Well Production

The following is a list of the variables that can affect the production or the quantity of water that a well may be able to provide.

• The type of soil that the well goes through. The less porous the soils are, the slower the ground water will travel to get to the well, even if there is adequate supply.

• The availability of an aquifer in the area of the well. Higher elevations will typically have less available ground water. You may find water at 40', but have to drill 400 or more to be able to accumulate and store an adequate amount of water.

• The weather impacts the amount of ground water that may be available for the well. Rainy seasons impact the ground water positively; dry seasons impact it negatively.

• The head pressure in the well may resist or reduce the flow of the aquifer into the well casing, if the well is deep. The head pressure also affects the rate of water that the pump can produce. The higher the head pressure, the easier it is for the pump to lift the water.

• The depth of the well is a significant factor, based solely on its storage capacity. A 50' deep well with a 5 GPM flow rate is not as good as a 200' well with a 5 GPM flow rate.

• Occupancy impacts the well because the higher the demand, the more difficult it is for the well to keep up. When there are only two people and they both work, it is unlikely that there may be a problem. When the house is not occupied, it may be even more difficult to identify a problem.