Spring House Project

[bannerd]

Hey all, I posted about my spring house a short while ago. I'm creating this thread as I'm going to rebuild it. After purchasing a trash pump and sucking up some 50 year old balls of white scum floating around in it (I thought they were large rocks, boy was I wrong!) I was able to get to the springs. There is one spring that is running through two square holes. The other two springs are coming from under the ground. I ended up digging a hole below the current soil line and was able to get all the water out. I tested the three springs and all three of them came back very pure. The bacteria level was really low according to the lab I used. I'm thinking the two on the sides are artesian wells as one of them gizers about six inches from the ground. This is my current plan. Anyone know what would be the best way to attach the service platform? I'm thinking lag bolts and a cedar 2x8?

 

[kbs2244]

I an a little confused on the overall plan.
Are you going to have the springs flow into a common sump and then pump out from that sump?

 

[ambenz]

Ya, to reference your graphic, I think we need to see some pictures of the actual site.
What are you planning to attach the service platform to?...the ground? ...the existing spring house? Why not do it all up right, remove all the old stuff and fab everything up new!?!?!
Having a all new dependable system that prevents contamination, has to be the ultimate goal, or why bother...

 

[TractorJeff]

OK, when I lived in Cattaraugus County several old places had springs to feed the houses. Some Banks wouldn't finance the sale unless a well was drilled.
Springs come in two flavors, those higher than the attic and those lower. Houses where the spring was on a side hill higher than the attic, they had water tanks in the attic. Those that were lower had tanks in the cellar which was originally hand pumped to the first floor.
Point is this: Dig a footer as deep as you can go without hurting the veins that are feeding. Pour concrete (yes it can be done as I had helped rebuild several). Lay up block walls making sure you fill the blocks or pour concrete walls. Needs to be two pipes out the wall, one for house water and a high water overflow an inch or two above your typically high level mark (in case of rain or heavy snow contamination). Run the house water pipe into the tank 300 or 500 gallon tank in the cellar. Important key here is that this tank must have an overflow as you do not want the water to stagnate! Then put an electric water pump to the tank for house water pressure.
As far as the building that you will build on top of the concrete or block walls, it can be any local wood material that you would like to use!
Last one I help build was just under 4 by 6, we put a 2 by 6 framed plywood sloped "flat" roof on it. The owner slides it sideways for cleaning.
Neighbor on the hill above my parents house had a 4 foot square box with a 3 foot opening that allowed a foot of water to build up to flow down the pipe. This one went to the house for years, till they drilled, from then on it went to the barn for cows and cooling milk cans.