Current Well Owners

Well Performance Assessments

Existing wells will experience, without fail, a decline in observable or measurable performance over time.  This is most often a reduction in the amount of water pumped from the well, followed by an increase in sand in the water, or perhaps a change in the quality of the water. What will accompany such losses in well performance, will be an increase in power consumption, because of a likely decline in well efficiency. Issues with pump failure, a result of excessive sand in the water column, can occur.  Additionally, the water chemistry can change, often for the worse, when well performance declines.

The following can and should be regular maintenance and assessment tasks, to monitor your well performance.

Water level measurements. 

For a single well, it is likely best to have your pump service company come out at least twice a year, and measure both the standing (static) and pumping (dynamic) water levels in the well.

If as a well owner, you own several wells, you certainly can have the pump company measure them all; or, you can purchase a water level meter and learn how to.

Discharge rate.

Usually reported in gallons per minute (GPM), the discharge or flow rate (both are correct terms) is one key indicator that something is wrong with the well.  The best scenario is when a flow meter is a) attached, b) maintained, and c) routinely monitored and recorded.

For a single well, it might be the most effective and economical, when the pump service company comes out to measure water levels, they also measure the flow rate.

Dashboard of well hazards:

Sand content.  If sand begins to appear in the water pumped from the well, or perhaps shows up in the faucet filters, it may be an indication that sand is entering the well.  Very small amounts of sand may enter the well, and not be indicative of a problem.  However, if the sand content increases suddenly, or increases well beyond what you are accustomed to seeing, this suggests something negative may have occurred to the well itself.  It will also have a negative effect on the pump, potentially causing premature wearing on the pump impellers and bearings.

Water quality.  Changes in smell, taste or odor of your well water are both easy to detect, and immediately concerning.  If this occurs, consider disusing the well water until you can have it thoroughly tested. Testing the well water, or more accurately having well water samples analyzed, is an important initial and routine maintenance step. When first completed, particularly with regards to residential wells, the testing is usually quite limited.  This is also true for irrigation (non-drinking water wells) wells.  In both cases, more comprehensive testing is both important, and necessary. Ideally, a series of analysis are performed on the well water, that will become a baseline against which to compare changes to the water quality results from future testing. The price of thorough testing is low, compared to the overall cost of a new well and pumping equipment.  It is also low when compared to the cost of having to clean the well when it has become highly impacted.

·      For an existing well:

o   Twice a year, measure the standing and pumping water levels.

o   Ideally at the same time, measure the flow rate from the well, in gallons per minute (GPM).

·      Whether new or old, at least twice a year:

o   Calculate the specific capacity (GPM/Pumping water level – static water level).  Decreasing specific capacity is indicative of mounting well problems.

o   Determine the amount of energy, in kilowatt hours, your pump is using per hour.  Your pump company or power company representative should be able to help you with this.

·      For all wells:

o   Collect and analyze water samples at least once every two to three years.

o   At least every four to six years, remove the pump and have it inspected.  If plausible, have a video log run in the well, to visually document the interior of the well casing.

These steps are designed to reduce the impact of aging on a well’s performance and decrease the cost of maintaining the well while increasing the operational lifespan of that well.