ready for use.
• The workmen finished the piping to the house today and all is working smooth. Below are some photos taken during the process.

Here Aldo has started the digging with a jackhammer:

The well has been successfully dug out & stones placed in the b...

The well on the east side of the house- The structure is early 19th...