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CENG145 Lecture 5
CENG145 Lecture 5
INTRODUCTION
Review:
Saturated zone is also called aquifer.
Unconfined aquifer – upper limit is water table; often
shallow; hydraulic pressure at water table is equal to
atmospheric pressure
Confined aquifer – hydraulic pressure is greater than
atmospheric pressure causing groundwater to rise
above ground surface
NWRC RWS Volume I, Design Manual
CLASSIFICATION OF WELL BASED ON
AQUIFER TAPPED
Aquifers allow flow of groundwater. Aquifer are
recharged (replenished) with rainwater that seeps down
the soil and permeable layers.
1. SHALLOW WELL
Less than 20 meters deep
Tap upper water-bearing layer underground (has limited safe
yield due to dependence on rainfall)
Supply could be unreliable and intermittent
Must be protected against contamination
2. DEEP WELL
Over 20 m deep
Tap deeper unconfined aquifer
Lesssusceptible to surface contamination because of
deeper aquifer
Less affected by seasonal precipitation
3. ARTESIAN WELL
Much like the deep wells except water is extracted
from confined aquifer
TYPICAL CAUSES OF REDUCED WELL
FLOW
Other than declines in water table, reduced well
productivity could stem from other reasons.
Most common is plugging of holes in well screen or
incrustations forming on well screens.
Common well pluggers – calcium carbonate, iron bacteria,
silt, clay and combinations of sediments and deposits
(slime)
MECHANICAL BLOCKAGE
Drilled
by professional drillers with experience
and equipment that can extract groundwater from
a deeper level than other types of well
Two common types of drilling methods:
Cable tool drilling
Rotary drilling
TEST OF WELL SUITABILITY