Spring Protection
Publisher(s)
Oxfam GBSeries
Oxfam Technical Briefing NotesDocument type
Technical briefingDescription
Springs occur where water from an underground aquifer flows out of the ground to the surface. The spring can occur where the water flows out of the ground by gravity, or it could be an artesian spring where the water appears at the surface under pressure from a confined aquifer below. The point at which the water reaches the ground surface is known as ‘the eye of the spring’. This Technical Brief looks at spring protection including the catchment area, the immediate area around the spring and the construction of spring boxes. It also highlights two methods of reducing sediments in the water coming from large springs and introduces alternative protection methods to spring boxes. This Technical Brief does not discuss the distribution system between spring box and supply.