Schwengelbrunnen

A Drinking Water Well (Brunnen) with a Counterweighted Swing Beam (Schwengel)

**[Die Donauschwaben, Gauss/Weidenheim]**

The Schwengelbrunnen is a sweep well with a long horizontal beam balanced on a vertical beam, a rope and bucket attached on one end and a heavy counterweight at the other. By pulling on the rope, the bucket is lowered into a ground well (30-50 feet deep, often lined with bricks). The full bucket of water is then raised by pushing down on the counterweight. The beam can be swung around to empty the bucket. This procedure facilitates irrigation when a river is low, which means that higher ground can be used for farming. This method has existed for hundreds of years.

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Last updated: 11/03/2026