Overuse of groundwater can cause wells to dry up. This often leads to expensive and ultimately futile attempts to keep up with the dropping water table by drilling deeper and deeper wells. Other serious consequences can also follow groundwater overuse.
Over-pumping is the most common well problem that leads to premature well failure. Over-pumping not only depletes the groundwater aquifer (or source), but it rapidly increases the rate of corrosion, incrustation, and biofouling related problems.
In general, you should expect your well to replenish at a rate of 5 gallons per minute, but there are a number of factors that will play a role in how quickly it refills. For reference, if your well is 1200 gallons, it should take approximately 4 hours to refill.
If you install a pump that has a greater capacity than the aquifer, groundwater is removed at a faster rate than the aquifer can naturally replenish itself and, over time, “dewatering” occurs. Dewatering is also caused by extended over-pumping. Over-pumping is considered to be the number one cause of well failure.
Yes, it is possible. The water level in the aquifer could drop below the bottom of a water well. This can happen in times of drought or other disruptions to water refilling the aquifer are experienced.
Change in Water Quality
When the water well is going dry, you can notice a sudden change in the quality of water. This can be instantly noticed because we are all aware of the color and taste of water as we drink it every day. The sediments from the well might come up and change the quality of water.
Starter borehole pumps can run for up to 24 hours. However, your everyday borehole pump will run between 6 & 8 hours. It is not good for your borehole pump to run continuously. If you run electrical pumps continuously, your utility bill will skyrocket.
Overuse of groundwater can cause wells to dry up. This often leads to expensive and ultimately futile attempts to keep up with the dropping water table by drilling deeper and deeper wells.
If you allow a dry pump to continue running, it will soon lead to overheating and other serious forms of damage. If you do not know the protocol for priming your pump, contact a plumber as soon as possible. A well pump that repeatedly loses its prime likely has underlying problems.
It's a common misconception that rain has a direct impact on the amount of water in residential wells. Over 95% of rainfall doesn't go directly into your well or even stay on your property; it runs off into creeks, streams, and rivers, some of which become part of the area's surface water supplies, or “reservoirs”.
Calling in a professional to measure the water depth and lower the pump can quickly fix this problem. Another problem can be well age. A well's lifespan is considered to be roughly 20 to 30 years. Over time, yield may decline because of sediment or mineral scale build-up.
Natural Salts and Minerals. It should go without saying that, because well water comes from underground supplies, it is rich in many different minerals, including natural salts, calcium, iron and other minerals that will build up on the system. As minerals and salts build up, they obstruct the entire system gradually.
Most homeowners pay $975 to $2,575, or a national average of $1,775, for well pump replacement.
Large pools can take a long time to fill, especially if the well refill rate is slow. Drawing too much water can strain water supplies, compromise a water table or aquifer, affect neighboring wells, and cause wells to run dry. You can burn out the well pump.
While a well pump can last 40 years or more with exceptional care and maintenance, most pumps have a typical lifespan of 8 to 15 years. Regular inspection and servicing can help extend the pump's lifespan.
Malfunctioning Well Pump Pressure Switch
A malfunctioning switch can cause the pump to run too often or too long and potentially burn out the motor. In addition, if the switch allows the pressure to go too high, it can put excess stress on the tank and pipes, potentially causing them to crack or even burst.
Turning off your well pump reduces your risk of flood and water damage. Additionally, many people cannot stop themselves from thinking about their well pump that they left running. If you tend to overthink, turning off your pump before leaving town can bring your peace of mind.
Groundwater and aquifers
Wells can be drilled into the aquifers and water can be pumped out. Precipitation eventually adds water (recharge) into the porous rock of the aquifer. Pumping too much water too fast draws down the water in the aquifer and eventually causes a well to yield less and less water and even run dry.
Excessive groundwater pumping can overdraft aquifers, emptying them faster than natural systems can replenish them. Overdraft can result in wells going dry, saltwater intrusion, depletion of surface water supplies, and cause the land to collapse (i.e., subsidence).
Over time, sediment, minerals, bacteria, and other contaminants can accumulate in the well, affecting water quality and reducing the well's efficiency. Flushing the well involves pumping out a large volume of water to remove any accumulated debris or contaminants.
Your well pump shouldn't run constantly.
How likely is it that my well will run dry? Not likely. It depends on many factors, but generally most modern wells are dug deep enough so that they should never “run dry” in their lifetime.
The recharge rate for residential wells averages five gallons per minute. If yours can't keep up, it could be a bad sign. So, let's explore the most common causes of slower refill times and what to do if your well runs dry.