Most houses have a centralized water supply. But due to the remoteness from the settlement or for other reasons, in some country cottages, it is not at the dachas. The owners have to drill a well or equip a well.
To determine the horizon of the source, you have to resort to the help of a professional. His services are expensive. The depth of groundwater can be set independently. At the same time, it will be possible to significantly save the family budget for the arrangement of the water supply system. To do this, several simple approaches are used. Before you begin, you need to consider the entire procedure in detail.
Groundwater Type
The depth of the groundwater level is different. The type of source depends on this indicator. It is taken into account when conducting a water supply system. The layer closest to the surface is called the tip. It is located at a depth of 2-3 m. This source is applicable only for technical purposes.
This is followed by groundwater with a free surface. There are also inter-layer non-pressure and pressure artesian sources. The cleanest, drinkable is the last variety. Chemical composition and quality are the highest among all sources. A layer of water can pass in sandy, clay soils or in gravel.
Groundwater Features
Before determining the depth of groundwater, it is necessary to learn about their features. First of all, the type of terrain affects their location. In the steppe, where the surface is flat, the layers run evenly. At any point, their depth is the same.
But in the presence of bumps, water slides are also located flexibly. Experts recommend taking into account such features of the relief when creating a well. If you need water for technical purposes, you can use the first layer. He comes closer to the surface than others.
For drinking purposes, it is necessary to use water from at least the second layer. If the terrain is hilly, it is better to drill a well on a hill. In this case, the soil layer will better filter out such water.
In swampy areas, groundwater can approach the surface at a depth of only 1 m. When developing a well, you need to be prepared for this.
Groundwater in the Moscow region
Before drilling a well, owners of their own home should inquire about the features of the layers of underground sources. For example, the depth of groundwater in the Moscow region is characterized by heterogeneity.
5 main layers stand out here. All of them are unevenly located and have different capacities. The first three layers are characterized by low pressure. They are used for technical purposes. Water discharge occurs in small streams and rivers. These groundwater replenishes in the spring when snow begins to melt.
In the dolomite and limestone rocks, two lower layers occur. The depth of their occurrence is about 100 m. It is these sources that are suitable for drinking purposes. In the Moscow region, central water supply was laid precisely from these sources.
Preparation for measurement
Moistening conditions and the depth of groundwater are rather closely related. When planning to take measurements, you need to choose the right time. In this case, there should be no drought, nor prolonged rains. All weather conditions affect the measurement result.
To determine the depth of groundwater, you must use one of the simplest methods. To do this, you need to prepare all the tools and materials at hand. Of the tools you will need a regular bayonet shovel, drill, tape measure. It is also necessary to prepare a long rope.
In addition to tools, certain chemical elements are needed. This is sulfur, quicklime and copper sulfate. For different methods, one or another improvised means will be required.
Drilling
Determining the depth of groundwater is possible using several methods. The most reliable of them is drilling. At the same time, it is possible to determine exactly how deep the underground source is, whether there are significant obstacles in the form of stones on the way to it.
For work, a normal factory drill is suitable. If desired, additional blades are welded on its blades. The tool crashes into soft ground. He is taken to the surface with the earth. To soften the soil, it is watered with water.
Using a threaded, sleeve connection, the drill is fastened with pipes to go deep to the desired level. Next, with the help of a rope make measurements. The well should be 0.5-1 m deeper than the surface of the water. The paper is attached to the rope and checked at what level it gets wet.
Chemical application
If you don’t want to drill a well, there is an easier way to find out the depth of groundwater. To do this, shovel a hole in the intended place. It can be about 0.5 m deep. It requires the installation of a clay pot.
Quicklime, sulfur and copper sulphate are mixed in a vessel in equal proportions. Next, the pit is buried and left for a day. After that, the pot is brought to the surface and weighed. The heavier it became, the closer the groundwater came to the surface. This method is not accurate enough, but it has been used since the earliest times. Only now it has been improved.
Barometer
Another reliable way to determine what is the depth of groundwater in a given area is to use a barometer. However, it should be noted that its use requires the presence of a reservoir in the district.
If there is one, you can begin to measure. Each barometer division corresponds to 1 m of depth. First, with the device you need to go to the pond. Here the barometer readings are recorded.
Then they move away from the reservoir to the proposed location for drilling the well. Instrument readings are marked. The difference between the first and second measurements is approximately equal to the depth of the underground source.
This method is also not very accurate. The error distorts the real picture. But the general principle can be understood.
Folk way
The depth of groundwater can be determined by folk methods. First of all, you need to pay attention to vegetation. Where the source comes close to the surface, it is greener, brighter. In such places reeds, ivy, forget-me-not and other moisture-loving representatives of the flora love to grow.
A popular approach involves the following. Wash and dry the wool well in a soapy solution. At the proposed site for the experiment, vegetation is removed.
On the ground lay wool. A raw egg is laid on it and everything is covered with a frying pan. In the morning, evaluate the result of the experiment. If the egg and the litter of wool are covered with dew drops, then the water comes close to the surface. But you need to carry out such a procedure in dry weather.
Having examined how the depth of groundwater is determined, you can independently measure. Depending on the method chosen, you can get a more accurate or approximate result. All work can be done independently. This will save a lot of family budget.