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[Sloth-Man96]

I apologize for asking something that's probably really obvious, but how the hell do i build a well? I checked the wiki and i guess i didn't really understand what it was saying, but i don't understand why what i have now isn't working.

http://imgur.com/gFCS1bt,cgRtzWs#1

^ This is the spot above ground where I want to build a well.

http://imgur.com/gFCS1bt,cgRtzWs#0

^ This is what it looks like directly below that spot. What am i doing wrong here? Thanks in advance for the help!

[StagnantSoul]

Did you channel the spot where you want to put it? If not, that's your problem.

[Sloth-Man96]

Did you channel the spot where you want to put it? If not, that's your problem.

I did. In the second picture i channeled a 3x4 rectangle. It's to the left of the red X cursor. Did I do something wrong there?

[Larix]

The picture is missing the only really important bit of information - the text explaining why you can't build a well there. The message screen to the right will tell you the reason:
e.g.
"Well
Placement
Needs open space"

Without that information, the picture is completely useless.

[smakemupagus]

Did you channel a spot at the ground level in the first picture so that there is a hole (i.e. open space) through the ground down into your reservoir?

[Sloth-Man96]

The picture is missing the only really important bit of information - the text explaining why you can't build a well there. The message screen to the right will tell you the reason:
e.g.
"Well
Placement
Needs open space"

Without that information, the picture is completely useless.

Shit, i'm sorry man. Knew i'd forget something. it says "Needs open space"

[Sloth-Man96]

Did you channel a spot at the ground level in the first picture so that there is a hole (i.e. open space) through the ground down into your reservoir?

Oh, so i need to channel on ground level, down to the water source?

[neblime]

Yes.  Between z layers there is a "floor" layer if you will, and mining/dig doesnt remove it.  Channel removes the floor and digs the tile below (if theres anything there)  then the well goes directly on the hole (assuming the water is below it)

[Sloth-Man96]

Yes.  Between z layers there is a "floor" layer if you will, and mining/dig doesnt remove it.  Channel removes the floor and digs the tile below (if theres anything there)  then the well goes directly on the hole

Oh my god i'm such an idiot  thanks man!

[neblime]

No worries.  Something to consider though is having the well somewhere safe inside the fortress (not above ground) so if you get trapped by a siege, which is not unlikely to also coincide with injuries, you will still be able to access the waterfront

[Sloth-Man96]

No worries.  Something to consider though is having the well somewhere safe inside the fortress (not above ground) so if you get trapped by a siege, which is not unlikely to also coincide with injuries, you will still be able to access the waterfront

Thanks! I might just make one above ground and one below! I'm mainly worried about intruders getting in through the well though.

[Codyo]

So here are some things about wells.

They will make any water drinkable.
They can reach multiple z levels down to access a water source.
Your dwarves like to take baths with them for a happy thought.
The farther it has to lower a rope to access water, the longer it takes to obtain it.
It's possible for a creature to swim out of wells. There have been cases of mounts during sieges that will go underwater, drown their rider and attack your dwarves.

[celem]

Also good to remember that surface wells will freeze in the appropriate biomes.  The well itself is 'open' and even if nothing else the tile directly beneath the well will freeze and render it useless.  I like wells on cavern lakes for this reason.

Beware of trying to drop water from the surface a few levels before accessing it with a well, it prevents freeze issues but means you need to understand pressure.

With well issues it's usually a channeling misunderstanding like seems to be the case here.

Good luck!

[Ghoul]

Also good to remember that surface wells will freeze in the appropriate biomes.  The well itself is 'open' and even if nothing else the tile directly beneath the well will freeze and render it useless.

I was going to open a thread about this myself, but it seems you have already touched on it. I was playing a game last night with the newest version of DF, and I built a well on the surface, but inside a construction. When winter came every block below the well froze (about 3-4 of them), so there was a column of ice in my water storage. I have never had this happen before, and to me at least it seems like a glitch - the well was completely covered in the building.

Is this normal? I have built wells inside buildings many times before and this hasn't occurred.

[gunpowdertea]

Yes, this is normal as the "outside" state is triggered by excavation and is not set back to "inside" when you roof over it again. You can just wall in a portion of above ground, outside land, put a stone roof on top and farm above ground plants...