Chapter 11: Groundwater Production

GROUNDWATER PRODUCTION

Groundwater sources may include spring-fed systems as well as aquifers. The vast majority
of groundwater production comes from wells. Even though groundwater sources only
represent about 25% of total drinking water production, 75-80% of the public water systems
in the US are groundwater systems.

WATER WELL LOCATION

Several factors are involved in selecting a site for a new well. The most important of these is
finding adequate quantities of water that will meet SDWA drinking standards with the
minimum amount of treatment. Potential pollution of the water supply is another major
concern. Economics related to purchasing easement and connecting to the system, and
population or demand within the system will also be factored into the decision. Finally,
politics can become an issue in some cases.

Consulting engineers will rely on well logs from other wells in the area, geological data, and
test holes to determine where the best chance of finding the appropriate quantity and quality
of water exists. But even then, drilling a well is still a hit or miss proposition.

SANITARY CONSIDERATIONS

Sanitary hazards must be considered when locating a well. The State environmental agency
should be consulted regarding requirements concerning well location, especially with regards
to potential sources of pollution. The minimum distance from a well to a potential pollution
source should be at least 200 feet. Potentially hazardous conditions such as petroleum storage
areas, chemical or radioactive disposal sites, and industrial waste treatment facilities may
require special consideration as far as well location is concerned. Wells should never be
located in a 100-year flood plain.

WATER WELL CONSTRUCTION

Water wells may be classified according to the method of construction. The type of
construction will depend on the depth of the well, the geological formations to be
encountered, and the amount of water needed for the system.

Small wells, particularly private wells, may be dug or driven. Public water systems usually
require more water than either dug or driven well can produce. The most common method of
construction used by public water systems is the drilled well. These wells are ideally suited to
deep water bearing formations where larger yields are available. This type of well, when
properly constructed offers good protection against contamination from the surface. Two
different methods of constructing drilled wells are the cable tool or percussion method and
the rotary drilling method.

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CABLE TOOL METHOD

The impact created by raising and dropping a heavy drill bit and stem crushes and dislodges
pieces of the formation as the well is drilled. The up and down motion of the drill bit mixes
the cuttings with water to form slurry and a bailer is used periodically to remove the slurry. A
bailer is made of a 10 to 20 foot section of pipe with a foot or check valve at the bottom. The
casing is usually put in place as the well is drilled, especially in loose formations such as sand
and sandy loam. Wells drilled by the cable tool method are more likely to have problems with
vertical alignment than those drilled by the rotary method.

ROTARY DRILLING METHOD

These types of wells use power driven drill stems, which in most cases are hollow. The drill
bit is attached to the lower end of the drill stem and breaks up the material as it advances.
Water or drilling mud is pumped down the drill stem to cool the bit. It also picks up the
cuttings or drilling fines and carries them to the surface. The mixture of mud cuttings is
discharged to a settling pit where the cuttings are removed and the drilling mud is recircu-
lated. When the well hole is completed, the drill stem is withdrawn and the casing is put in
place.

VERTICAL CASING ALIGNMENT

It is important that the casing is in proper vertical alignment when it is installed. Even a slight
misalignment may create stress on the pump shaft and bearings that can lead to mechanical
failures. If a casing is misaligned, it may be necessary to install a submersible well pump
instead of a line shaft pump. This may be the only solution to chronic line shaft failures in a
misaligned casing. There are several ways to check casing alignment. Down hole TV
inspection is popular because the condition of the casing and screen can be checked at the
same time.

SANITARY PROTECTION OF THE WELL

After a well has been drilled, care must be taken to prevent any surface contamination from
entering the water supply. First, the casing is set to prevent the well from caving in or
becoming contaminated from undesirable water sources located above the aquifer. The casing
should be grouted with concrete on the outside to a depth of at least 50 feet or until an
impervious layer of clay or rock is encountered. It may be necessary to grout deeper than this
to seal any undesirable water formations off the well. The depth of grout is usually addressed
by the state environmental agency on a case-by-case basis. In most instances, grouting will be
required to extend to the water table. The grout must be pumped into the well from the
bottom to the top. Otherwise, air will be trapped and prevent proper sealing of the cavity.

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The casing should extend at least 6 to 12 inches above the well pad, depending on whether
the well is located in a well house or out in the open, to prevent standing water from entering
the well. The well pad should be sloped away from the casing. A sanitary well seal must be
used to connect the wellhead and motor to the casing. Well seals are usually made of rubber
or neoprene. A welded seal is also approved and used in some cases.

Well casing and discharge column

pipe vents should extend at least 18"
above grade. The outlets should be
turned down to prevent rainwater
from entering and screened to keep
bugs out. Well housings should never
be located in a pit. Abandoned wells
should be plugged to a depth of at
least 10 feet. In some states they must
be completely cemented.

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GRAVEL PACKED WELLS

Wells that are located in fine sand formations, where sand pumping presents a problem, are
usually gravel packed. If gravel packing is not used, the screen openings may have to be so
small that the yield of the well is dramatically reduced. A layer of gravel is placed around the
screen to hold the sand back and allow a larger well screen to be installed. The gravel packing
is usually three times the diameter of the well screen or a minimum of 4" thick. The selection
of the size of the gravel to be used depends upon the type of sand formation that is
encountered and the type of screen that is being installed.

The gravel does not filter the sand. It is the increasing velocity, as the water gets closer and
closer to the screen, which draws the sand into the well. The gravel pack holds the sand out
away from the screen where the velocities are significantly lower than they are at the point
where the water enters the screen. This minimizes the amount of sand that enters the well.

As sand is pumped out of the well, the gravel will fill in the cavity that is created and the
gravel level will drop. This can result in exposing the well screen if gravel is not added
periodically. The gravel is usually added to the well through a gravel packing pipe. This pipe
is usually 4 inches in diameter. The level of the gravel pack should be checked at least yearly.

Gravel should be cleaned and disinfected with a strong chlorine solution before it is added to
the well. The level should be rechecked as the new gravel is added. Gravel should never be
allowed to stand in the packing pipe. The vibration that is created when the pump is running
can cause the gravel to compact and block the pipe.

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DEVELOPING A WELL

Once construction is complete, the well is developed to remove the very small sand,
shavings, and drilling mud from the surrounding aquifer. Two methods used to develop the
well are surging and backwashing. Water is forced in and out through the screen as it flushes
out the drilling mud and fine sand. Usually a pump much larger than the actual production
pump is used. The well is pumped at the highest rate possible. This is done not only to
remove the loosened mud but also to determine the well log data such as the yield, static and
pumping levels, and specific capacity. The development of this data may require that this
pumping rate be maintained for at least 8 hours.

It may take much longer to clear the well of drilling mud prior to disinfection. It is also
important to determine the well recovery rate after the test is completed. The pump used to
develop the well should never be the pump that is to be installed upon completion.

DISINFECTING WATER WELLS

The final step, prior to putting any new well, or old well that has had major cleaning or
repair, in service, is disinfection and testing for bacteriological quality. The well should be
flushed or redeveloped to remove drilling mud and debris prior to disinfection.

Disinfection is achieved by the addition of a strong solution of chlorine to the well. The
chlorine dosage should be at least 50 mg/l. If dosages in the range of 200-400 mg/l are added,
less contact time will be required. The well should then be agitated periodically by surging.
The contact time at a dosage of 50 mg/l should be 18 to 24 hours but at 200 mg/l only about 2
hours is needed. However, with longer contact times, the chlorine will move farther out into
the surrounding aquifer.

The well should be flushed to remove the remaining chlorine once disinfection is completed.
The discharged water will need to be dechlorinated to reduce the residual to below 2.0 mg/L.
The flush should continue until the residual from the well is also below 2.0 mg/L.
Microbiological (Bac-T) samples should then be taken from the well and submitted for
testing. These samples must be taken daily until they are negative on two consecutive days.

WELL PUMPS

Most well pumps that are installed in public water systems are vertical turbine centrifugal
pumps. The main difference between vertical turbines and other types of centrifugal pumps is
that the vertical turbine impeller discharges water out of the top of the impeller. This water
flows upward along the pump shaft, instead of at a right angle to the shaft. These pumps can
generate the high discharge pressures needed to pump water several hundred feet out of the
ground.

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"Staging", or stacking several impellers on the shaft, is how the high pressures are generated.
As the water passes from the discharge of one impeller to the suction of the impeller above it,
the pressure that the pump develops is increased. If five impellers that each generates 100 feet
of head are staged in a pump, the pump will generate 500 feet of head pressure. Anytime
pumps are operated in series, where one pump or impeller discharges to the suction of
another pump; the pressure will increase while the flow remains constant.

VERTICAL TURBINE INSTALLATIONS

There are two kinds of vertical turbine pumps installed in wells. One of these is known as a
submersible pump. A submersible pump will have the motor located beneath the pump. In a
small well, it is the least expensive centrifugal well pump to purchase and install. Because
there is no pump shaft running to the surface, the submersible is also the ideal pump
installation in wells where vertical casing alignment problems exist. The biggest
disadvantage of submersible pump installations is that the pump must be pulled from the well
when the motor needs repair. Since this is usually the most common type of repair for water
wells, the cost of maintenance for submersible pumps is very high.

The other type of vertical turbine well pump is

known as a line shaft pump. Line shaft pumps
have the motor located on the wellhead. A line
shaft runs down the discharge column pipe to the
pump. The shaft is supported by line shaft
bearings that center and stabilize the shaft in the
column pipe. Line shaft pumps will cost more
than submersible installations.

Vertical casing misalignment may make a line

shaft pump installation impractical. The stress
placed on the shaft and bearings can lead to
chronic maintenance problems. The biggest
advantage of a line shaft installation is that the
motor can be repaired without pulling the pump
and column pipe from the well.

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LINE SHAFT PUMPS

The line shaft must be supported to minimize vibration and radial (side-to-side) movement
when the shaft spins. A line shaft bearing, also known as spider support or spider bearing,
will be located in every section of discharge column pipe. Since column pipe sections vary in
length from 12 to 20 feet, there are 5-8 bearings for every 100 feet of shaft. These bearings
must be lubricated. There are two methods of lubricating line shaft bearings. One method
utilizes water to lubricate the bearings while the other uses an oil-lubricated system.

LINE SHAFT BEARINGS

Water lubricated line shaft bearings rely on the water that is pumped through the column pipe
for cooling and lubrication. When the water table is very shallow, water in the column pipe
will reach the bearing almost immediately. If the water table is deeper it can take several
seconds for water to reach the uppermost bearings. If these brass or rubber bearings are
allowed to spin for even a few seconds without lubrication they will fail prematurely. This
type of installation will normally have some type of pre-lubrication system that allows water
to run down the shaft and lubricate the top bearings before the pump starts. It may be set on a
timer or it may drip continuously. Even with this type of pre-lubrication system, it is difficult
to guarantee that all of the bearings that are located above the water table are properly
lubricated before the pump starts.

Oil lubricated line shaft pumps are normally installed when water table depths exceed 100
feet. In an oil-lubricated system, the shaft spins inside a tube that is kept full of oil. The oil
used in these systems must be EPA approved. These oils can be either vegetable or mineral
based. Line shaft bearings are located inside the tube. Spider supports stabilize the tube inside
the discharge column pipe.

OIL DRIPPER SYSTEMS

Oil lubricated line shafts will usually be supplied with a dripper system to keep the shaft tube
full of oil. The dripper system will consist of two dripper assemblies. One dripper will be
setup to drip constantly and the other will be activated by a solenoid and will drip only when
the pump is running. The solenoid-activated dripper will normally be supplied with a cooling
water jacket that helps to maintain a constant oil temperature in the dripper.

The cooling water is needed because temperature fluctuations will cause the viscosity or
thickness of the oil to change. As the viscosity changes the drip rate will also change. The
effect that these changes will have on the drip rate must be taken into consideration when the
drip rate is adjusted. The drippers should be checked and adjusted at least twice a year, in the
early summer and early winter.

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ADJUSTING DRIPPER SYSTEMS

The constant dripper should be adjusted when the well has not been running for several
hours. The oil temperature will be about the same as the ambient air temperature. This is the
situation most of the time that the constant dripper is needed. If it is set in the summer and
not checked again when it turns cold in the winter, the drip rate will be much lower as the oil
temperature drops and the oil becomes thicker. The constant drip rate should be set at 1 drip/
minute.

The automatic dripper should be set after the well, and dripper-cooling water, has been
running for an hour or so. If the drip rate is set when the well is not running and the oil
temperature is higher, the drip rate may be too low when the cooling water lowers the oil
temperature. In most wells, the automatic drip rate should be set at 6-10 drips/minute. Wells
over 500 feet deep may require drip rates of up to 18 drips/minute.

WELL SCREENS

There are several types of well screens that can be installed in most wells. They range from
well casing that is perforated on-site with a cutting torch to continuous-slot well screens
made of steel, or sometimes plastic, strips that are wrapped around a wire cage. Louvered or
perforated casing is also used in many installations. Continuous-slot screens are the most
expensive and generally considered to be the best choice because of the low friction loss
encountered as the water enters the well. These screens typically have openings that are equal
to 40-50% of the total surface of the screen.

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WELL HYDRAULICS

The amount of water a well will produce depends mainly on the type of aquifer, well
construction, and the depth of the zone of saturation. The annual recharge rate from
percolation, along with the ability of the water bearing formation to transmit water to any
given point, will also influence well production. The performance of a well can be
determined by taking readings of the hydraulic conditions. An operator must be familiar
with these terms and definitions, in order to accurately troubleshoot problems that may be
discovered.

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Static level is the water level in a well when the pump is not operating.

Pumping level is the water level in the well when it is producing.

Drawdown is the difference in elevations between the static level and the pumping level.
The amount of water produced is approximately proportional to the drawdown. For
example, increasing the yield by 10% will increase the drawdown by 10%. The drawdown
that occurs when a well is running is roughly equal to the head loss encountered in moving
the water into the well. Water bearing formations of gravel, limestone and course sand will
usually provide more water with less drawdown than formations containing fine sand or
clay.

Specific capacity is the relationship between the yield of a well and the amount of
drawdown in the well. It can be expressed as a ratio of the yield, in terms of gallons per
minute, to the drawdown in feet. A well producing 100 gpm with a drawdown of 20 feet
would have a specific capacity of 5 gpm per foot of drawdown.

100 gpm = 5 gpm/foot

20 feet

In this particular case every time the yield is increased by 5 gpm the drawdown will increase
by one foot. This relationship will exist until the yield exceeds the aquifer's ability to deliver
water to any single point. When this limit is reached, the drawdown increases dramatically
with little or no increase in the yield.

Cone of depression is directly related to the drawdown in the well. As the pump draws
down the water level, a portion of the aquifer surrounding the well is drained of water. A
cone shaped depression is formed in the water table around the well. The shape of the cone
will vary depending on the type of formation in which the well is located. A fine sand
formation will usually create a steep cone of depression, while a shallow cone is usually
found in coarse sand and gravel formations.

Radius of influence is the farthest distance from the well that the cone of depression affects
the water table. This distance can be determined by sinking test holes around the well and
monitoring the water levels in them while the well is pumping.

Recovery time is the amount of time required for the aquifer to stabilize at its static water
level once pumping has stopped. This can also be determined by monitoring the water levels
in the test holes used to determine the radius of influence.

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MEASURING STATIC AND PUMPING LEVELS

Several methods can be used to determine the elevation of water in the well. This can be
accomplished by lowering some type of measuring device, that can locate the water level,
into the well casing through a sounding tube (sometimes called a drawdown tube). A chalk
line can be used if the approximate level is known. The bottom five to ten feet of the line is
chalked and then lowered into the well to the estimated water level. The amount of line that
is wet (easily identified by the wet chalk) is subtracted from the total amount lowered into
the well to accurately locate the water level.

Another device that is used to determine water levels consists of an electrode attached to a
cable and connected to a DC power supply. This type of device is sometimes referred to as
an "M-scope." The electrode is lowered into the well casing until it contacts the water
surface. Contact with water closes the electrical circuit and lights an indicator lamp on the
power supply. The length of the cable that is in the casing is measured to determine the
water level. The biggest disadvantage to using this type of "sounding" device is that the
cable may wrap itself around the column pipe, making removal a real problem.

Another effective method of determining these levels involves using an air line. The air line
is installed inside the casing and extends down to a point just above the bowls of the pump.
A pressure gauge, installed at ground level, and an air pump (bicycle or hand pump) are all
the equipment that is needed. The length of the air line must also be known in order to use
this method.

As air is pumped into the line, the Pr essur e

pressure gauge reading will begin to Gauge
increase. When the pressure reading no
longer rises, all of the water has been Ai r Li ne
Pump
forced out of the pipe by the air. This
gauge reading will represent a column of
water the same height as the distance the
line extends below the surface of the 200 f t .
water. Subtracting this distance from the
total length of the line will locate the 300 f t .
elevation of the water in the well.

The gauge reading may be used directly

100 f t .
if the gauge is calibrated in feet of head.
If the gauge reading is in pounds per
square inch (psi), it must be multiplied
by a factor of 2.31 ft/psi before being
subtracted from the length of the air

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line. As an example, the air line is 300 feet long and the gauge reading is 100 feet of head
when the pump is not running:

The static level is determined after the pump has not been running for several hours or
overnight. The pumping level should not be determined until the well has been pumping long
enough to insure that the pumping level has stabilized. It could take from 30 minutes to several
hours to stabilize the pumping level.

OVERPUMPING THE WELL

In some wells, the pumping level may not stabilize. If the well pump capacity exceeds the
aquifers ability to move water to the well (pumping it out faster than it comes in), the pumping
level will continue to drop. This is known as exceeding the transmissivity of the aquifer. When
this occurs the well pump will begin to cavitate, as the NPSH on the pump continues to drop,
and will burn up if it is allowed to break suction. When this condition exists, a well runs for a
certain period of time, trips a breaker, and then must sit for hours before it can be started. This
situation results in damage to the pump because it is oversized. The pump should be
downsized to the proper flow to correct the problem.

THE WELL LOG

When the contractor is developing the well, information about the well is being recorded for
the well log. A well log will contain information that includes:

WELL LOG DATA

- Depth of the Well

- Length of Screen
- Pump Setting
- Yield
- Static Water Level
- Pumping Water Level
- Drawdown
- Specific Capacity
- Other Geological Data Regarding the Aquifer

The well log is essential for troubleshooting well operational problems. It represents how
the well should perform when everything is working right. Without this data it is very
difficult to determine what, if anything, is wrong with current the well performance.
Contractors are responsible for filing a copy of every public water supply well log with the
State Engineer's Office.

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TROUBLESHOOTING WELL PROBLEMS

There is little information that can be gathered that will indicate how a well is performing.
Changes in the static level, the pumping level or the yield of a particular well will generally
indicate a problem has developed. In addition to this information, the amps on the motor is
the only other indicator poor of well performance. It is important to check static and
pumping levels periodically to prevent any problems that may develop from becoming
serious. The well log is used as a reference for each set of readings. Anytime there is a well
problem, both the yield, and the specific capacity will be reduced.

WELL PROBLEMS

Let's take a look at the example illustrated below. From the well log and current
measurements it has been determined that the static level has remained the same but the
pumping level has dropped several feet. If the static level had dropped it would indicate that
the water table is dropping. This means that the well is exceeding the recharge capacity of
the aquifer. This is often referred to as “mining water” since it results in the depletion of the
aquifer.

Under these conditions it should be noted that the drawdown has increased. The drawdown
is equal to the head loss encountered in moving water into the well. Since the drawdown has
increased, there is more head loss now than when the well was new. It is unlikely that the
conditions in the aquifer have changed. Therefore, the well screen must be getting clogged.

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CLOGGED WELL SCREENS

There are several ways that a well screen can become clogged. The most common cause is
chemical scaling or lime encrustation on the screen. Newer wells may develop a condition
called "sand bridging." Another possibility is clogging due to iron bacteria colonies that are
growing on the screen.

SAND BRIDGING

Sand bridging is a condition that is normally only found in new wells. It occurs when sand,
drawn toward the well, blocks the screen by forming an arch across the openings. Sand
bridging is usually a result of improper development of the well or inadequate gravel
packing. Surging water through the screen may break up the bridging. If surging doesn't
work, it may be necessary to pull the pump and mechanically clean the screen with high-
pressure jets to correct the condition. The well should be re-developed before replacing the
well pump.

IRON BACTERIA

Clogging caused by iron bacteria is a problem for many wells in the Southwest. If the well
has been in service for several years, and the water supply is low in alkalinity and corrosive,
there is a good possibility that the clogging is a result of the build up of iron bacteria
colonies on the screen. Iron bacteria feed on the iron that is naturally present in some
supplies. They will attach themselves to iron and steel screens and a colony of the bacteria
will begin to grow.

Clogging caused by iron bacteria is very difficult to remove. Chemical treatment with
massive doses of chlorine (200-300 mg/l) followed by surging or even mechanical cleaning
may be the only means of clearing clogged screen openings. Even then, it is unlikely that the
entire colony has been removed. The remaining bacteria will begin to grow, causing a
recurrence of the problem. Wells with iron bacteria should be treated with chlorine
periodically to inhibit the regrowth for as long as possible. The discharged water must be
dechlorinated to a residual level of less than 2.0 mg/L

LIME SCALING

Lime scaling is most likely to occur when the water contains high amounts of alkalinity and
hardness. Like iron bacteria, lime scaling will tend to be a chronic problem where the
conditions that promote its formation exist. Lime scale cannot form if the source water is
corrosive. There are several ways to clean a screen of lime scale.

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CLEANING LIME SCALE FROM WELL SCREENS

Well screens that are clogged with scale can be cleaned using one of several techniques.
The four most commonly used methods are listed below:

1. Surging water through the screen may break up loose scale that is just beginning to form.
This is accomplished by starting and stopping the pump. Water in the column pipe is
allowed to fall back into the well and create a surge out through the screen. This is
sometimes taken a step further by holding the check valve open when the pump is
stopped so that more water will rush down the well and out into the surrounding aquifer.
In order for this method to be effective, the condition must be identified before the
scaling becomes very severe. This can’t be done with small submersible pumps because
the check valve is located just above the pump in the column pipe.

2. The percussion method may be the most dangerous method of cleaning a well screen. It
involves the detonation of some type of explosive within the well casing. The theory
behind this process is that the explosion will create shock waves that will vibrate the
screen enough to shake the scale loose. This is sometimes accomplished by firing a blank
down the well. This is only effective in very small, shallow wells where there is not
much water standing above the clogged screen.

In most public supply wells a larger charge is needed, and it is usually placed down the
well in the vicinity of the screen. Blasting caps and primer cord are the most common
explosives used in these situations. In addition to the obvious dangers involved in
handling these types of explosives, the possibility for damaging the well screen also
exists.

3. The acidizing method will clean all but the most severely scaled screens. Acid is poured
down the well casing and allowed to stand for 8 to 12 hours. The acid will react with the
lime and dissolve the deposits on the screen. The well is then surged to help loosen the
remaining scale and flushed.

Always use inhibited acid! Inhibited acid is chemically weakened. In this weakened state
it will dissolve the lime without attacking the screen or pump parts. There are inhibited
acids available in solid forms, sulphamic acid for example, that can make the acidizing
process much easier and more effective. The pelletized acid can be poured into in casing
where it will sink to the bottom of the well and dissolve in the area of the screen.

4. Mechanical cleaning may be the only method that is effective in situations where severe
clogging exists. Mechanical cleaning will require the removal of the pump from the well.
The screen will be cleaned using a larger wire brush or high-pressure water jets and then
bailed to remove the debris that is knocked loose. In extreme cases, the screen may have
to be pulled and cleaned or replaced. Not only is this very expensive, but it can also
result in the collapse of the gravel pack around the screen. Anytime the pump is pulled

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from the well and maintenance is performed, the well must be disinfected prior to being
put back into service.

WELL PUMP PROBLEMS

From the well log and current measurements, it is determined that the static level is the
same, but the pumping level has risen several feet. Water production from the pump has also
decreased. This reduced drawdown and yield from the well indicates a problem with the
pump.

When the drawdown and pump production have both decreased, it usually means the pump
efficiency is reduced. The most common cause of this problem in line shaft pumps is
improper clearance between the impeller and the pump bowls. If the gap is too wide,
recirculation inside the pump will reduce the discharge flow. If the gap is too small the
impellers will drag on the pump bowls creating drag and reducing the flow.

If the impeller clearance is properly set, the only other cause of this type of condition is some
type of mechanical problem with the pump or line shaft. Worn impellers or worn wear rings
result in loss of production. Drag created by pump bearing or line shaft bearing failure will
also reduce the flow. Checking the motor amps can eliminate two of the possibilities. If the
amps are low, the drop in flow is due to damaged impellers, worn wear rings or too much
impeller clearance.

If the amps are high, the problem is drag from bad bearings or too little impeller clearance.
Mechanical problems will require pulling the pump, so the first step in troubleshooting a line
shaft installation is to adjust the impeller clearance. Adjusting the impeller clearance is also
referred to as adjusting the "lateral setting" or "setting the stretch" on the pump. The
troubleshooting for small submersible pumps it easy and expensive. If the drawdown
decreases it is a pump problem. Since there is no line shaft, the only solution is to pull the
pump and rebuild or replace it.
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ADJUSTING IMPELLER CLEARANCE (LATERAL SETTING)

When the pump is operating, the proper clearance between the wear rings and the impeller
should be between 1/32-1/4" (depending on the impeller design). Wear rings, as the name
implies, are designed to eventually wear out. The clearance between the impeller will
increase as wear occurs. Specific adjustments can be made to raise or lower the impellers
and bring the clearance back within acceptable tolerances.

Line shaft stretch must also be taken into account. Even though the shaft is made of
hardened steel, it will stretch under load. There are several factors that will impact the shaft
stretch.

FORCES THAT CAUSE SHAFT STRETCH

1. The weight of the shaft

2. The weight of the impellers

3. The downthrust exerted against the impellers

The most common means of raising and lowering the shaft is by adjusting the top shaft nut
or adjusting nut, located on the top of a hollow core motor. The rotor in a hollow core motor
is hollow and the pump shaft can slide up and down through the rotor. The adjusting nut
prevents the shaft from slipping down through the motor. Tightening and loosening the top
shaft nut will then raise and lower the pump impellers. After a lateral adjustment is
complete, motor amps can be used as a tool to check the adjustment.

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BASIC STUDY QUESTIONS BASIC SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS

1. What are some of the considerations for 1. The distance from the well to the edge
the location of a well? of the cone of depression is:

2. What is the primary reason for grouting a A. Drawdown

well casing? B. Radius of influence
C. Infiltration
3. What is the drawdown in a well? D. Zone of saturation

4. What are the requirements for disinfecting 2. If the drawdown increases, the screen
a well? is becoming clogged.

5. Which type of well pump will help A. True

minimize the problems caused by well B. False
casing misalignment?
3. Sand production is usually at highest
6. What is the distance from the well to the
edge of the cone of depression called? A. During startup
B. After it has run for several hours
7. When will sand production in a well be at C. When there is a pump-related
it's highest? problem.
D. All of the above

ADVANCED STUDY QUESTIONS 4. Which of the following does not

provide contamination protection for a
1. What are the limitations for water well?
lubricated line shafts?
A. Grout
2. Why is a gravel pack used in wells? B. Well pad
C. Motor coupling
3. What is specific capacity? D. Sanitary seal

4. Public wells should be located how many

feet from potential pollution sources?

5. What should be done when treating a well

for iron bacteria?

6. Why might be wrong if a well pump runs

for 45 minutes and then trips the circuit
breaker?

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ADVANCED SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS

1. If the pressure gauge on an air line reads 25

psi and the air line is 400 feet long, how far
is it to the water level?

A. 25 feet
B. 58 feet
C. 342 feet
D. 375 feet

2. The friction loss on the suction side of the

well pump is equal to:

A. The drawdown
B. The specific capacity
C. The pumping level
D. The lateral setting

3. When the drawdown in a well increases:

A. The screen is clogged

B. The pump impellers may be worn
C. The specific capacity increases

4. The drawdown in a well has decreased and

the motor amps are high. The most likely
problem is:

A. The screen is clogged

B. The pump impellers are worn
C. The line shaft bearings are failing
D. The TDH has increased

5. When the pumping level drops:

A. The screen is clogged

B. The pump impellers are worn
C. The line shaft bearings are failing
D. The TDH has increased

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