1. What exactly is a drilled well? Consists of a hole bored into the ground, with the upper part being lined with casing Casing prevents the collapse of the borehole walls and prevents surface or subsurface contaminants from entering the water supply Provides a housing for a pumping mechanism and for the pipe that moves water from the pump to the surface

4. Type of Wells Drilled wells are constructed by either cable tool or rotary-drilling machines Require installation of casing and a screen to prevent inflow of sediment and collapse. They can be drilled more than 1,000 feet deep

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6. Driven Wells Are constructed by driving a small-diameter pipe into shallow water-bearing sand or gravel A screened well point is attached to the bottom of the casing before driving Are relatively simple and economical to construct, but they can tap only shallow water and are easily contaminated from nearby surface sources because they are not sealed with grouting material Hand-driven wells usually are only around 30 feet deep; machine-driven wells can be 50 feet deep or more

8. Dug Wells Historically, excavated by hand shovel to below the water table until incoming water exceeded the digger’s bailing rate. lined with stones, bricks, to prevent collapse, and was covered with a cap of wood, stone, or concrete tile Dug and bored wells have a large diameter and expose a large area of an aquifer Disadvantages of a dug type well are that they are shallow and lack continuous casing and grouting, making them subject to contamination from nearby surface sources, and they go dry during periods of drought if the water table drops below the well bottom

9. Water Well Market India—21 to 25 million wells United States—15.9 million China—3.4 million Bangladesh—800,000 Pakistan—700,000 Germany—500,000 South Africa—500,000 Nepal—60,000 Taiwan—37,100 Mongolia—27,000 Botswana—7,500 Costa Rica—5,000

10. State Use Michigan, with 1,121,075 households served by private water wells, is the largest state market, followed by: Pennsylvania—978,202 households North Carolina—912,113 New York—824,342 Florida—794,557

11. Irrigation accounts for the largest use of groundwater in the U.S.—53.5 billion gallons. Texas leads the nation in the number of irrigation wells in use with 77,389. Other leading irrigation well states are: Nebraska—77,347 California—61,192 Arkansas—38,729 Kansas—19,301 Missouri—12,869 Florida—12,698

12. Water levels fluctuate on a seasonal basis, raising in the “wet” months and falling in the “dry” months. Wells will not recover after just one rainfall event It takes several slow, soaking rains for the water to filter through the ground Shallower wells may see their water levels rise more quickly with a return of rain Deeper wells are likely to be okay during a drought with no problems, but if they are affected, it will take lots of rainfall (several months) to filter down to well depth. Well Recovery

13. Well Contamination Over 15 million U.S. households obtain their drinking water from private wells, Are not covered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations that protect public drinking water systems

14. United States has one of the safest drinking water supplies in the world, Sources of drinking water can still become contaminated through naturally occurring chemicals and minerals Chemical: arsenic & radon Local land use practices like pesticides, animal feeding operations Malfunctioning wastewater treatment systems, ex: sewer over flows Contamination of a private well can impact nearby households using the same aquifer.

15. Owners of private wells are responsible for ensuring that their water is safe from contaminants Private wells should be checked every year for mechanical problems, cleanliness, and the presence of coliform bacteria, nitrates, and any other contaminants of local concern. A local health department or water well systems professional can help ensure delivery of high-quality water from an existing well or, if needed, help locate and construct a new well in a safer area

16. The presence of contaminants in water can lead to health issues, including gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people whose immune systems are compromised because of AIDS, chemotherapy, or transplant medications, may be especially susceptible to illness from some contaminants

17. Treatment of Well Water There are many different treatment options for the treatment of well waters. No single treatment type will protect against all problems. Many well owners use a home water treatment unit to: Remove specific contaminants Take extra precautions because a household member has a compromised immune system Improve the taste of drinking water

18. Water Well Treatment Point-of-entry systems are installed after the water meter and treatment of most the of water entering a residence Point-of-use systems are systems that treat water in batches and deliver water to a tap, such as a kitchen or bathroom sink or an auxiliary faucet mounted next to a tap.

19. Common Treatments A water filter is a device which removes impurities from water by means of a physical barrier, chemical, and/or biological process A water softener is a device that reduces the hardness of the water. A water softener typically uses sodium or potassium ions to replace calcium and magnesium ions, the ions that create hardness

20. Distillation is a process in which impure water is boiled and the steam is collected and condensed in a separate container, leaving many of the solid contaminants behind. Disinfection is a physical or chemical process in which pathogenic microorganisms are deactivated or killed. Ex. of chemical disinfectants are chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and ozone. Ex. of physical disinfectants include ultraviolet light, electronic radiation, and heat

21. Rain Water Collection Rainwater is not as pure as you might think Rain can wash different types of contaminants into the water you collect (Ex. bird poop on your roof ) gets in rain barrel Rainwater can carry bacteria, parasites, viruses, and chemicals

22. The risk of getting sick from rainwater may be different depending on your location, how frequently it rains, the season, and how you collect and store the rainwater Dust, smoke, and soot from the air can be dissolved in rainwater before it lands on your roof Roofing materials, gutters, piping, and storage materials can introduce harmful chemicals like asbestos, lead, and copper to the water,

23. To lower your risk of getting sick, consider using rainwater only for uses such as watering plants that you don’t eat Washing items that are not used for cooking or eating, and bathing (keeping water out of your mouth and nose) If possible, avoid using rainwater for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth, or rinsing or watering plants that you intend to eat

24. Keeps its temperature normal. Lubricates and cushions your joints Protects your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues Gets rid of wastes through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements What does water do in your body?

25. Why do you need to drink enough water each day? You need water to replace what your body loses through normal everyday functions You lose water when you go to the bathroom or sweat, but you even lose small amounts of water when you exhale Replace lost water to prevent dehydration

26. When you’ll need H20 In hot climates. More physically active. Running a fever. Having diarrhea or vomiting.