Proper Water Well Construction and Maintenance Protect Groundwater
A properly built and maintained water well system does more than deliver water, it also keeps unwanted contamination out of the well system and the aquifer, according to the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) and the Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC).
National Ground Water Awareness Week is a good time to consider these tips:
Proper well location and construction
Ideally, a well’s location should be determined with a contractor or hydrogeologist before the home is built. A qualified water well system contractor will be familiar with state or local well construction codes, including those pertaining to separation distances from potential contamination sources.
In Nebraska, a licensed well driller must be used for any well drilling done. Nebraska licensed well drillers follow Nebraska Health and Human Services Title 178 (Chapters 10, 11, 12).
Regular well system maintenance
NGWA recommends an annual well system maintenance checkup to reduce risks to household water supplies and prevent costly and inconvenient breakdowns.
- A well maintenance inspection should check the well’s:
- Equipment to determine if it is sanitary and meets local codes
- Flow rate
- Water level
- Pump performance
- Pressure tank
- Pressure switch contacts
A clear, concise, written report should be provided following the checkup explaining the results and any recommendations for service.
Any existing water treatment equipment should be serviced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Also, every well owner should periodically check the well cover or cap, and the well casing above the ground to make sure they are in good shape.