Features of water well maintenance Automatic translate

A well that supplies your home or plot with water is a complex hydraulic structure. Its uninterrupted and long-term operation directly depends on timely and competent maintenance. Neglect of preventive measures can lead to serious breakdowns, deterioration of water quality and significant financial costs for repairs. Regular maintenance is the key to a stable water supply for many years.

Common Well Failures

Even a well that has been drilled and equipped well may encounter various problems over time. Knowing the typical faults helps to recognize them in time and take action.

Problems with pumping equipment The pump is the heart of the water supply system. Its breakdown or incorrect operation immediately affects the water supply. One of the common reasons is the wear of the pump parts, which requires its repair or complete replacement. It is important to choose a new pump that matches the characteristics of the well, since installing an unsuitable model can itself cause a malfunction. Clogging of the pump filter is also a common problem, leading to a decrease in its performance or complete failure.

Clogging and silting of the well Over time, sand, silt and various mineral deposits can accumulate at the bottom of the well and in its filter zone. This is a natural process, which, however, leads to a decrease in the water inflow - a decrease in the well flow rate. If periodic cleaning is not carried out, the well may completely stop producing water.

Casing depressurization Casing is a pipe that strengthens the well walls and isolates the aquifer from the upper contaminated waters. If it is damaged, for example, due to corrosion or mechanical impact, depressurization occurs. As a result, groundwater or even wastewater can get into clean artesian water, which makes it unsuitable for use. Cracks in casing pipes require immediate repair.

Caisson Malfunctions A caisson is a sealed chamber installed around the wellhead to protect equipment from freezing and surface water. Incorrect installation of a caisson or damage to it, such as a rotten spigot or flooding, can lead to contaminants entering the well.

Water quality deterioration Even if there are no visible defects, the quality of water can deteriorate over time. This is manifested in a change in its taste, color, smell, or the appearance of sediment. The cause may be both bacterial contamination and a change in the chemical composition of the water due to various processes in the aquifer. Regular water analysis helps to identify these problems at an early stage.

Regular Maintenance: What to Do and How Often

As specialists from the company " Skvazhina Moskva " say, prevention is the best way to avoid costly repairs and ensure a long service life of the well. A set of maintenance measures allows you to maintain all elements of the system in working order.

Frequency of scheduled activities For stable operation of the water supply, experts recommend performing technical maintenance of the water well twice a year. If the well is not used in the winter and the equipment is mothballed, the interval between services can be increased to once every nine months. It is important to distinguish between the planned inter-repair period (IRP), which is designed for each well, and the actual IRP - the time the well operates from one repair to the next.

Basic maintenance procedures The maintenance work package usually includes the following steps:

• Water quality testing : Regular laboratory water tests are necessary to identify possible pollutants and monitor changes in its chemical composition. This allows timely measures for cleaning or disinfection. Organoleptic testing of water (assessment of color, odor, transparency) is also part of the standard inspection.
• Inspection and maintenance of pumping equipment : This stage includes checking the condition of the pump, its fastenings, electrical cables and pressure hoses. If necessary, the pump and its components are cleaned, and worn parts are replaced. It is important to test the operation of the pumping station as a whole.
• Cleaning and disinfection of the well : Periodic cleaning of the well from accumulated deposits of sand, silt and other particles is necessary to maintain its productivity. After cleaning or if bacterial contamination is detected, the well is disinfected with special solutions to destroy bacteria and viruses. Flushing of the wellbore is performed as needed.
• Checking and replacing filters : Filters installed in the water supply system need to be checked regularly and replaced in a timely manner. This ensures effective water purification and maintains its high quality.
• Water level monitoring : Constant monitoring of the static and dynamic water levels in the well helps prevent it from drying out, which can lead to failure of the pumping equipment. Measurements of the well’s productivity (flow rate) are also carried out.
• Inspecting casing and tightness : The visible portion of the casing should be inspected regularly for cracks, corrosion, and other damage. Joints and seals should also be checked for tightness to prevent contaminants from entering the well.

Who should perform the maintenance Maintenance of water intake wells is a job that requires special knowledge, experience and equipment. It is strongly recommended to entrust its implementation to qualified specialists. Only a professional can identify faults at an early stage, when their elimination requires minimal costs. Attempts at independent unqualified repairs often lead to aggravation of the problem and, as a result, to more expensive repairs or even complete breakdown of the equipment. Saving on scheduled maintenance can result in significant costs for the purchase of new equipment.

Water Well Repair: Types and Methods

Even with regular maintenance, sometimes there is a need for well repair. Repair work can be routine, aimed at eliminating minor faults, or major, requiring serious intervention.

Diagnostics before repair Any repair is preceded by thorough diagnostics. It is necessary to accurately determine the cause of the malfunction and choose the best way to eliminate it. One of the effective diagnostic methods is video logging - inspection of the wellbore with a special camera. This allows you to assess the condition of the casing, filter, identify the presence of foreign objects or the degree of clogging. A general analysis of the well condition is also carried out, an assessment of its initial parameters and the degree of change, for example, the properties of deposits clogging the filter.

Routine repairs Routine repairs are divided into scheduled preventive and restorative.

• Scheduled preventive maintenance is performed in advance, according to approved schedules. Its purpose is to prevent possible deviations from the normal operating mode of the well. This includes work to remove paraffin deposits, salts, prevent sand production, and eliminate minor equipment malfunctions before they lead to serious failure.
• Restorative repairs are carried out in the event of an unexpected sharp deterioration in the well’s performance or its sudden shutdown. The reasons may be the formation of sand or clay plugs, intensive clogging of pipes with sediments, breakage of pump rods or pipes, malfunction of valves during gas-lift operation (although gas-lift is more often used in oil production, the principle is also applicable to some water wells).

Major repairs Major repairs of wells are required in more serious cases, such as emergency situations. This could be a breakdown or jamming of a deep well pump, foreign objects falling into the well, or significant damage to the casing. Major repairs are a complex process that often includes dismantling water-lifting equipment, cleaning the wellbore, replacing damaged components, and subsequent installation and commissioning.

Repair Methods The choice of repair method depends on the nature of the fault, the well design and its condition. The most common methods include:

• Extraction, repair or replacement of the pump : If the problem is related to the pumping equipment, it is extracted from the well. After diagnostics, the pump is either repaired or replaced with a new one that corresponds to the parameters of the well.
• Well cleaning : Various methods are used to remove silt, sand and other deposits. Mechanical cleaning involves the use of bailers and scrapers. Chemical treatment involves the use of special reagents to dissolve deposits. Hydrodynamic action is the flushing of the well with high-pressure water or the use of pulse technologies.
• Casing Repair : If cracks or corrosion are detected in the casing, welding techniques (if available and practical) or installation of special repair patches or inner liners (smaller diameter repair casing strings) may be used to restore the seal.
• Repair using chemical reagents : This method is used not only for cleaning, but also for influencing the bottomhole formation zone in order to increase its permeability and, accordingly, the well flow rate.
• Deep repair : In some complex cases, it may be necessary to deepen the well to the next aquifer or widen the existing shaft to improve water flow. Such repairs are classified as capital repairs and require specialized drilling equipment.
• Filter Replacement : If a well filter is damaged or clogged to the point that cleaning is ineffective, it must be replaced. This is a complex operation that often requires removing part of the casing.

Complex well repair is a responsible task that must be performed by experienced specialists using professional equipment. Correctly performed repair allows you to restore the well’s functionality and ensure its stable operation for many years.

How to Drill a Well to Minimize Maintenance

The durability and reliability of the water intake well are laid down at the stage of its design and drilling. High-quality work allows to significantly reduce the frequency and volume of necessary maintenance in the future.

Professional drilling and arrangement

Choosing a contractor for well drilling is one of the most important steps. A professionally drilled and equipped well is a guarantee of its long and uninterrupted operation. Experienced drilling companies have the necessary knowledge of the geology of your region, modern equipment and qualified personnel. They will be able to correctly determine the depth of the aquifer, choose the optimal well design and perform all the work efficiently.

Correct selection of materials and equipment

The use of quality materials and equipment when installing a well and water supply system directly affects their durability and safety. This applies to casing pipes, filters, pumping equipment, shut-off valves and other elements. Saving on materials can lead to their rapid wear, corrosion and the need for premature repairs.

Taking into account the geological features of the site

Before drilling, it is necessary to conduct geological surveys or at least study the data on neighboring wells. This will help to understand at what depth the aquifers lie, what their composition is, whether there is a risk of quicksand or other complex geological conditions. Taking these factors into account allows you to correctly design the well and avoid many problems during operation.

Correct well design

The well design, especially its filter zone, must match the characteristics of the aquifer. An incorrectly selected or installed filter can quickly become clogged, which will lead to a decrease in flow rate. The diameter of the casing pipes must be sufficient to install a pump of the required capacity and perform repair work.

Initially correct selection of the pump

As already mentioned, installing a pump that does not correspond to the well characteristics (depth, flow rate, dynamic level) is one of the reasons for frequent breakdowns. The pump should be selected with some reserve in productivity, but not excessive, so as not to create excess pressure in the system and not lead to rapid depletion of the well with a low flow rate.

High-quality installation of a caisson

Correct installation of the caisson ensures the tightness of the wellhead and protects it from surface and melt water, which can carry contaminants. The caisson also protects the equipment from freezing in the winter.

Drilling to a stable aquifer

It is important to reach an aquifer with sufficient water reserves and stable characteristics. Trying to save money and stop at the first weak aquifer you come across can result in the well quickly drying up or the need to deepen it in the future. Sometimes it is advisable to drill to the next, deeper and more abundant aquifer, if this is technically and economically justified.

Following these recommendations when drilling and equipping a well will help create a reliable and durable water supply that will require minimal maintenance and will serve you for many years.