wells in houses in Almanzora

These wells or aljibes as they are known as in Spain, are usually built under or beside country houses where the supply of mains water can be unpredictable in summer months.

Thanks to an excess of intensive olive farms which have sprung up in recent years, and enormous plastic greenhouses, many of the natural springs in this and other drought stricken provinces, are drying up.  I believe that it was in 2004 that the permissions for water concessions were no longer granted and thus should have stopped any well boring. However, people are still boring for waterd everywhere and Aguas del Sur - which comes under the Junta de Andalucia -  and also many town halls, are turning a blind eye no doubt for political reasons.  

A while ago, people built their own water deposits to gather the rain water but as now with there being less and less rain in much of the province of Almeria, people are connecting their water deposits to the mains to fill up with water so that if there is a water shortage in the summer, the family won't go without won´t.  We had such a deposit built as a safeguard when we rehabilitated our cortijo. The deposit is easily connected or disconnected  if necessary, but does need electricity to run the pump.  In the summer there are many people on holiday in these parts and water can be a problem in the countryside in many areas.

I hope that this helps answer your question-  

Our well was in the garage attached to the house, where the original owner kept his agricultural machinery etc. The house needed a complete renovation so we converted the garage into a bathroom and a utility room; the well is now in the bathroom with the pump in a small cupboard to the side.

The water comes through fissures in the bedrock, so the level of water is dictated by the water table (deep in winter, less in summer), so it is, effectively, ‘spring water’.

Puff

That was lucky for you.  Have you had an analysis of the water?

Yes, we had the water analysed before we moved in, it needed some treatment (which our Spanish builders sorted for us), and we've had to do nothing to it since.

Puff

Thanks Guys, all very helpful, have come to the conclusion that they must have deposit tanks, will find out more nearer the time we intend to make the move