The importance of the well is difficult to overestimate. After all, drinking water is one of the key resources that a person needs for life. In other words, you can't do without it. But it is one thing to build a well, and quite another to protect it from the ingress of surface rain and seasonal waters. It is for these purposes that the clay castle is being set up.
This technology was invented a long time ago. But this factor can be considered its main advantage, because it has withstood the test of time. In general, a clay castle is a waterproofing technology different surfaces directly in contact with the ground. It got its name from the natural material used - clay. But not all clay is suitable for such purposes. Only the bold variety can be used to furnish the castle. This is due to the fact that such material will not crack when it dries, otherwise there will be no effect from such waterproofing. Usually, for these purposes, clay is selected, the sand content of which does not exceed 15%.
You can find a lot of information about how to build a well, but not all sources tell you how to protect it from surface water. And this is a very important aspect of operating a drinking water source. It also happens that the clay castle for the well is recommended to be replaced with sand, or But in this case, melt or rainwater still seeps into the mine, being cleared only of large debris. And therefore, about any can not go. Such water can be used only as technical water. And instead of a well, there will be a reservoir for irrigation.
People who know little about such issues may have a reasonable doubt: "Why clay? What is it better than that sand? "It's very simple. It belongs to waterproof materials. That is, it is able to prevent the penetration of water. This means that the clay castle is able to perform high-quality waterproofing functions.
But don't think that you can just throw clay around the well and enjoy life. No, it won't work that way. It is necessary to clearly understand how to correctly make a clay castle so that the created insulating layer properly performed its functions. The whole arrangement procedure can be divided into several stages.
As you can see, it is quite possible to equip a clay castle with your own hands. But one cannot do with the construction of a waterproofing layer. Timely maintenance is necessary, which consists in eliminating the scours formed around the well, and Such procedures will prevent the ingress of contaminated water into the well, as well as increase the time between periodic
The owners of summer cottages and private households, deprived of the opportunity to connect to the general water supply network, have no other alternative but to dig a well on their land. This is not the end of the problems with the arrangement of everyday life, because the water source needs care and protection.
Clay castle layoutTo prevent surface water from getting into the well after melting snow or heavy rainfall, a special protection is built for it - an earthen castle. It is not recommended to drink or cook top water from it, because it has not passed filtration through the soil. Mixing with water from a well, it degrades its quality composition. Therefore, the surface of the earth along the perimeter of the head of the well must reliably seal the lock made of clay.
In the text of SanPiN, the structure of a clay castle is described as follows: a structure framing a well 1 meter wide and 2 meters deep. It is important that the layer is dense, so it is carefully tamped. Not every material is suitable for construction. Clay and oily loam are kneaded before laying, in no case should they be replaced with sandy loam or soil dumps. A real castle around the well can only be made of clay, made of pre-prepared material with a sand content of 5 to 15%.
Before making a clay castle for a well, it is necessary that the mounted mine stand without this structure for at least a year (while the process of natural soil shrinkage is in progress) . This precaution will help prevent the formation of voids and unconsolidated areas, because the lock prevents the soil from settling.
Caverns are dangerous because water accumulates in them. Rodents and insects living in the ground can get into them and die. And the substances formed in the process of decomposition and falling into drinking water, will add to her by no means useful properties... The duration of the process of natural soil shrinkage is influenced by the composition of the soil, which must be taken into account when choosing the waiting time before starting work.
It is worth postponing the creation of an earthen castle if a water supply is led from the well. After the installation of water supply communications, they return to waterproofing work.
It is forbidden to equip a clay ring around the well on soils prone to seasonal heaving. There is a risk of bursting the shaft or displacing the seams between the rings. There is no guaranteed protection against this. Tightening the rings with anchor bolts and metal plates will not save either, so it is better not to risk it.
If there is no opportunity or desire to use the services of a team of professional builders, it remains to make a clay castle for.
It is important that the clay is rinsed and not stirred. Previously, such an operation was performed with feet, today they use small-sized concrete mixers or use a drill with a nozzle.
Water is gradually added to the clay and lime and the ingredients are kneaded until a plastic state. You can determine the desired consistency like this: make a clay lump. If it does not disintegrate, then the resulting mass can be tamped into a trench.
The next step is to create a blind area over the castle. And without the recommendations of SanPiN, it is clear that after rains or melting snow, even a tightly rammed clay castle will turn into mud. The "soggy" top layer will get wet and dry, which will gradually lead to a leak. Therefore, the construction of a blind area is considered a logical completion of the process of creating a protective castle.
The coating material is selected based on personal preferences, both stone and paving slabs... And the technology of creation does not seem difficult:
You can assemble a low formwork and fill the lock from above cement mortar... The main thing is that the slope is respected, because the task of the blind is not just protection from moisture, but also its removal.
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For bacterial and chemical composition water on the site, the construction of a clay castle will not have an impact, but it will help keep it clean and usable, if it was originally. Therefore, in solving the dilemma "for" or "against" clay castles around the well, it is worth tipping the scales in the direction of a positive answer.
Clay castle, clay blind area or soft blind area
The main function of all these structures is to protect the well from the penetration of surface water into it during rains and melting snow.
This is a structure around a well made of well-rammed clay or oily loam, up to 1 meter deep and up to 0.5 meters wide. Ordinary loams and sandy loams are not suitable for an earthen castle. Why is it better not to make a clay castle? In our climatic conditions, the soil turns out to be in the freezing zone and it swells strongly (frost heaving). The soil frozen with the rings expands and tears the rings apart, as a result of which, gaps form between the rings and dirty water from the surface penetrates into the well. To prevent the rings from coming off, use steel plates and staples. But pinning the rings together usually doesn't help. The fact is that the forces acting during heaving are capable of deforming even powerful fastening structures.
Clay castle cost RUB 7,500
To drain surface water from the well, we recommend doing clay blind area... Considering the possibility of heaving, its thickness should be 10-30 cm, and the diameter should be 1 meter. It is not worth making the blind area thicker, since in this case it approaches the structure of a clay castle. Clay blind areas require a protective coating to prevent dirt from being exposed to water.
The cost of the clay blind area RUB 4,500
For the construction of a soft blind area, fertile soil is removed 1 meter wide around the well, waterproofing is laid and sand is poured over it. Such a blind area allows the soil around the well to naturally compact and settle. Hidden cavities and voids will not form around the well, where it can accumulate surface water with trash. With this method, no heaving of soil will break the seam, because it is covered with a dense, loosely adhering film that can adapt to the movement of the soil. The soft blind area works if there is no water in the sand. Otherwise, the sand will freeze and act on the rings like any other heaving soil - squeeze out to the surface.
The cost of a soft blind area RUB 5,000
After the well is dug so that the walls do not burst, you need to complete the arrangement. Masters recommend using for a well from concrete rings- clay castle. This technology is popular due to its high degree of protection. reinforced concrete structure in the ground.
The difference between concrete well structures is that, unlike wooden ones, reinforced concrete is harder to seal. And in order for the water to remain clean for years, you need to equip a castle for a well made of clay. Wooden structures they are mounted airtight, and the wood, after swelling, additionally seals the gaps. With concrete, things are different.
On sale there are special reinforced concrete rings, the design of which has special cavities for filling with hydro-resistant materials. Seams and joints are coated with mastics.
But the most popular material is clay, because it:Clay locks around the well - effective protection of structures from the ingress of melt water in the spring, rainwater - during the warm season.
The technology is applicable for solving a lot of tasks, the main of which are:
In order for the blind area around the source to serve for decades, the work must be performed two years after the installation of the rings. But during this period, you can use the soft blind area technology. She assumes that the top layer is covered with an elastic material that serves during the natural densification period.
The use of temporary waterproofing in the soft blind area system around the well has a paradise of technological aspects that must be taken into account during the installation process:
In this case, all technological requirements must be met.
Before making a clay castle, you need to dig out the soil to the level of the 2nd ring. The selected soil is no longer used and must be removed and disposed of. A film is placed on the bottom. The size of the site to be closed is at least one meter from the outer wall of the reinforced concrete ring.
One end of the film is thrown over the well above the seam. It needs to be fixed, for which a metal belt, scotch tape or self-tapping screws are used, which are screwed directly into the concrete. In the case when scotch tape is used, it is necessary that several turns be wound. After that, the cavity is covered with sand on top of the film.
The filling is not carried out to the very top, if the quality decorative coating FEM or rubble is used natural stone... When laying, check that there is a slope away from the well of at least 1.0-1.5 degrees. But this is a temporary method, and in order to ensure the tightness of the well, an earthen lock is a must. But not every type of clay can be a material.
For the device of the castle, fatty varieties of red clay are used. The deposit doesn't matter. The content of impurities is a different matter. Clay is used, which contains no more than 15% sand. Absolute cleanliness is not required, but an overabundance of solid particles that cannot serve as an astringent in aqueous solution, Is a factor sufficient to reject material.
Clay must be free of stones, debris and other contaminants.
If there is no greasy clay, and you can't bring it from where, then you can use a different type. During preparation, it is soaked and kept. Usually they act as in the old days: they are soaked in the fall, and laid in the winter. At the same time, make sure that the clay does not dry out. So it becomes plastic, and all the particles are combined into a single mass.
During the soaking process, periodic freezing and thawing is allowed. This is even good, since moisture permeates the entire volume. The main thing is to make sure that the mixture does not dry out or crack. And in order to improve plasticity, lime is introduced into the composition in a ratio of 1: 5. 5 parts of clay are placed on one part of lime.
Some "experts" argue that this kind of protection against water pollution is an atavism and a relic of the past. In fact, such claims are based on two tricks:
The technology involves laying a film that covers the soil by a meter around the walls of the well. An overlap that is placed over the seam between the first and second rings should cover it. The cavity obtained after the excavation of the soil is filled with clay. It cannot be simply filled up and compacted mechanically. The styling technology is best seen.
The poor quality of the work performed is due to the fact that people who decided to lay the clay castle on their own do not adhere to the technology.
If the clay is not sufficiently matured, not properly mixed, dry or uneven, it will not be possible to achieve the desired plasticity. People do the backfill as it is and simply compact it with a mechanical rammer.
As a result, the upper water layer, which lies in the upper layers of the soil, freezes over in winter. The formed ice, when expanded, renders overpressure on the rings and seam and leads to a violation of the integrity of the structure. Another drawback is two years of waiting for the natural sedimentation of the soil. But this problem is solved by a temporary compacted sand castle.
Summing up all of the above, we determine that all work related to the installation of a clay castle can be done independently. The teams that claim that this is not necessary cannot be considered professional, or they are cunning in front of the customer. The described procedure is one of the mandatory measures for the improvement of sources of natural drinking water.
The only thing to consider is that the clay castle is installed two years later, after the well was put into operation.
This means that in some cases the decoration will have to be postponed. And during the biennium, sand will be placed instead of clay. Otherwise, there are no difficulties, and the water in the well will remain clean and transparent for years.
After digging a well, the question remains: where to put the clay. It would be best to equip a blind area for a well. You can do the work yourself. This is how the well is strengthened and a concrete castle is made.
Sanitary rules and regulations give a precise definition of an earthen castle. This is a structure that is a formwork for a well, which is 1 m wide and 2 m deep. The clay must be tamped tightly. At the same time, not everyone is suitable for arranging the blind area. Clay and oily loam must be kneaded well. Sand, gravel, sandy loam cannot be used for the castle. The permissible amount of sand in a clay castle is 5-15%.
Discussions constantly arise around the question of the need to equip the blind area. Sanitary standards say that a clay castle should be combined with other blind areas. They create a ring with a radius of 2 m. 10 cm should be retreated from the walls of the well.
Additional devices for the clay castle:
Before equipping the blind area, the well must stand for at least 1 year. During this time, the natural shrinkage of the soil takes place. So in the future, voids and frail areas will not arise.
The soft blind area performs not only an aesthetic function. It will protect the lock from defects during use.
In unconsolidated areas, water can accumulate in the future. Inhabitants of the soil and rodents fall into such traps and die. This can cause decomposition products to enter the drinking water. The duration of shrinkage is determined by the rock of the soil.
Do not rush to equip a waterproof lock before the water supply. After that, you should additionally make waterproofing. For land prone to seasonal heaving, you cannot equip a clay ring.
The main task of the clay castle is to protect the structure from precipitation, groundwater and other contaminants. But at the same time, not only the water is protected, but also the well itself. This way the construction will last longer.
Pros of using a clay castle:
But there are also some disadvantages. The draft of the castle is significantly reduced by the presence of sand. It is also worth noting that the deformation of the well can form an increase in the clay layer at the level of freezing.
There are a number of contraindications that prevent the installation of a clay castle. To begin with, you should give time to soil shrinkage. It will take at least 1 year. If you neglect this rule, then depressions will appear in the structure.
Clay must not be replaced with other soil types. They do not have the required plasticity and will begin to crack over time.
If there are no contraindications, then you can safely proceed to the arrangement of the castle. The material for the manufacture is oily clay with a small amount of sand. To improve plasticity, the soil should be soaked before use. Ideally, the soaked material should overwinter.
Many people advise against doing a clay castle. But you should refrain from performing this design when you do not know how to properly build a lock around the well. The wrong execution technology can really ruin the whole structure.
Clay is an excellent waterproofing material. But at the same time, she is prone to heaving. During freezing, the clay begins to change shape, which negatively affects the shape of the structure. This can lead to deformation of the lock.
Rules and sequence for making a lock:
After these processes, they begin to equip the clay pad. A dense layer of material should be made. It is also important to keep an eye on the width of the pillow and the circumference.
If you do not follow the necessary parameters, then the process will have to be repeated several times until the desired effect is achieved.
After that, it is necessary to make a clay blind area, laying out the material in the prepared foundation pit. But at the same time, the slope from the wall of the well should be observed so that the water calmly flows down. Tiles are installed on top of the blind area.
After the clay castle, they move on to creating a blind area. They perform a protective function so that the lock does not turn into dirt when it gets wet. At the same time, dusting the structure with sand and gravel will not give the desired effect. That is why you will have to equip the blind area.
Stages of creating a blind area:
At the same time, there are ways to strengthen the structure more. For this, after laying the insulation, a formwork is installed. After that do concrete screed... And only after the material has hardened, the final work is performed.
The coating is paving slabs or stone. These materials have best performance strength and durability.
A clay castle is an effective protection for a well. If the installation is done correctly, then the structure will last long enough. To do this, you should follow all the rules and stages of the implementation technology.
When the well is ready, they begin to think about what to do with the clay. For this purpose, a blind area is equipped. The device of a clay castle is quite simple, but it is important to follow all the rules and sanitary standards, because not every soil can be covered with a blind area.
