Pr ot e c t yo u r Spr i n g
85
Build a spring box to capture the water
A spring box is a covered container made of masonry, brick, or concrete that
helps protect spring water from contamination. A spring box also makes it
easier to collect water at the spring or direct water into pipes to community
taps or storage tanks. The kind of spring box that is best depends on the lay of
the land and the materials that are available.
Parts of a spring box
Drainage canal prevents water
from flowing over the spring box
Sand or gravel
Water
flows
from
here
Water level
Removable cover to see
and clean inside
Overflow pipe with screen
to keep insects out
Screen to filter out sand and soil
Outlet pipe
Scour pipe to flush
out spring box
This shows one kind of spring box with the hillside cut away to show what is inside.
Pipes and spring boxes need cleaning often
Spring boxes need to be checked to make sure the spring continues to provide
safe water. Silt, leaves, dead animals, and other things can collect in the
pipes and spring box and block the pipes or contaminate the water. Put a wire
screen on the pipe leading into the spring box to prevent unsafe things from
entering pipes. Cleaning the screen every now and again will make sure there
is a steady flow of water.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012