Technology and the Big House in Ireland, c. 1800–c.1930
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Technology and the Big House in Ireland, c. 1800–c.1930 By Charl ...

Chapter 1:  Water Supplies
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Plate 4. Force pump.

Source. Author's drawing of a typical force pump.

Well and Spring Water

Drinking and cooking water were obtained from a well or a spring. A well is a shaft sunk in the ground to intercept an underground flow of water, whereas a spring is a naturally occurring outflow of water often appearing on the surface. In both cases, the water has usually percolated through mineral rocks and, therefore, is “harder” than rainwater due to the dissolved mineral content. Often, a well could be sunk close to the house, the location of the underground supply having been determined