Wells

Already our forefathers knew the importance of water as a life-sustaining element. In places where it was not openly accessible as lakes, streams, rivers or springs, they dug for the precious water. Where water was found, settlements, villages and cities were built.

The most common wells, today and then, are fountains, scoop, draw and pump wells, which extract groundwater. In former times, the water was drawn from these types of wells by hand, today it is drawn with an engine.

In under-developed countries and remote regions of our earth, where there is no electricity, the inhabitants still have to convey the drinking water to the surface by hand.

The artesian well is an exception. In an artesian well, the point of entry of the water is situated higher than the well itself, so that the water of the well rises without a pump. Impermeable strata prevent the water from rising, except at those places, where a well was dug.

Europe’s deepest well is situated on the Kyffhäuser. The medieval mountain well dating back to the times of Emperor Barbarossa has a record depth of 176 metres. Germany’s oldest well can be found south of Leipzig, and is almost 7200 years old.