40
Module 5 — Monitoring and Maintenance of Your Water Well
Let’s look at some examples and how the results might be interpreted.
Example 1
The table below shows four non-pumping water level readings.
Month
Time
Water Level* Pumping Non-pumping
January 1, 2012
April 3, 2012
August 1, 2012
December 1, 2012
6:00
am
5:45
am
5:30
am
6:10
am
3.28
m
3.27
m
3.30
m
3.29
m
*
Distance from the top of the casing to water level.
Interpretation: It would appear that there have been no significant changes in the water
level over the year so no action is required. The aquifer seems able to supply water to the
well at the rate you have been pumping.
Example 2
You look back over your records for the past year and note the following
non-pumping water level readings.
Month
Time
Water Level
Pumping Non-pumping
February 1, 2011
April 1, 2011
June 1, 2011
August 1, 2011
October 1, 2011
December 2, 2011
February 1, 2012
6:05
am
5:45
am
6:00
am
6:05
am
5:50
am
6:00
am
5:55
am
10.35
m
12.48
m
11.53
m
16.31
m
20.22
m
26.57
m
30.34
m
Interpretation: In this case, you should be concerned. The water level has dropped
20
m over the past year. To address the drop in water level, reduce the amount of water you
draw from the well. You can do this by reducing the pumping rate and cutting back on the
amount of water use.
Take another measurement in a month to see if the water level is recovering. If you find
that the water level begins to rise again, you have been over-pumping your aquifer, producing
more water from the well than the aquifer can supply. To prevent your well from going dry,
you will need to pump your well at a reduced rate.
If the non-pumping water level suddenly
drops after remaining steady for many
years, it may be a result of increased use
from nearby wells that are completed in
the same aquifer as your well.