The Water Mill

The water mill on the Dambovita River was founded 150 years ago and the last restoration took place on 1990.The main parts of the mill are:
-The drain;
-The two mill wheels;
-The rooms where the technological processes take place;
-The whirlpool
There has been developing here a very old traditional activity – the last three steps of the woolen carpets production.

1. The woolen carpets are put into the whirlpool for 2-3hours in order to moisten it very well. This way the worker may easily identify and bring to the outer side of the carper the numerous knots.
2. The woolen carpet is placed on a large wood cylinder. Under the cylinder there is a huge brush made of wood too. The rushing water of the drain makes moving the large mill wheel. The wheel axel turns the cylinder too and allows the brush to card the carpet. Thus the long woolen threads are extracted from the knots.
3. The aim of the next step is to make the carpet lasting and thicker than it was at the beginning. The carpet is placed inside a moving cylinder in a room where the temperature reaches 5o C (by wood heating). This process lasts for three hours. The carpets are, then, washed in clear cold water and dry in the sun.

Another part of the water mill is the whirlpool - the so-called “washing machine». In fact this very old washing system was imitated by the washing machine. The device is used to wash carpets and other wools .For some hours they are wheeled by the rushing stream of water coming from the Dambovita River. The small air balls of the clear water clean the carpets efficiently.
The system is an ecological one. Chemical washing products are prohibited.

Valimareanu Alexandru,17 years old

Grupul scolar Forestier, Rucar-Romania