How to Use a Well Bucket
A well bucket is a device that allows you to extract water from any well by hand. It is a good emergency item, because it will allow you to access your water supply during periods of extended power loss due to weather-related or other natural disasters. Read on to learn more.
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Instructions
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1
Locate your well head in your yard, and remove the cover with the appropriate tools. It is possible that your well cover will be difficult to remove. You may want to have some long-handled wrenches to give you more leverage. A can of penetrating lubricant may help ease the nuts off the bolts with less effort.
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2
Test the depth of the water in the well by lowering a rope until you hit water.
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3
Tie that amount of rope to the well bucket handle. Tie the opposite end of the rope to a fixed object (such as a clothes line post or sturdy fence) so it doesn't slip through your hands as you feed the well bucket into the well.
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4
Lower the bucket and rope into the well until you reach the water level.
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5
Allow the well bucket to fill with water. Then retrieve it by reeling in the rope slack.
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6
Fill clean containers with as much water as you need by repeating Steps 4 and 5.
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7
Replace the well head cover on the well head, and refasten the nuts securely.
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Tips & Warnings
Only use a well bucket in extreme emergencies. Opening your well head to gain access for the well bucket may introduce contaminants into your well, rendering it unsafe for human consumption. It is wise to treat the water with bleach following the Red Cross instructions for treating emergency water before drinking or cooking with water obtained using a well bucket.
Once the emergency has passed, you should hire a water resources professional to disinfect your well and reseal the well head.
