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[timmeh]

On my most recent fortress, the only water supply is a great distance below the place I plan on building my fortress.  I was wondering if there is a limit on the distance between the top of the well, and the water level for the well to work?  I.E. If I were to simply channel the water to a place under the fortress, and dig a massive shaft up to where I want the well to be, would the well work, or would it be too far away from the water?  Not sure about the exact height, but I can find out if I need to.

Thanks!

[Sir Pseudonymous]

I believe there's no limit, but a deeper shaft means it takes longer to draw water from. Going from what I've read, I rarely need to do more than one or two levels thanks to aquifers so I don't have any firsthand experience.

[denito]

I regularly build my wells 5 or more levels deep, for fun.  The other day I saw something I'd never noticed before:  if you're looking at the levels below the well, you can actually see the bucket moving up and down!  Cool!

[Jude]

I'm pretty sure I've tried to have wells that were multiple z-levels above the water and it didn't work...

[Taritus]

I could've sworn that the wiki lists a max of 4 z-levels.  Any deeper and your well won't do anything.

[Mohreb el Yasim]

I regularly build my wells 5 or more levels deep, for fun.  The other day I saw something I'd never noticed before:  if you're looking at the levels below the well, you can actually see the bucket moving up and down!  Cool!

I could've sworn that the wiki lists a max of 4 z-levels.  Any deeper and your well won't do anything.

[Magua]

Deeper wells are worth more to dwarves.  I've had shoddily constructed wells that still made the dwarves around them happy by looking at them -- I attribute this to their depth.

Wells do work over multiple z-levels, but I don't think I've ever used one more than five z-levels below the dining room.  Give it a try, let us know, but AFAIK, it should work just fine.

[timmeh]

Well, I just finished getting the water channeled under it and it seems to work.  No one's needed to use it yet, but it says it's active (as opposed to "dry").  The surface of the water is about 33 z-levels below the well, so if the depth of the shaft makes a difference, it should be a noticeable one

If anything changes I'll let you know.

[Karnewarrior]

that well is going to be slooooooowww.

[calrogman]

In Mountainbanners the irrigation wells were 26 z-levels above the brook, there is no definite limit to how deep  a well can be.

[timmeh]

that well is going to be slooooooowww.

Probably, but I should only need it for wounded dwarves, assuming the brewer doesn't get himself killed by the giant bat that's been circling the plateau I'm building on...

Besides, I bought extra rope from the traders, so I can always build a couple extra if the need is great enough.

In Mountainbanners the irrigation wells were 26 z-levels above the brook, there is no definite limit to how deep  a well can be.

Good to know it will actually function instead of just looking like it will, thanks!

[pushy]

How long is a piece of string? (or rope reed rope)

[zchris13]

How long is a piece of string? (or rope reed rope)

This requires testing.

[Lord Dakoth]

How long is a piece of string? (or rope reed rope)

As far as I can tell, DF ropes exhibit quantum properties. Maybe it has to do with the the string theory!

[cl3ft]

When I read that deeper wells make Dorfs happier, I started building all my wells to the bottom Z level, my record is about 20 levels and it works fine, although drawing the water takes a fair while. I will check actual depth when I get home.