Alright, so wells are currently built on groundwater deposits.
But the Romans managed to build wells that required no groundwater at all by simply digging a conical hole in the ground, and filling it partially with sand, pebbles, and charcoal. They left a cylindrical opening for the well, and allowed rainwater to be filtered through the sand/pebbles/charcoal to become a decent-enough source of water.
So, perhaps we can build rainwater wells? Stone+Sand+Charcoal+Branches
And of course, it could go dry.
I assume it rains in the hearthlands. Am I correct in this assumption?