Water Well Rehabilitation
Declining yield and deteriorating water quality from water well supplies is a concern to all water well users. These changes in well dynamics can be the consequences of microbial fouling of the well system and of the aquifer that a well system accesses. Regular monitoring, ongoing maintenance and appropriate well treatments will maintain the viability of a groundwater supply by preventing losses in well yield and reducing the contamination risk. A properly maintained well will provide a reliable quantity and quality of groundwater.Historically, water well treatment has meant the introduction of a chemical “cure” to the well. One problem in considering chemical treatment is that they seldom work well alone and need to be used in conjunction with types of treatment techniques. The problem is that common practice from the1970s onward emphasized the chemical selection and dosage, and de-emphasized the importance of (time-consuming) mechanical development.
As such, it has been identified that there is a need within the marketplace to provide clients with consulting services for the remediation of biofouled wells using a combination of chemical and mechanical methods.
But, what is biofouling?
Biofouling is the term used to describe water well deterioration caused by microbiological activity (bacteria). Well deterioration can take the form of:
- Deteriorating water quality over time. This includes taste and odour as well as other water quality problems.
- Reduced well yield due to clogging of well screens or the aquifer itself.
- Red or black slime on pumps, well screens, or in the distribution system (toilet tanks, cisterns, etc.). These slimes can lead to increased corrosion of steel well casing, stainless steel well casing, stainless steel well screens, etc.
Nuisance bacteria are naturally present in groundwater. Pumping a well in increases the food supply for these bacteria, causing their population to rapidly expand in the vicinity of the well and in the distribution system. The bacteria form a slime or biofilm, which captures mineral scale and other deposits that move to the well during pumping. These deposits can reduce water quality, well yield, and well life expectancy.
Hydrosphere Technologies (Hydrosphere) has been formed as a consulting firm specializing in the rehabilitation of biologically impacted extraction and disposal wells. This work is conducted with the use of the techniques developed and tested by ARCC, Inc. of Daytona Beach, FL and primarily employs the patented Blended Chemical Heat Treatment (BCHT) system developed by ARCC. This system has been employed at various sites across North America and world wide.
The mission of Hydrosphere is to provide clients with well rehabilitation options to recover lost yields and to return functionality to groundwater systems. This work is conducted by a highly skilled professional team working together using microbiological science, practical experience and a common sense approach to project management.