How Hydrogeology is Employed in Well Site Evaluations
- By cbergman@ortmandrilling.com (Admin)
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- 21 Jul, 2016
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Having your own water supply is a wonderful thing. A reputable drilling company won't bore deep into the ground and make promises about what you'll get without first doing their homework. The following will outline some of the common hydrogeological techniques used to study a site before drilling for water.
Geophysical Surveying
Using equipment to understand the layers of geology on your property help you know what to expect when digging. Sending and receiving signals can identify the presence and depth of sand, gravel and solid rock.
Pump Test Analysis
Taking a "dive" into the actual water on your site can reveal more about its capacity. Opening the ground also allows you to take a sample to test for mineral and metal content. Knowing existing water quality allows you to plan for what type of treatment you'll need to invest in.
Professional drillers live by the motto "know before you dig." To learn more about hydrogeology and how it can help you, contact Ortman Drilling at 765-459-4125.
Owning a private residential well is definitely an advantage for some homeowners. Public water supply systems are protected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and must be thoroughly tested by the distributor. In contrast, private wells are not regulated. As a water well owner, you are responsible for ensuring that the water you get from your well is safe enough to be used by your household.
That said, there are a handful of common contaminants that can become an issue with a private water well. That's why it's so important to have the quality of your well water tested on a regular basis. Because you are the leading overseer of the well's maintenance, it is best to get familiar with these common well contaminants by understanding where they come from and how they should be handled.
That said, there are a handful of common contaminants that can become an issue with a private water well. That's why it's so important to have the quality of your well water tested on a regular basis. Because you are the leading overseer of the well's maintenance, it is best to get familiar with these common well contaminants by understanding where they come from and how they should be handled.
Bacteria and Other Pathogenic Contaminants
Bacteria and pathogenic contaminants, such as E. coli, Shigella and Crypto, are worrisome because these contaminants can cause illness and disease when consumed. Bacteria and pathogens usually get into the water supply via exposure to contaminated groundwater with trace amounts of contaminated fecal matter. This can be caused by:
- Flooding in the well area
- Close proximity to livestock
- Leaking septic or sewer systems
When water passes through the soil, it can carry these dangerous pathogenic contaminants. These pathogens can then leak into your water well and eventually come into your home. If your well tests positive for bacteria or other pathogenic contaminants, it is important to find the source of the problem. Your well may have to be cleaned or even completely relocated if testing shows a consistent problem.
Fertilizers, Pesticides and Other Chemical Contaminants
Fertilizers and pesticides are common residential agents, and you may even use some of these compounds on your own property. If you have a water well, your use of any chemical fertilizer, pesticide or other chemical product should be carefully considered. These chemicals have been linked to a long list of health problems, including certain forms of cancer.
Not only will you have to be mindful of the chemicals you use on your property, you will also need to pay close attention to the well's proximity to farmland where these agents are widely used. If the groundwater flowing into your well is also traveling through cropland, it can pick up the chemicals and feed them into your private water supply. In these situations, a private well often has to be moved to a safer location.
Heavy Metal and Element Trace Contaminants
Some areas are rich in metallic and chemical elements, such as iron and lead. In higher levels, these components are not good for your home water supply. They can pose risks to your health and be especially threatening to small children, nursing mothers and pregnant women. Some of the most dangerous elements that you should carefully monitor include:
- Radon
- Boron
- Lead
- Arsenic
If you find high contamination levels of heavy metals and trace elements, you should seek professional advice about the quality of your water. In some cases, the problem can be remedied with filtration systems and component replacements. However, it is not uncommon for a water supply contractor to recommend moving the well to avoid prolonged issues.
The quality of the water in your well has a direct correlation with the health and well-being of your entire family. That's why it is so necessary to carefully monitor your water well for contaminants throughout the year. If you need expert advice on well placement, drilling a new well or water quality, contact the qualified water supply contractors at Ortman Drilling & Water Services.
Life in a rural area, away from the noise, distractions, and dangers of the city can be an incredibly appealing lifestyle. However, it also comes with some challenges and requires you to sacrifice some conveniences of the city. Municipal water systems benefit from professional oversight, but if you're relying on a water well, the responsibility for upkeep is yours.
Unfortunately, many people may be unaware of the steps they need to take to keep their well in the best possible shape. Not knowing or responding correctly to the warning signs can result in sudden breakdowns and supply issues that may have been avoidable.
Below, you'll find a guide to some signs which might suggest your well needs to be serviced. Watching for these warnings allows you to maintain the level of performance that you desire from your good system and can keep your well flowing for many years to come.
Water Treatment System — Well System Engineering and Installation in Kokomo, IN
A geothermal heat pump uses heat from the ground to serve as the heat source or heat sink for a building. These pumps can boost energy efficiency and reduce utilities costs because they use the natural change in the earth's underground temperature to regulate your home. Ortman Drilling & Water Services is a well-respected geothermal heat pump installation
company in Kokomo, Indiana, serving many companies and homes.
How Does it Work?
The system transfers heat to or from the ground, based on need. Though the temperatures on earth's surface and in the atmosphere may change drastically, the temperature just below the surface stays relatively the same. This means it is cooler than the air above it in the summer and warmer than the air above it in the winter.
Benefits
Geothermal heat pumps can save you money
because they are not producing as much climate-controlled air and aren't expending energy cooling or heating air. They are just pumping natural air into your home. They are also more durable, which partly comes from their efficiency. They can last up to 50 years with little maintenance.
To enjoy the benefits of a geothermal heat pump, call the experts at Ortman Drilling & Water Services. We can hook your Kokomo, Indiana, home with an eco-friendly and energy-efficient climate control system. Call us at
765-459-4125
to schedule your consultation!
Mother and Daughter — Well Cleaning and Rehabilitation in Kokomo, IN
Testing a well's water is essential for determining if the liquid is safe to consume. It needs to be done with frequency so that you are always knowledgeable about the water you are receiving.
Determining Safety
A big thing aquifer testing
identifies is whether bacteria or other foreign materials are present within the water. Water may look safe to consume to the naked eye, but there could be viruses or parasites lurking within it. Only an aquifer test performed by a professional can tell if well water is safe to drink, and this testing needs to be done at least once annually.
Locating Other Problems
Changes can occur within a well over time. Even if the intended function of your well is not for human consumption, it is still important to figure out if it is still viable for what it is used for. Whether it is for irrigation or chemical spraying, you should get regular testing done to track changes and figure out if the system is still going to be viable for years to come.
Only a professional will know how to properly conduct an aquifer test and can figure out what the results mean. Contact Ortman Drilling at 765-459-4125
to find experts who can evaluate your well's water quality for you.
You need to take special precautions within your building. Although you hope they will never have to be used, it is always a wise investment to get a fire suppression system installed throughout your facility. In the event a fire does break out, you will be thankful it is there.
Protect Valuable Assets
Your facility might house certain objects that are difficult or impossible to replace if they were to be damaged by a fire. Your business might rely on certain pieces of machinery, so if something happens to those pieces, you would have to suspend operations. Museums, art galleries and other facilities that house irreplaceable items need to have protections in place to safeguard those assets.
Industrial pumps
are the cornerstone of some businesses and an essential tool to others. In order to minimize expensive downtime due to equipment failures, it's important to keep an eye on the condition of all your equipment. The truth is that if you have an industrial pump, you need to maintain it regardless of whether it shows any of these warning signs. You'll avoid outages and prolong the life of your machinery, plus you'll preserve value for when it comes time to upgrade.
If your home has its own well, you're in good company. Many homeowners have enjoyed the use of their private aquifer for generations. The following are four advantages to having a water treatment system
installed at your residence.
Trying to choose a heating and cooling system for your home? If so, you should consider a geothermal heat pump. These provide a variety of benefits to you and your home that other systems do not. Here are five reasons why you should choose a geothermal heat pump:
