Wellhead: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
As a series of islands surrounded by a salt-water lagoon, Venice lacks natural sources of freshwater. As a result, Venice has found alternative ways to obtain freshwater for the city. In the 16th century, Venetians built well systems to collect and filter rain to store as freshwater. The general design of a well and cistern typically includes a clay basin that stores rainwater. This water collects through street-level drains, filters through fine river sand, and then accumulates in the basin. There is a brick or stonewall well shaft that allows access to the water from the street level. These wells served as sources of fresh water in Venice. | |||
The water is then retrieved from a wellhead. They are located in many public squares in Venice, “They were always at the center of socialization and interactivity among Venetians” (Wainwright et al., 2000, pg 16). Wellheads often featured inscriptions and carvings of saints or family crests. The artistic and structural design of each wellhead is indicative of the art period it was built in. (Huse, 1990) Even though these wellheads appear as ornamental works of art, they were also innovative in their practicality. The wellheads were designed to prevent animals, debris, or floodwater from polluting the clean water source stored below (Wainwright et al., 2000, pg 16). Venetians depended on this system for their fresh water supply until 1884, when a modern water supply system was established. | |||
==Structure== | ==Structure== | ||
Revision as of 12:52, 8 December 2014
This page contains information about a typical Venetian wellhead.
A wellhead (Vera da Pozzo in Italian) is the only exposed part of the well where people used to pull the water out from. The wellhead appears as a circular basin with a lid above ground. Today, they only serve as decoration purpose, see Public Art
History
As a series of islands surrounded by a salt-water lagoon, Venice lacks natural sources of freshwater. As a result, Venice has found alternative ways to obtain freshwater for the city. In the 16th century, Venetians built well systems to collect and filter rain to store as freshwater. The general design of a well and cistern typically includes a clay basin that stores rainwater. This water collects through street-level drains, filters through fine river sand, and then accumulates in the basin. There is a brick or stonewall well shaft that allows access to the water from the street level. These wells served as sources of fresh water in Venice.
The water is then retrieved from a wellhead. They are located in many public squares in Venice, “They were always at the center of socialization and interactivity among Venetians” (Wainwright et al., 2000, pg 16). Wellheads often featured inscriptions and carvings of saints or family crests. The artistic and structural design of each wellhead is indicative of the art period it was built in. (Huse, 1990) Even though these wellheads appear as ornamental works of art, they were also innovative in their practicality. The wellheads were designed to prevent animals, debris, or floodwater from polluting the clean water source stored below (Wainwright et al., 2000, pg 16). Venetians depended on this system for their fresh water supply until 1884, when a modern water supply system was established.
Structure
Materials
Wellhead
All but two of the 217 public wellheads cataloged are composed exclusively of Istria stone, Red Verona marble, or White Verona marble. Istria is stone the most common material, accounting for 79 percent of the wellheads cataloged. Istria is followed by 14 percent Red Verona marble, and seven percent White Verona marble[2]. Istria stone is a type of limestone that has a gray-green or yellowish color. Lengthy exposure to the atmosphere causes the stone to obtain a whitish appearance through a process called “whitewashing.” Unfortunately, this also makes Istria stone a prime candidate for exfoliation. Verona marble is a sedimentary rock composed of organic limestone and fossils. It has either a reddish or whitish color depending on the carbon compounds it contains.
Lid
Well Shaft
While functioning as Venetians main water supply, the actual well shaft that extended from the wellhead to the cistern was made from bricks and lined with a layer of impermeable clay[3].
Cistern
The cisterns were made with large stones and then lined with impermeable clay that prevented the fresh water from leaking out and more importantly prevented salt water from leaking in and contaminating the water supply[4].
Current Water Supply
Venice is now supplied with water from the mainland, traveling underground through pipes from the commune Trebaseleghe which is filled by 120 artisan wells[5].
Public Art
Conservation & Restoration
See also
References
- ↑ Blackwell, Lewis et al. Preserving Venetian Wellheads. 2000. Pg 21
- ↑ Blackwell, Lewis et al. Preserving Venetian Wellheads. 2000. Pg 26 – 27
- ↑ Insula spa and Matteo Alemanno, Venice Preservation and Urban Maintenance( Venice, Italy: Grafiche Veneziane)
- ↑ Insula spa and Matteo Alemanno, Venice Preservation and Urban Maintenance( Venice, Italy: Grafiche Veneziane)
- ↑ Venice. The 1911 Classic Encyclepedia. October 21, 2006. http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Venice
Bibliography
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