The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-02-06
FREEZING OF WELLS.


Throughout many OF the northern
states the freezing of wells and pumps
causes much trouble. and tho greatest
difficulty Is experienced in keeping
some of the wells open for use during
the winter. Strangely enough. the
shallow. open wells give less trouble
than the deeper. drilled or double
tubcd driven wells. in which the inner
or pump tube Is carried below the out
er casing. The determination OF the
cause OF the freezing and OF means
for It's prevention is OF SO great prac-
teal Importance that a study OF the
subject has been made by one Of the
biologists OF the United States geolog
ical survey
The freezing Of wells Ia practically
confined TO districts where the air tenn
peratures frequently go considerably
below zero and where the materials
penetrated are either porous OF con
tain actual openings and passages
through which the air can circulate
A recent investigation OF the wells OF
Maine. large number OF which are In
granite. states and other compact
close grained rocks. discovered no in
stances OF deep freezing In Mime
sofa, North Dakota and Nebraska. ON
the other hand. large numbers of wells
penetrating porous deposits or cav
ernous limestones. freeze every win
ter. In Wisconsin aud Michigan
freezing, though less common. occa.
slonaliy occurs. and also in Iowa. Mis-
souri,. Kentucky and Indiana.
Many OF the simpler devices adopted
to prevent freezing are complete fail
ures. while others are partially sue
ccssful The Inherent difnculiy lies
In the construction OF the well. The
following suggestions are made by the
geologist:
In open wells. where ait obtains ac-
cess through the soil aud az the juno
ton OF curb and cover. coment
cover should be tightly fitted to the
curb. aud the curb itself should be
coated with cement for some distance
below the surface.
In drilled or double.tubcd driven
wells the current OF cold air drawn in
II periods OF high barometer between
he outer and inner casing near the
surface and passing out In a porous
bed at the bottom above the water
level will cause freezing N the water
X pumped so that Il stands In the
inner tube above the lower end Of the
outer casing. and long.continued
.urrent OF such cold air may cause
freezing OF the ground water about
ana In the well tube. For this condi.
lion. says the Farmers Voice. a is sue
.cstcd that the space between the out
n and inner tube near the surface be
backed with some impervioua mate.
lal A filling OF cement resting on an
'mproylsed plug n probably The most
effective. Tho homemade rag pack.
ng sometimes used Is too porous to
serve the purpose.
The same treatment is suggested
FOR wells with ieaky castings. Tor driy.
en- wells passing through rocks porous
enough to permit the PASSAGE Of large
currents Of chilled air during periods
II high barometer. and for wells In
which the outer casing ends In some
,avorn or open passage: that is the
space between the we'll tube and the
hump tube near the surface shouid b.
tightly plugged with lmperyious ma
terlal About some wells the ground
erevices through which the air olrcu.
'ates are 80 numerous that immunity
rom freezing can be obtained only
by plugging the space about the pump
tube from top TO bottom with cement.