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9.1: It's All Underground

  • Page ID
    7182
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    Well Yield

    Well Yield is the amount of water a certain well can produce over a specific period of time. Typically well yield is expressed as gallons per minute (gpm). During the drilling of a well, pump tests are performed to determine if the underlying aquifer has the ability to supply enough water. A well yield test involves a comparison of the maximum amount of water that can be pumped and the amount of water that recharges back into the well from the surrounding aquifer. Continuous pumping for an extended period of time is usually performed and the yield is calculated based on the amount of water extracted. Well yields are typically measured in the field with a flow meter. Water levels in the well are then measured to determine the specific capacity and drawdown of the well.

    Specific Capacity

    Specific Capacity is helpful in assessing the overall performance of a well and the transmissivity (horizontal flow ability) of the aquifer. The specific capacity is used in determining the pump design in order to get the maximum yield from a well. It is also helpful in identifying problems with a well, pump, or aquifer. The specific capacity is defined as the well yield divided by the drawdown, expressed as gallons per minute per foot of drawdown.

    • Specific Capacity = gpm/ft

    Drawdown

    In order to understand the term drawdown, you must also understand static water level and pumping water level as these measurements provide valuable information regarding the well and underlying aquifer. The static water level is defined as the distance between the ground surface and the water level when the well is not operating. The pumping level is defined as the distance between the ground surface and the water level when a well is pumping. Therefore, the pumping water level is always deeper than the static water level. The difference between these two levels is the drawdown. Depending on the aquifer, static water levels can be 20 feet below ground surface (bgs) or several hundred feet bgs.

    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    The diagram above shows a well casing penetrating into the ground, the relationship between static and pumping water levels, and the drawdown.

    Examples

    Calculating Drawdown

    • Pumping Water Level – Static Water Level = Drawdown
      • 50 ft – 20 ft = 30 ft
    • Drawdown + Static Water Level = Pumping Water Level
      • 30 ft + 20 ft = 50 ft
    • Pumping Water Level – Drawdown = Static Water Level
      • 50 ft – 30 ft = 20 ft

    Since static and pumping water levels are field measurements, drawdown is typically the calculated value.

    Calculating Specific Capacity

    Once you have the drawdown, the specific capacity of the well can be calculated, as long as you know the well yield.

    Flow Rate = 1,000 gpm

    Drawdown = 30 ft

    Specific Capacity = 1,000 gpm/30 ft = 33.3 gpm/ft

    Exercises

    Solve the following problems.


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