INCREASING THE FLOW OF SPRINGS.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2774, 4 January 1878, Page 2

INCREASING THE FLOW OF SPRINGS.

(FROM THB SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN.)

It is a well known fact that rain water and the water produced by melting snow on high land sinks into the soil until an. impermeable stratum is reached. Then, it follows that stratum as the same tends downward, thus producing subterranean rivers or brooks. When a well is dug, this underground water is sought for; but when the water itself comes to the surface, then the source is cemmonly known as a spring. In both cases, however, the water flows along a slope higher of course at the point of departure than at the point where the water is obtained. But during its journey obstacles are often encountered which check the flow, so that sometimes a well can be pumped out much faster than it will fill. Hence, after every drain upon its resources, it is necessary to wait a considerable period in order to allow the scanty influx to replace the amount of water removed. Such well* frequently dry up altogether during ths present season of the year. There is a simple way of increasing the flow of wells, devised some years ago by M. Donet, of Lyons, France. Ordinarily the mouths of wells are left open; hene* all along the water, from well or original source, there is an equilibrium ofahpres* sure. M. Donets plan is simply to close the well and pump out some of the air. This creates an excess of. pressuro to drive water into the well; the supply is thus increased temporarily, and at the same time the underground channels through which the water pas-es are enlarged by the stronger stream, and to the supply also becomes: permanently augmented.

In the case of a spring, however, one of the principal advantages is that the water lifts or ought to lift itself to the level of the soili and consequently, when a pump is needed, then the source is no better tban any ordinary well. There is a way, however, of increasing the flow of springs by the aid of a simple syphon, which has been devised by AT. Chefdebien. At the point whore the spring emerges make an airtight tank, having a close cover, into which insert a pipe. Bend this pipe over and carry, it along for a few hundred feet or so, until by following the downward trend of the land the end reaches a level, say 6ft lower than that of the spring level. Now, apply a pump and draw water through this tube. It thus becomes a syphon (the pump is at onco removed) and the water continues to flow under the influence of a portion of tho atmospheric pressure equivalent to the difference of level existing between the spring and the lowest end of the tube.

M. Chefdebien has tried this plan on a spring which took 24 hours ordinarily to (ill a holloa place in the rock containing about 200 quarts. From the spring he lea a piece of lead pipe four inches in diameter over a distance of 162 feet, so that he obtained a difference of level of nearly eight; feet. A watertight and airtight vessel waf• also builf on the spring basin, so as to* surround the natural escape orifice. This was six years ago. During that time tho water has run constantly, and instead of yielding 200 quarts per 21 hours, it has ;:iven 3800 quarts steadily per same period. That is, the flow has by tho th^ma simple expedient, been increased 19 times.