Deep Open Well – A Glimpse into the Past

Every so often, our StainStopper installers come across something that takes us back to another era of water supply. This photo is from a property in Mt Lawley, Western Australia, where instead of the expected modern borehole, we found an old deep open well.

Back in the early days, this would have been what we call a “walk-away” site for our installers. The old vacuum systems could only function with a drilled bore and a submersible pump. A traditional well like this was simply incompatible, leaving homeowners without the treatment they hoped for.

Fast forward to today, and technology has made these situations far easier to handle. Instead of relying on the old system, we can now connect the injection line directly into the main output pipe—often with something as straightforward as a saddle clamp. That means even homes with legacy wells like this can enjoy the benefits of a clean, reliable water treatment system.

Of course, while the temptation is always there to peer down and admire the craftsmanship of these deep, hand-dug wells, our staff know better than to climb inside. The risk is simply too great—safety comes first.

It’s always fascinating to see these reminders of how water was once accessed and maintained. They connect us to the history of water supply in Perth, even as we bring in new solutions to keep it flowing clear for the future.