Reprinted with permission ofWater Conditioning and Purification Magazine. Any use or republication in part or whole, must be with the written consent of the Publisher.
Summary
With so many causes potentially affecting the performance and upkeep of wells, the most important factor is gathering correct information before formulating solutions. The following article presents several steps in ensuring that a well is properly treated, tested and maintains its value to the owner for years to come.Well Problems
There are all kinds of problems experienced in pumps and wells. Pump problems can be mechanical, electrical or system related, causing a reduction in yield to total breakdown. Well problems are often associated with: 1) a reduction in yield, caused by plugging of the screen or open borehole from iron bacteria, slime bacteria, mineral scale, sand or silt infiltration, or debris in the well (yields can also be affected by other pumping wells, or physical changes in the aquifer, i.e., a drop in static level or seismic activity.); 2) odors; 3) discoloration; and 4) corrosion caused by either water chemistry, galvanic activity, stray currents (AC or DC) or some forms of bacteria.
Problems aren't often discovered in municipal or industrial wells until they're well beyond minor repairs. The pump breaks suction or quits pumping water due to a mechanical problem. There's air in the water lines, reddish water and/or odors. This often sets up an emergency condition and presents major problems. There's little time to really understand the problem and design a proper and effective solution. Here are some basic steps to plan well maintenance.
Well Information
Good information is paramount. Too many times, little information is available about well dimensions, well depths, screen lengths, aquifers (thickness and type), pumping data (gallons per minute - gpm - at certain pumping time and pump setting), past performance of the pump (it's different than well performance), water chemistry or biological identification/quantification. Information like this often is difficult to find, so it's important well and pump records are kept fastidiously and readily available where possible.
File records according to well number. Separate well and pump information. Organize maintenance information for each file in chronological order. Construct an "as built" drawing or ask the contractor for that information; it's easier to understand. Plus, put the well log and general pump information at the front page for easy reference.
Understanding Problems
Pumping rate alone isn't a measurement for determining well problems. A pump impeller may be loose, or there may be a hole in the pump column pipe (can be either vertical turbine or submersible), which will cause a decline in recorded yield. Neither have anything to do with the well. The key to separating well and pump problems is understanding if the yield of the well is declining, which is done by calculating "specific capacity" or SC (see Figure 1 -- figures may be found at the end of this article).
Always record the specific capacity at approximately the same pumping rate and pumping duration for a more accurate comparison. If seasonal changes affect the "static water level" or SWL, the SC will remain approximately the same in an Artesian aquifer. An Artesian aquifer has pressure, causing the SWL to be above the aquifer into a confining bed, like clay or shale. This Artesian pressure can be above ground causing a flowing well. A reduction in the SWL doesn't change the thickness of an Artesian aquifer; therefore, the SC remains approximately the same. Seasonal changes will affect a "water table aquifer" more than an Artesian aquifer. A water table aquifer simply means the SWL is within the aquifer. A decline in SWL affects the thickness of the aquifer, therefore the SC.
Analysis of Specific Capacity
If both pump yield and ampere (amp) readings are lower than previous readings but the SC is higher, the pump may need repair. If the pump yield is lower, amp readings remain the same, and the SC is higher, there may be a hole in the column pipe. If the pumping rate, amp readings and SC are lower, the well may need rehabilitation. Compare this information at least once a year on municipal or industrial wells. Record SC on all new wells and set a target at 70 to 80 percent of the original SC for planned rehabilitation.A decline in the specific capacity can be caused by: mineral scale, slime bacteria, fine sand or silt infiltration into a screen area or borehole; physical blockage in the borehole or well screen, and physical changes in the aquifer itself, i.e., reduction in static level and even seismic activity. Determine if any sand is being pumped, which can often be found in pressure tanks, water lines or holding tanks. Always check the well depth. There may be several feet of fill in the well, which can reduce yields. Determine if there is any buildup of hard scale or slime on pumps or piping systems. Check any available water quality information.
The problem should be addressed if the SC declines more than 30 to 40 percent. It's more difficult to remedy a plugging problem caused by mineral scale if the specific capacity has declined more than 40 percent. Plugging due to slime bacteria is easier to successfully rehabilitate regarding wells even if the specific capacity is zero, because the bacteria remain near the borehole.
Diagnosis of Problems
Mineral Scale- Groundwater often has high concentrations of dissolved minerals. Natural carbon dioxide (CO2) in water produces carbonic acid, which keeps these minerals in solution. During pumping, a portion of the CO2 is lost through increased velocity and depressurizations, causing a portion of the minerals in solution precipitate as hardened mineral scale (see Figure 2).Temperature changes enhance mineral precipitation. Sulfate levels less than 70 parts per million (ppm) can precipitate when the velocity is extremely low, which happens when the pump is off. A layering effect of the various types of minerals can occur with sulfates on the surface and carbonates beneath. Sulfate levels greater than 70 ppm can precipitate in the same manner as carbonates. Different scales react differently with acids. Calcium is the easiest to dissolve, calcium in combination with iron and/or manganese is more difficult, and sulfate is the toughest. It may require several hours to dissolve sulfate, based upon scale thickness.
Slime Bacteria - Slime problems in wells and systems are caused by naturally occurring, common soil bacteria found in every aquifer. These bacteria find nutrients within the aquifer and exist normally in numbers of tens to hundreds of colony forming units per milliliter (cfu/ml). Some bacteria are highly mobile and can either be aerobic or anaerobic. Aerobic bacteria exist in areas of high oxygen in a well. Anaerobic bacteria like areas of low oxygen, i.e., non-pumping wells, low permeable area of aquifers, sumps beneath screens in wells, or beneath large amounts of scale, slime or decayed debris. Bacteria that can exist in either aerobic or anaerobic conditions are called facultative.
Aquifers have a natural direction of flow. When a well is installed and pumped, the direction of flow and velocity change. The natural flow velocity within an aquifer is measured in feet per year or even inches per year, whereas the flow around a well during pumping is measured in feet per second. Changes in velocity and pressures also occur within the pump, in the drop pipe and through the distribution system. These are factors in slime production (see Figure 3).
Slime formation is a natural protection against harmful chemicals like chlorine and acids. Studies show shock chlorination kills only some of bacteria and smears the outer surface of a slime mass. Some can survive acid solutions with a pH of 2 for long periods. Attempts to kill these bacteria with biocides, chlorine, hydrochloric, CO2 and hydroxyacetic acids are, at best, temporary solutions.
Iron Bacteria - It was thought iron bacteria was the main culprit for slime problems in wells. Most laboratories in the past 10 years haven't found that to be true. Slime formers are much more common but often get categorized with iron bacteria as the main culprit. It was thought iron bacteria were introduced into wells through dirty tools of well drillers and pump installers. That may be possible but highly unlikely as iron bacteria are very difficult to transport. During drilling, iron bacteria could be picked up in the subsurface soils and transported into aquifers. Iron bacteria have been found in massive numbers within weeks of drilling.
Some families of iron bacteria produce a stalk that can be seen under a microscope. This becomes a framework that slime bacteria attach to or fill in, which increases the severity of plugging. Iron bacteria attach to areas of high nutrients, i.e., steel casing, pumps and decayed debris from other bacteria. They secrete a corrosive enzyme to process nutrients, and corrosion is often found on metal surfaces. When identified, it's an indication of massive amounts of scale or biological debris. The most common bacteria of this type are Gallionella, Crenothrix and Leptothrix. Iron bacteria can become a problem within weeks in a new well.
Odors - Many odors in groundwater are related to bacterial activity. The "rotten egg" odor can be caused by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), which is naturally occurring in aquifers. Some SRBs are anaerobic in nature, meaning they thrive in an environment without oxygen, and some are facultative. In a natural aquifer, areas of low oxygen may include low permeable lenses of silty sands, shales and clays. An area within a well that has a low oxygen environment may include a sump below the screen where there's little water movement. This same environment can be created by not pumping a well for long periods of time, which allows oxygen in water to dissipate.
Older wells can suddenly develop odors, and physical changes in the well should be suspected. These same anaerobic bacteria can find a low oxygen environment under slime and mineral scale as well. Often when wells are chlorinated, an odor suddenly appears simply because the oxidation process of high pH chlorine. This removes the outer layer of scale or slime and exposes these bacteria. Chlorination or shock chlorination won't remove these bacteria in case of a new or old well. Water treatment is the only answer to both a new well, and a more thorough cleaning of an older well may be required.
Several families of iron bacteria can cause musty, fishy and oily odors. Odor problems or complaints of discoloration in water lines don't necessarily mean the problem originates in a well. Organic or inorganic (mineral precipitate) debris can accumulate in a piping system independent of the well. This debris can be a nutrient source for bacteria. Bacterial testing (lab services or bottle testing) can be done to identify and quantify these bacteria.
Conclusion
The severity of a problem and frequency of treatment is generally determined by the water quality, nutrients available for bacterial growth, and usage or over-usage of a well. Original development and well efficiency also play a role. If a well isn't properly developed originally, water velocity increases during pumping because of blockage due to drilling muds or damage (compaction, smearing of clay lenses or redistribution of silts) from the drilling process. When you pump an inefficient well and turn the pump off, the pumping level will jump several feet the first minute of recovery trying to equalize to the pressure outside the well. Many think it's a sign of a great well when the pumping level rebounds very quickly but, in fact, it's a sign of an inefficient well.
The key remains information and monitoring of that information to determine trends. Determine the problem before designing solutions. Then plan well maintenance, which leads to lower costs and happier customers.
Figure 1. Well Calculations
First, record the "static water level" (SWL). Let the water level stabilize from pumping before these data are taken. Generally, 4 to 12 hours is sufficient, but if you monitor the static level and it's stable, this level can be recorded. Keep in mind, nearby pumping wells may affect the static level in this well. Start the pump and record the "pumping water level" (PWL) at a consistent pumping time - say 60 minutes for most small municipal wells - along with the average gpm pumped. The recorded time of the PWL must be well beyond the casing storage (water in the casing minus the pump column) of the well. It generally takes 15 to 45 minutes (depending on well diameter to outer diameter (OD) of the pump column) to pump the casing storage out of a well before water enters the borehole from the aquifer.Generally, the longer the test, the more accurate the information. Whatever time is chosen to record the PWL, try to remain consistent with future tests to maintain accuracy for comparison of data. If one recording is significantly longer, the SC will be lower. If less time is taken, the SC will be higher. Note if any other wells in the area are pumping.
Subtract SWL from PWL to obtain drawdown (dd). Divide the gpm by dd to obtain SC or gallons per minute per foot of dd. This is the number to use for comparative purposes to determine declines in well yield - not the gpm pumped. For example: 32-inches PWL - 15-inches SWL = 17-inches of dd at 60 minutes pumping at 200 gpm. And 200 gpm divided by 17-inches dd equals 11.76 gpm/ft of dd at 60 minutes.
More succinctly: gpm ÷ PWL - SWL or dd = SC at time span of pumping.
Figure 2. Field Diagnosis for Mineral Scale
1. The specific capacity of a well declines slowly and somewhat consistently over many years.2. Hard scale is noticed when pulling the pump or in a piping system. The color associated with each type of scale is as follows:
- red/brown = iron
- black = manganese and iron
- green/blue = sulfates
- white/light brown = calcium
3. With information on water quality, look for any one or combination of the following:
- pH > 7 ppm
- iron > 0.1 ppm
- hardness > 200 ppm
- sulfates > 20 ppm
- manganese > 0.2 ppm alkalinity
4. In a video of a well, the scale buildup may be present in sections of the screen where water velocity was the highest. Some of the screen may be totally clean, which is an indication of little or no water velocity. If a video is available, the screen may show areas of heavy encrustation.
Figure 3. Field Diagnosis for Mineral Scale
Slime may be found in areas with little of it coming from the well. Poor development techniques in new wells (resulting in low efficiency) increase the tendency for both precipitation of minerals and the production of slime as the velocity of water moving toward the borehole through the aquifer is increased.
Studies indicate slime production occurs:
1. If the available food source for bacteria is low or threatened, and
2. When the velocity and pressure are excessive. The food source becomes depleted as the number of bacteria increase in their normal growth cycles. In lab studies, bacterial counts will often be in the high hundreds to thousands of cfu/ml in these conditions compared to tens to low hundreds when slime problems don't exist.
Figure 4. Field Diagnosis for Slime Bacteria
1. Well yield (SC) may decline suddenly and drastically.2. Wet slimy debris may be present on pump column or in the piping system. Slime may be any color, even clear. When dry, this slime may turn into a very fine, fluffy powder or hardened oxide.
3. A musty, fishy or kerosene-like odor or an oily film on water may indicate bacterial activity.
4. A hydrogen sulfide odor (rotten egg odor) may indicate sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB).
5. Fluctuating or increasing iron concentrations in water.
6. Videos of wells may show slimy or stringy growths noticed on the inside of casing or screen.
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