A Good Driller’s Log Can Be One of Your Best Diagnostic Tools
One of my first stopping points when I am trying to figure out what ails a well is the driller’s log. There can be a lot of clues there as to…
Water Level Measurements – A Simple But Useful Diagnostic Tool
I’m always amazed at how many small water systems, not to mention domestic well owners, do not keep track of water levels in their wells. Measuring water levels is simple…
Sometimes, There Is Just Not Enough Water
I recently got a phone call from a colleague of mine whom I team up with on well projects from time to time. He had an interesting dilemma that he…
Where Is That Contaminant Coming From In My Well?
I talked to the operator of a small water district in California several years ago about an issue they were having with arsenic in their main supply well. Water samples…
Surface Water Intrusion in Water Supply Wells
We see many cases of well problems that are directly attributable to surface water intrusion in the wells. These problems can range from coliform bacteria (including E. coli) to nitrates…
Where Does The Sulfur Come From in Tennessee Groundwater?
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation estimates that 20% of all wells in the Central Basin area of Middle Tennessee contain varying levels of sulfur, readily recognizable to the…
Tools of the Trade: Historical Topographic Maps
Why historical topo maps? The U.S. Geological Survey started their topographic map program in 1879 with the first maps produced in 1884. Over the years, the USGS has produced topographic…
Maintenance of Agricultural Wells
Although agricultural wells are often constructed in similar ways to municipal wells, their operational pattern is likely to be seasonal, which can result in maintenance issues caused by plugging, especially…
Tools of the Trade: Online Geologic Maps
Geology is vitally important in selecting a location for a new well, determining how deep the well needs to be, estimating potential yields and identifying potential water quality problems. While…
Tools of the Trade: Google Earth
When we are siting locations for new wells, we have a variety of tools we use to increase our chances to drill a productive well. One of my favorite tools…