
Thursday, December 6, 2007 : 1:00 p.m.
Well Blockage and Rehabilitation
The study of biofilm and the subsequent incrustations or blockage in water wells has led to more science based chemical rehabilitation programs. Once the need was established for chemistry other then oxidizing chemicals to attack the biomass, biodispersants were developed and environmentally friendly surfactants were utilized to improve acid penetration. Knowledge of the bacterial communities within the well has improved mechanical application of rehabilitation chemistry and moved water well chlorination from a hit or miss process to a highly developed tool for the proper disinfection of our potable water well systems.
John H. Schnieders, Ph.D., Water Systems Engineering Inc. John Schnieders is a Certified Professional Chemist and the Principal Chemist/Microbiologist of Water Systems Engineering, Inc., an investigative and research laboratory. He majored in Microbiology and Chemistry and holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering. He has over thirty-five years experience in the study of microbial and chemical corrosion and since 1984 he has specialized in well cleaning and disinfection with emphasis on rehabilitation chemistry and biofilm formation. He wrote Chemical Cleaning, Disinfection, and Decontamination of Water Wells in 2003. A Fellow of the American Institute of Chemist, he was the 2002 McEllhiney Lecturer for the National Ground Water Association.