Tube wells are popular in developing countries due to their ease of installation, but can lead to water contamination if not properly located. Pipe wells are quick to install and can be filled with gravel and sand for additional filtration. Pumps are needed to draw water from the well and plugs prevent contamination. Reservoirs at the top of the well can be a public health concern.
A tube well is a water well consisting of a long tube dug into the ground and sunk to the depth of the water table. Pipe wells are quick and easy to install, making them particularly popular in developing countries where infrastructure for larger and more complex well designs is not available. There are some potential drawbacks to this design, including risks of water contamination if the well is not sunk in an appropriate location. In Bangladesh, for example, the widespread use of tube wells has led to an increase in arsenic poisoning due to natural deposits of arsenic in the soil.
Several techniques including augmentation can be used to create the shaft for a pipe well before sinking the pipe, in plastic, metal or other materials. A cap at the bottom prevents leaching, while a screen traps particulates to keep them out of the well. Some pipe wells are filled with gravel and sand to act as an additional filter. These materials trap particles in the water as it trickles down the well.
Pipe well installation is fast and very easy. Minimal skills are required and a working well can be built much faster than with other construction techniques. Organizations working to promote access to safe water often include pipe wells in their community programs. They can teach members of a community how to sink a well with the first installation and then provide them with the tools to drill additional wells so the entire community has access to clean water.
It is necessary to use a pump with a tubular well to draw water from the well to the surface. The pumps can be operated manually or with a motor. Some rely on an electric power supply to run an electric motor and tend to be more environmentally friendly. Plugs at the top of the tube prevent contamination from above, keeping the contents of the well as clean as possible.
In some regions, residents can create a reservoir at the top of the pipe well to create easy access to water. This can be a public health concern, as tanks can become traps for microbes, algae and other organisms that could make people ill. Animals that splash around in water may also introduce urine and faeces. This may not be a concern for irrigation, but it may be a concern for water used for bathing and cooking.
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