What is considered a low producing well?

Author: Charley Veum  |  Last update: Thursday, September 4, 2025

Low-yielding wells are generally considered wells that cannot meet the peak water demand for the home or farm. This fact sheet describes several steps that can be used to increase the adequacy of a low-yielding well.

What is a low producing well?

A low yield well is defined as a well that cannot produce enough water for the household demand.

What is considered low yield?

Meaning of low-yield in English

used to describe investments that do not pay much income: low-yield accounts/assets/bonds Analysts argue that the group can only maintain its dividend if it sells its low-yielding assets and reinvests in funds with higher returns.

What is the minimum water well production?

The Water Well Board suggests that a minimum water supply capacity for domestic internal household use should be at least 600 gallons of water within a two-hour period once each day. This is equivalent to a flow rate of 5 gallons per minute (gpm) for two hours.

How do you fix a low producing well?

How to Fix a Low-Yielding Well
  1. Drill Deeper. If your well is otherwise properly set up, drilling several feet deeper may improve the yield. ...
  2. Shock and Clean. ...
  3. Add a Storage Tank. ...
  4. Add a Secondary Well. ...
  5. Reduce Your Water Use.

Low Yield or Low Flow Well? Explaining Options To Use a Low Producing Water Well

Is 4 gallons per minute a good well?

The Water Well Board and the New Hampshire Water Well Association, a group of private professionals associated with the well water industry, both recommend a flow rate of 4 gallons per minute for a 4 hour period.

How do I know if my well is getting low?

So, when the taste of the water changes, know that your well is about to dry out. When it is visible that the water in the well is not crystal clear anymore, it is a warning sign of a decrease in the water level. As the water level starts reaching the deep bottom, sediments start getting mixed in the water.

What is considered a good producing water well?

Water wells that reliably yield 5 gpm should be able to meet peak and daily needs for most residences. Wells yielding less than 5 gpm, however, are sometimes the only water source available. These lower yield wells can often meet the total daily water demand, but may not be able to satisfy a household's peak demand.

How fast does well water replenish?

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.

What is a good rate for a water well?

Generally speaking, the standard recommendation for minimum flow rate in a single-family home water well is 6 GPM.

What is considered a poor yield?

According to the 1996 edition of Vogel's Textbook, yields close to 100% are called quantitative, yields above 90% are called excellent, yields above 80% are very good, yields above 70% are good, yields above 50% are fair, and yields below 40% are called poor.

Is a low yield good or bad?

A low-yield bond is better for the investor who wants a virtually risk-free asset or one who's hedging a mixed portfolio by keeping a portion of it in a low-risk asset. The high-yield bond is better for an investor who's willing to accept a degree of risk in return for a higher return.

What is a good and bad yield?

As of 2024, the average rental yield in the UK is between 5% and 8%. Anything around the 5-6% mark could be considered a 'good' rental yield, while anything above 6% could be considered 'very good'. Some parts of the country can deliver significantly higher or lower returns to others.

What is the safe yield of a well?

Safe yield of a groundwater basin or aquifer system is defined as the amount of water that can be withdrawn from it without producing an undesired effect (Todd, 1959). Undesired effects can manifest as: Reduced discharge of groundwater to surface water features.

How many gallons per minute does my well produce?

When the pump turns on, immediately close the spigot and time the period it takes for the well pump to recover, that is, between cut in and cut out. The formula for determining the flow rate is gallons drawn down that were measured above, divided by the seconds required for recovery, then multiplied by 60.

What is a good recovery rate for a well?

49) that the well should recover to within 85% of the pre-pumped static water level within 24 hours after the end of the test. A well that recovers at a slower rate might not be able to provide sufficient water to meet demand.

Does rain fill up a well?

YES! Rainfall has a direct impact on the local water table, which may immediately impact your residential well if it is supplied by shallow aquifers. With less rain, or changes in aquifer structure, the well becomes non-water bearing – i.e. dry.

Is it common run out of water on a well?

While well water can run out temporarily due to factors like aquifer depletion, seasonal variations, or inadequate well depth, proper management and maintenance can mitigate these risks. By conserving water, monitoring levels, and investing in regular well upkeep, you can ensure a sustainable and reliable water supply.

How long does it take for well water to get hot again?

Well, it depends on your water heater's recovery rate, which is how long it takes to reheat the water tank once it depletes. On average, an 80-gallon tank water heater can take anywhere from 1-2 hours to recover.

How to fix a low producing well?

Inadequacies in the well water yield can also be compensated for by increasing the amount of water stored within the water system. Added storage can be achieved in a pressure tank, a large storage tank (intermediate storage) or in the drilled borehole.

Can I fill my pool with well water?

You can fill a pool with well water if the well and water meet certain conditions. Well water is usually free, convenient, and does not have added chemicals. It may contain bacteria or contaminants, and it can flow slowly or run dry. Before putting well water in a pool, know the pool size, flow rate, and if it is safe.

What is considered a high producing well?

A shallow well can produce half a barrel a day or even less. Meanwhile, a deepwater oil well can produce up to 10,000 barrels in a day. The median producing oil well production in the U.S is five to 10 barrels a day. Typically, if a well produces 100 barrels per day, it is considered a good well.

Will a well refill itself?

Yes. Dug wells draw water from just below the soil's surface, so even seasonal weather changes can affect water supplies. Groundwater levels in deep aquifers are rarely static, but they're less affected by transient droughts. In arid areas, deeper wells are generally better.

How common is it for a well to run dry?

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.

Previous article
Should both heating elements be set at the same temperature?
Next article
Why is my house so hot even with air conditioning?