344 



THE IEEIGATION AGE. 



PROTECTING DRINKING WATER 



Concrete Well Platforms are Conducive to Health 



Even with an abundance of fresh air and 

 wholesome food, the health of a country family is 

 largely dependent on the purity of its drinking 

 water. Since the principal source of farm water 



Sanitary Well Platform of Concrete. 



supply is the bored or dug well, the purity of the 

 water is determined' almost entirely by the ability 

 of the well curbing and cover to keep out con- 

 taminating surface water. If the well is curbed 

 near the top with solid concrete (or with blocks or 

 bricks laid in Portland-cement mortar) and is cov- 

 ered with a concrete platform, the healthfulness of 

 the water is practically assured. 



How to Make the Reinforced Platform 



There are several methods of building 

 a concrete well platform. The choice is de- 

 pendent on the manner in which the pump 

 barrel and stock are joined together. In 

 the illustration is shown a platform 5 

 inches thick and 5 feet square, which con- ^ 

 tains a manhole fitted with a concrete lid. 

 The pump stock passes through the plat- 

 form by means of a circular hole at the side and a 

 part of the manhole opening. By this means the 

 pump stock and barrel can be joined together and 

 slipped into position by a person working through 

 the manhole. Afterwards the concrete manhole lid 

 is set in place. Moreover this lid is heavy enough 

 that it cannot be removed by a child. 



In preparing the well for a concrete platform, 

 see that 4 or 5 feet of the curbing near the top 



of the well is of solid concrete (proportioned 1 :2:4), 

 or of blocks or bricks laid up with cement mortar 

 mixed in the proportion of 1 part cement to l l /> 

 parts sand. Carry the curbing 6 or 8 inches 

 above natural ground level and grade the turf to 

 this height so that surface water will flow away 

 from the well. Prepare to mold the cover on a 

 wooden platform of two-inch boards laid over the 

 well or placed on a level spot of ground. 

 For most wells, a platform 5 feet square 

 by 4 inches thick is sufficiently strong. 

 To provide for a manhole opening, build 

 a bottomless box, of 1 by 6-inch boards, 

 5 inches deep, 2 feet square at the top 

 and 18 inches square at the bottom 

 outside measurements. Another plan is 

 to have a tinsmith make a round bot- 

 tomless tin form 5 inches deep, 2 feet in 

 diameter at the top and 18 inches at the 

 bottom, after the pattern of a large bot- 

 tomless dish-pan. To either manhole 

 form attach a wooden block of the size 

 and shape of the pump barrel or stock. 

 Grease the manhole frame and set it on 

 the wooden platform where the open- 

 ing in the well cover is desired. 



Proportion the concrete 1 bag of 

 Portland cement to 2 cubic feet of sand 

 and 4 cubic feet of crushed rock, or 1 

 bag of cement to 4 cubic feet of pit gravel. Have the 

 concrete just wet enough to flush a little cement mor- 

 tar when tamped into place. Over the entire wooden 

 platform, except within the manhole frame, spread 

 1 inch of concrete. For reinforcing, immediately 

 place on this concrete 5-foot lengths of ^-inch iron 

 rods running in both directions (criss-cross) and 

 spaced 9 inches apart. Bend the ends to a hook- 

 shape. Strengthen the platform around the man- 



Concrete Well Platform with Manhole Cover Removed. 



hole opening by placing an additional rod on each 

 side. Bring the cover to its full thickness at once 

 by tamping in the remaining four inches of con- 

 crete. There will be needed 3 bags of cement, 1/5 

 cubic yard of sand, 2/5 cubic yard of rock and 6 

 pieces of %-inch by 10-foot rods weighing 23 

 pounds. 



For fixing the base of an iron pump securely to 

 the finished well platform, place in the soft concrete 



