A square cistern is much easier to build, and in most cases answers the purpose as well as a round cistern.
Excavate to desired depth, and put in 6 inches concrete floor, one part Portland cement, two parts sand, and four parts broken stone. As soon as practicable, put up forms for 8-inch walls, and build the four walls simultaneously. If more than 8 feet square, walls should be re inforced with a woven wire fabric or steel rods.
Concrete Well Curbs. For cleanliness and sanitation, so essential in a well, concrete pos sesses advantages over brick or stone, especially if the surface down to the water line is made waterproof to keep out any possible seepage of surface water. A method that is recommended for the building of well curbs is here given that is applicable to almost all cases. The excava tion having been carried down to water, the sides of the well made smooth and made ready for the concrete, a form ten inches less in diam eter than the well excavation should be made of planks nailed securely and vertically to the frame. This form should be at least two feet in height, and may be higher, but a two-foot form will be handled more easily.
Operations should commence at the bottom of the well, where the form is first placed. The mixture for the concrete should consist of one part Portland cement, three parts coarse and sharp sand, and five parts of gravel or broken stone. A waterproofing also should be used. Placing the form in the center so that a five inch margin will remain around the circumfer ence for the concrete, begin filling in, tamping every four inches. When the form is filled nearly to the top, allow the concrete to set, and raise the form carefully for the next section, being careful to have it at all times plumb. This oper ation is repeated with the filling in till the top of the well in reached. The concrete should be laid five or six inches above the surface of the ground to keep out all surface water. As the work of filling in progresses, staging of planks can be built to provide working room. After the concrete is dried, these can be taken out.