Modern day water wells are designed and constructed to protect both the aquifer from which the well yields its water and withstand the test of time and deterioration.
The importance of selecting a qualified contractor when completing any type of well work is crucial. Whether you’re looking to have a new well drilled, having an existing well abandoned, or want to weigh out what your best options would be, contact AAA Pump and Drilling.
Not all wells are created equal. Variables can exist that are determined by location, the type of well drilled, the amount of water the well yields and its quality verses the amount needed and quality parameters that need to be met in your local county and state codes.
What is a drilled well?
A Drilled well consists of a bored hole in the ground. Casing is used in the upper part of the bored hole to establish a well seal and keep the bored hole from collapsing. The type of casing used and whether the casing runs only the upper section of the well or the entire depth of the well depends on the formation(s) drilled through and state code.
The quality of material used in the well construction is extremely important. Casing material must meet certain minimum requirements that are set forth by local and state code. Once a well has been drilled to depth the well is screened or may be left open at the bottom. This is dependent on the type of formation drilled through. Once construction is completed the water bearing zone of the well is developed. The development process removes fine materials left from the drilling and allows for water to enter into the well more easily.
The last portion of the well development is pumping the well to determine the well’s yield and the quality of the water. At this point in the project you may consider having a permanent pump installed in your well verses a temporary one. Though having a permanent pump installed for the pump testing does not always produce the lowest initial cost after the total cost of ownership is weighed and evaluated it is often the better choice. At this point water samples are taken to a certified lab for testing.
Well Abandonment
Having unknown wells on your property or a well that is not in use can pose health risks and if it is a shallow well, which commonly have diameters from 3 to 5 feet, they can also pose physical risks.
Unused wells may allow contaminants to enter the aquifer and pass to other wells tapped into that same aquifer. These threats may also pose a liability risk to property owners if not correctly maintained or if the well is improperly abandoned.
If it is determined that an existing well has no current or future use Contact us at AAA Pump and Drilling and we can advise on the best decommissioning method and ensure that the abandonment and well sealing procedures abide by all local and state code.
Well Rehab
The most common reason to have your well rehabilitated is due to a drop in the well's production. The case of a well having lost its production is not always a hopeless. The option to have your well rehabbed may prove to be much quicker and cost effective than having your existing well abandoned and a new one drilled.
Well rehab methods include air jetting, bailing, water-jetting, surging, or pumping to list a few.
A simple test can be completed to help determine if well rehab methods will likely be successful. This test starts by not using the well for 24 to 48 hours. After which the static water level is measured. If the static water level is the same as it was in the original well log, well rehab methods will likely work to increase the wells yield.