What Causes a Well to Go Dry
With droughts becoming increasingly prominent in more and more areas of the country, many well owners are getting nervous. They’re asking a lot of relevant questions about whether their well pumps will continue to work during times of drought, and they’re wondering what they’re going to do for a source of water if something happens to the well water that sustains their lives. They’re also asking a couple of the most direct questions of all – can a well go dry, and what are the options and possible fixes if that happens? There’s a lot that goes into answering those questions, though, so let’s take a deep dive into your well figuratively, of course-and find out what happens and what the solutions are when a well goes dry.
Can Wells Go Dry?
The simple reply to this question is “yes,” but the answer isn’t just a one-word response. There are multiple reasons why a well can go dry, but before we delve into those it’s important to understand how wells are set up and drilled, what the source of the water is, and how it’s pumped out of the ground and purified for human use.
Let’s start with a run-through on how a quality well is drilled. The goal when drilling a well is to tap into an aquifer, which is the technical name for a below-ground water source. Some people think that aquifers are basically underground rivers that are full of free-flowing water, but that’s not usually the case. Aquifers come in many different configurations, and these are mostly determined by the below-ground rock formations that govern the flow of the water. These underground rock formations that are part of an aquifer are permeable, which means water can seep through the ground once it comes from rainfall, nearby rivers, streams, ponds, and other common water sources. The best thing about this process is that it functions as a form of natural purification. It helps eliminate harmful chemicals and bacteria, which in turn makes it easier to further purify for human use.
That’s the good news. On the other hand, aquifers occasionally do run dry, so let’s take a closer look at how a dry well can come to be. Many people think this happens because of natural conditions, e.g., the lack of rainfall, but the truth is that many wells go dry due to human error.
What kind of error? One possibility is the location of different well pumps and how hard they’re being worked to pump water out of the ground. In many cases, multiple pumps are used to draw water from the same aquifer, and if they’re all pumping large amounts of water at the same time, they can deplete the well to the point where it goes dry. This is usually temporary when it does occur, but there may be other causes that should be considered. The problem can also be caused by leaks in the pipes used to transport the water, and when this happens the solution is obvious, fix the leaks. But leaks may not be the only problem. When a well runs dry for one of these reasons, that means the well pump is still working, trying to draw water that isn’t there. A good solution to this would be to install a water saver device which is designed to shut your well pump off when it senses low water. A properly installed water saver can prevent your pump from burning out and needing replacement.
There are other natural factors that can contribute to a well going dry, so let’s briefly review those as well. They include the topography and elevation of the land around the well, the type of land that’s involved (e.g., desert vs agricultural vs rural forested area), the vegetation, the age and condition of the water source, and so on. Given that all this is happening below ground, one of the most common questions about wells running dry is how to tell when it’s happening. One clue is less water pressure coming from your faucets and bathroom fixtures, which is often a sign that a well is about to go dry.
What’s the Solution When a Well Runs Dry?
So, what should you do if you think your well is running dry? One step is to practice water conservation. Using less water is one way to keep the water levels up, and while it may seem like a small thing, sometimes it can mean the difference between a well functioning effectively or going dry. The next step is to have the situation evaluated by a professional. Sometimes there are issues with the well itself that happen due to the accumulation of sediment, and when this happens a simple cleaning may fix the situation so that the well yields water again.
The age and condition of the well pump can be a factor as well. Most well pumps are built to last for decades, but they do fail, and they can also start to function at a reduced level before that happens. The cost may be high, but a straightforward replacement can also give the well the ability to function again. Finally, it may be necessary to do additional drilling to get the well to function at a high level again.
How to Get the Best Well Service Available
If you’re in northern California, WildHeron Drilling is your best solution by far for any well problem you may have. The company was created because of the waiting list for other well drilling companies in the area, and WildHeron services residential, commercial, and agricultural accounts. That means we have the resources and the expertise to fix any well problem, so feel free to contact us at (916) 435-3555, or you can go to www.wildherondrilling.com to learn more about our services or request additional information.