ÎNGRIJIREA ȘI ÎNTREȚINEREA FÂNTÂNILOR: ÎNTRE TRADIȚIE ȘI REGULI SANITARE (ASPECTE ISTORICE, MEDICALE, BISERICEȘTI ȘI ETNOCULTURALE)

Summary. In Romanian folk traditions, the digging, building and maintenance of a water wellwere strictly regulated by prescriptions and customs to be respected by the entire rural community.An important role in keeping water wells in good condition was played by the Orthodox Church,which was involved in sanitary activities aimed at maintaining the good quality of drinking waterand preventing the proliferation of diseases caused by contaminated drinking water. The location andconstruction of a water well was carried out according to certain technical and time requirements.Nowadays, good practices of well maintenance and development are promoted and applied at thelocal level, the most relevant example being provided by the mayor of Vorniceni village (Strășeni r.)Vasile Tofan, who since 2015 organizes the annual contest entitled The most well landscaped publicwater well.Key words: water well, care, maintenance, tradition, water, good practices.