Contaminants in Drinking Water

Refer to Table 12.4

Water Supply Systems
I. Community Systems
Community water supply systems are public or private entities that
install and provide a central supply of water to a neighborhood, city or
special district. They are government owned, as in most cities, or
privately owned, such as in a rural housing development where the
builder or real estate developer develops the water system.
II. Private Systems
Small private systems, such as those used for residences, usually rely on
a single source of water to supply potable water to the system.
Installing a well is the most commonly used method of obtaining a
source of water. Springs may be used when available. Most private
water systems use wells to tap the underground water source.
III. Well Systems
A modern well system consists of a well, a motor-driven pump, and a
storage tank. In most systems, the pump draws water from the well
where it is stored in a storage tank. A switch activated by water
pressure controls the pump. As water is consumed in the building, it is
drawn from the storage tank and the pressure in the tank decreases.
When tank pressure drops to a preset cut-in pressure level, the switch
activates the well pump. Pumped water replaces the water drawn from
the tank. The pump is switched off when the tank pressure rises to a
preset cut-out pressure.
A switch activated by water pressure
controls the pump. As water is consumed
in the building, it is drawn from the
storage tank and the pressure in the tank
decreases. When tank pressure drops to a
preset cut-in pressure level, the switch
activates the well pump. Pumped water
replaces the water drawn from the tank.
The pump is switched off when the tank
pressure rises to a preset cut-out pressure.
Types of Well
Types of Well
I. Dug Wells
Dug wells are shallow wells, generally not more than 25 ft (7.6 m) deep,
and typically 3 to 6 ft (1 to 2 m) in diameter. They are typically made by
excavation with a backhoe or excavator but can be hand shoveled, as
this was the method typically used for hundreds of years.
II. Driven Wells
Driven wells, also referred to as sand point wells, consist of lengths of
11⁄4 to 2 in (32 to 50 mm) diameter pipe that is driven into the ground.
In driving this type of well, a sharp
well point and drive cap are
attached to a pipe. An impact-
loading device such as a small pile
driver is used to drive the
assembly into the earth by striking
the drive cap. The drive cap allows
the assembly to be driven into the
earth without the pipe end being
damaged.
III. Drilled/Bored Wells
Drilling or boring methods are used for deep wells. A well-drilling rig is
used to create the well hole. Drilled wells have the holes formed by
using rotary bits. Bored wells have the holes formed by using an auger
and covered with a casing.
Well-drilling rig Cased Auger
Only the drilling method is effective in
cutting through hard rock. Drilled
wells typically have holes 200 feet or
more in depth. Shallow wells may
have to be bored or drilled if it is
necessary to pass through rock to
reach the water table.
The well shaft, or borehole, is lined
with a solid pipe that seals out
contaminants and stabilizes the hole.