If your family is among the millions of people who depend on individual water sources, then you and your well depend on groundwater. A reliable, adequate supply of groundwater, replenished through the year by snow melt and rainfall is crucial to ensure your well is supplying you with the water you require.
The weather and drought conditions could affect the quantity of water that is in your well. This info sheet provides an explanation of the process needed to determine the level of static water within your water well. WSC suggests that you consult an authorized water well contractor to do this, and any time you require maintenance for your well.
What is Static Water Level?
The term static water level refers to the level of water that is present in the well under normal, non-pumping, unrestricted conditions. The static water level can be assessed in the event that the well hasn’t been pumped for a long period of time prior to determining. It could be an inaccurate reading if the well was pumped prior to the level of static water is taken.
How is Static Water Level Measured?
There are many ways to gauge the static level of water. These include an electric sounder, an electric depth gauge, wet tape, and the air line.
Electric Sounder or Electric Depth Gauge
A digital sounder or depth gauge may be considered the most efficient method to measure water levels. It consists of a weighing device suspended on a strand of insulated wire with depth markings as well as an ammeter to show the closed circuit. A current flows through the circuit at the point where the wire reaches the surface of the water. The current is provided via a tiny battery of 9 or 12 volts.
To take a reading the technician lowers the wire, or sounding lines until it is deflected before reading the distance from the bottom of the casing to that point at which the line is placed line. He then marks the point of reference on the casing from which the depth was measured. Then, he employs an ordinary tape measure to determine what distance is between lines in the direction.
Wetted Tape
This method is reliable in determining water levels up at depths of up to 90 feet. In order to use this method it is necessary to be aware of the approximate depth of the water level in your well.
In this way the lead weight is connected to the top of the 100 foot measuring tape of steel. A minimum of eight to ten feet tape’s end is dried, then coated with chalk made by carpenter prior to every measurement. The tape is then lowered in the hole until portion of the chalked area is submerged by the water. Contractors will then align it and take note of an even footmark on the tape that is exactly on the highest point of the cabling, or at some other point of measurement. The tape is then pulled upwards to reveal the mark at the point where the line is damp. The technician can determine the thickness of the line from its top down to the water base by subtracting mark that is wet from the mark he placed on high-end of casing.
Air Line
An air line could be the most efficient method to repeat testing of deep wells with a depth of more than 300 feet.
The method is comprised of a slender diameter pipe or tube that is long enough that it extends from the highest point of the well up to an area of about 20 feet beneath the lowest expected water level. Air is in the line and any air bubbles that are not needed are pushed out at towards the end, thereby balancing the pressure inside the line to that generated by the water’s depth beyond the line. Copper or brass tubing of quarter-inch or 1/4-inch steel or plastic pipe are the most commonly employed for this process.
To do this the exact length of the line determined when it is placed within the well. The contractor ensures that there is no air leakage by hanging it vertically making sure it doesn’t get caught in the casing of the well. The most effective method is to connect the line of air securely to a well-known place on the column of the pump. The line is positioned to the column at a level that allows it to be completely submerged while the pump is operating at its full capacity. Be aware that the air line should not be more than 5 feet over that of suction in the pump in order to keep air from flowing through the pump.
When observing the amount of pipes joints the contractor can determine the length of the air line’s the tip. He can fit the upper portion with a tee as well as a pressure gauge, and the valve to which the hand pump is connected. After that, he will calibrate the gauge to show pressure to feet of water, or pounds/square inches (psi).
When the gauge attached to the air line, the contractor will then pump air into the pipe until pressure displayed by the gauge is at a constant level, indicating the water is pushed out through the line. At this point, the air pressure inside the tube (as as indicated through the gauge) is just supporting the water column from the water level in the well until at the base of the tube. The length of this column of water is equivalent to the length of air line that is submerged.