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Wells have been in existence for thousands of years and continue to provide over 40% of our population with potable water. Often septic systems and wells work hand in hand in the development of property. A well provides your home with potable water and septic system treats your wastewater. In order to better understand how your well functions, it’s important to understand the key components of a well. In this blog we’ll be exploring the key components of a well and how they function to provide water to your home.
Foundation.
There are certain components that work together to provide a strong foundation for the well. These parts make up the well’s foundation and keep the water inside clean. The sanitary sealuses a metal plate and rubber gasket to prevent contamination from entering. A well casing prevents the well from caving in. A concrete well slab supports the well pump equipment and prevents addition contamination of the well water.
Filtration.
Different screens and other elements ensure that the water remains clean for human use. A well intake screen prevents sediment from entering the well as the water enters, and is used for “unconsolidated formations” (sand or gravel). Gravel is packed between the intake screen and the soil outside the well as an additional source of filtration for larger particles.
Water Levels & Flows.
There are different operating levels and balances for wells based on their capacity and operating levels. The static water level is the level of the aquifer when your pump is not operating. You can measure the static water level by ensuring that your pump is off and measuring the distance between the ground surface and the water surface. The pumping water level is the stabilization level of the water during pumping, which often varies based on how hard your pump is working.The drawdown is the difference in water level between pumping and static levels. The cone of depression is how the water moves from all directions toward the pump while the pump is working.
The above information was gathered from Aqua America. This should help you to have a basic understanding for how wells are put together and function to provide your family with groundwater to use within your home. There are other components that may become part of your water system such as aerators and other treatment devices, all of which require homeowner maintenance.
For homeowners interested in further exploration of the nuances of having a well, visit:https://www.doh.state.fl.us/chdlee/Engineering/privatewells.html
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