I am in process of buying a property near Querenca and it has a huge well. The house has not been lived in for years so well has been neglected. Can anyone advise what we need to do utilise it ??

You'll probably need to have the water quality checked first and the way to do that is to put a couple of litres of freshly drawn water into a sterile container and take it to either a chemist (not all chemists offer this service) or a blood testing place in your local area........ if you don't know where they are, just ask at any chemist or doctors....... IIRC, cost is about €50 or €60.

If the water isn't good, then you might need to consult a builder or suitable company to see if it can be improved.

+ Put a top on it if it has not got one.

People & Animals die every year here from falling down them due to having no cover on them.
When I lived in the Algarve I lost a Dog down one on a neighbours ground.

Thank you for your replies. It was our first thought when seeing the well to get a cover as it was open and looked like you would not be able to get out if you were to fall in!!

Even if it had a cover I would be inclined to get a length off very heavy chain with big links you could get a grip on & attache it to the inside wall just in case !
Rope no good because it rot's after a while

Polypropylene rope won't rot but chain would be better.......... either way, knot it to allow it to be gripped and this idea has to be the best I've read here!

I'm surprised to hear of wells in Portugal not having covers. What about leaves and birds falling in? Animals?
I wouldn't fancy drinking a cuppa from it after a dog or cat's been in the bottom for a month or two, or longer!
Kids in Australia have a habit of dropping into swimming pools and Mum and Dad are busy elsewhere. Good-bye kid! We legally must have a 4' fence and child proof gate around each pool nowadays, or are found guilty of manslaughter if the worse happens.
The knotted rope does sound a good idea, if you're still aware after falling down it.

I get your point ,but this is Portugal !!

There was a law put on the books a few years back that they HAD to be covered - but again as this cost money to do most are still open to the sky.
With in 3 kml's on one road of where I live there are 4 in sight on the road not covered - 3 have a wall 5 bricks high - 1 only has 3 bricks high
As a normal PT brick with cement stands only 21 cm's there all penitential death traps