Water Well Rehabilitation — Understanding Well Problems and Effective Solutions
Water wells are becoming recognized as the most important asset in a groundwater system. As water systems age, deterioration is an almost inevitable consequence. In groundwater systems water wells will experience deposits building up, depending upon many factors. Formation damage as well as biological and mineral deposits will result in lost capacity problems and associated water quality problems, including total coliforms being detected in pumped water samples. Historically, specific capacity has been utilized to determine the frequency of rehabilitation and maintenance. This reliance on specific capacity is the single largest contributor to an operate to failure approach to well maintenance. Time-based approach has been very effective at maintaining wells since deposits in water wells are much more effectively managed. Novel ideas and understanding about well problems and solutions will be presented based on many years of experience. Effective rehabilitation and maintenance can be very effective at maintaining peak efficiency as well as maintaining more consistent water quality. With budgets getting tighter and ever increasing energy costs of water well operation, preventive well maintenenace can drive down life cycle costs.
Technical Services Department, Subsurface Technologies Inc., Kansas City, MO