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One the aspect of apron I have mixed feelings, but I would really suggest putting it in and as Toby say make sure it is not cracked and seals up to the well. Irrespective of use it is desirable to minimise pollution from animal droppings, and other extraneous flow back water into the well.

Secondly without an apron it can rapidly become a chewed up bog, and in the right circumstances / environment cause ponding and even a breading ground for vectors (especially malaria, dengue mosquitoes and others) in the ponding / dampness, though if the soil is truly sandy that may be minimised

I would have thought with sandy soil there was a good chance of infiltration back into the well if excess water was not taken away by an apron .... that could well have the effect surely of washing back more coliforms into the well and actually concentrating them in the well.

Also wash back down the well may also not be good for the longer term well maintenance and walls

On the question of washing plates I will give you the definitive insight from our own kitchen ... we live in Cambodia and all parties accept the local piped water is not safely drinkable ... even my rural Cambodian wife will not drink it without extensive boiling and only then if bulk bottled water is not available that we have delivered to our flat every three or four days (boiling water only kills coliforms it does not remove metals etc)..... We have no water heater or hot taps in our flat but hygiene is one of the highest priorities. we survive in the same way I have in remote parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan and even recently in South Sudan ......................

1.) keep water as clean as possible for washing dishes etc ... i.e. change it 2.) obviously use soap / detergent or or other surfactant to break down grease etc 3.) air dry the plates in racks or similar until they are completely dry - then remove them 4.) do not allow wet plates to drip onto dry plates / cutlery 5.) if possible store the dried and drying plates with a cloth (a dry clean cloth or piece of muslin) over to try and avoid vectors such as flies

this is on the advice of several doctors and so far I have found it very successful ant home and on assignment in many places over many years

.... THE KEY, as doctors point out, is the plates and cutlery must be completely dry ...... germs do not survive well on a dry surface .. they survive in droplets and damp films ....... dot them well and thoroughly air dried and many of your risks are very significantly removed if not removed.....

Also depending where you are you may want to think about guinea worm nets for the water

Also as a point of reference it is worth noting (I extract below from a recent project report I wrote where we had similar issues of at least partially contaminated water) ......... while the New 2004 Sphere indicator is strict, the earlier standard had indicators that accepted some coliform ... which I suggest is practical

The Sphere Standard 2 for water supply requires that: "Water is palatable, and of sufficient quality to be drunk and used for personal and domestic hygiene without causing significant risk to health".

Two of the indicators are that: "A sanitary survey indicates a low risk of faecal contamination (see guidance note 1)" and "There are no faecal coliforms per 100ml at the point of delivery (see guidance note 2)." "There are no faecal coliforms per 100ml at the point of delivery (see guidance note 2)."

However the guidance notes clarify that the "standard" prevails rather than the "indicators" and that faecal coliform possibly (but not definitively) indicates contamination. The indicator shall not prevail and the guidance note clarifies . "pathogens. If any faecal coliforms are present the water should be treated. However, in the initial phase of a disaster, quantity is more important than quality".

In practice it is likely to be difficult to practically achieve "no coliforms", unless the water is treated and in this respect it is worth noting the Sphere "standard" a suitable quantity of water without significant risk to health.

It is useful in these contexts to refer to the previous Sphere 2000 standard (now superseded) for guidance and it is noted that the current no faecal coliforms per 100ml was previously. "There are no more than 10 faecal coliforms per 100 ml at the point of delivery for undisinfected supplies"

Chris