Guide to Conducting Pumping Tests
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Guide toConductingWell Pumping
TestsWater Stewardship Inormation Series
How is the pumped water discharged? 6
Is a water sample required or analysis? 7
Are there special conditions to be aware o when
conducting or interpreting the pumping test? 7
Who can interpret pumping test data? 8
What should be in a pumping test report? 8
Further inormation and resources on pumping tests 8
Table o Contents
Whats the dierence between a well yield test
and a pumping test? 1
When are pumping tests needed? 1
Who can conduct a pumping test? 2
What are the key things to consider when designing
and planning a pumping test? 2
What time o year should a pumping test be done? 2
Are there natural variations in the groundwater levels? 2
Should other well owners be notied about the
pumping test? 2
What type o pump should be used and at what depth
should it be placed? 2
How much time will the pumping test take? 3
How is the pumping rate selected? 3
How is the pumping rate controlled and measured? 3
How and at what intervals will changes in water levels
be measured? 4
When should neighbouring wells and/or stream levels
be measured? 6
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Figure 1. This fgure shows the impact o a pumping well on the water level
and on a neighbouring well (observation well) in an unconfned aquier.
As the water is pumped rom the well, the original water level lowers, i.e.,
drawdown in the well. A cone o d epression is ormed in the aquier around
the pumping well as the water level declines due to pumping. Note that
drawdown in the observation well is much less than in the pumping well.
Figure 2. Graph showing the dierent phases o a constant rate
pumping test the pumping phase and the recovery phase.
This guide provides general inormation and guidance on
best pumping test practices or qualied well drillers and
qualied well pump installers In addition, the guide oers
general inormation to developers and local governments on
the pumping test requirements or proving up water supplies
(ie, to determine i sucient groundwater is available or
residential developments) and an explanation o the benets o
a properly conducted pumping test This guide is not meant to
be a substitute or proessional guidance and the appropriatestandards o care
What s the derence between a well yeldtest and a pumpng test?
A well yield test is a short (eg, approximately one hour)
fow test, usually done by a qualied well driller once the well is
completed to provide a rough estimate o the wells yield It is
generally recorded in the well construction report by the driller
Well yield tests are done using bailing1 or air liting2 methods
Well yield tests are not as reliable as a pumping test in theollowing situations
when well yield is low (eg, typical bedrock well);
where maximum yield rom the well is required;
when reliable estimates o aquier properties are needed;
and
when assessing impacts o proposed pumping on
neighbouring wells
A pumping test is a practical, reliable method o estimating
well perormance, well yield, the zone o infuence o the well
and aquier characteristics (ie, the aquiers ability to storeand transmit water, aquier extent, presence o boundary
conditions and possible hydraulic connection to surace water)
A pumping test consists o pumping groundwater rom a
well, usually at a constant rate, and measuring water levels in
the pumped well and any nearby wells (observation wells) or
surace water bodies during and ater pumping (see Figure 1)
These data are used to plot drawdown and recovery as shown
on Figure 2 Pumping tests can last rom hours to days or even
weeks in duration, depending on the purpose o the pumping
test, but traditional pumping tests typically last or 24 to
72 hours
Pumping test water level measurements should be made prior
to, during and immediately ollowing the pumping periord(see
Figure 2)The inormation collected during the recovery period is
used to veriy the results o the pumping test
When are pumpng tests needed?
Wells can be pump tested solely to provide a greater
condence in the drillers estimated well yield These tests are
typically shorter in duration (eg, 4 to 12 hours) and are
commonly done on domestic or single-residence wells
Longer duration pumping tests are commonly required to:
prove up water quantity under local government bylaws or
new residential developments or regulatory requirements,
eg, Certicate o Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN);
determine the maximum sustainable well yield;
assess impacts on neighbouring wells or water bodies such
as streams rom the proposed use o the well; and/or
obtain aquier properties such as permeability and
boundary conditions
Cone ofDepression
PumpingWater Level
PumpingWell
ObservationWell
Original (Static)Water Table
Distance from Pumping Wellto Observation Well
Drawdown
Pumping Rate
Land Surface
Aquifer
Aquitard
WaterDepthBelowOriginal
Pre-PumpingStaticWaterLevel(metres)
Elapsed Time Since Start Of Pumping (minutes)
Pump
Shutdown
Pump
Start-up PumpingPhase
RecoveryPhase
Original StaticWater LevelDrawdown
Recovery
1 Water is removed rom the well in a cylindrical bailer lowered rom the drilling rig mast
2 Compressed air is injected into the well to blow air and water out o the well
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Who can conduct a pumpng test?
Under Section 70 o the Water Act, the ollowing persons can
conduct a pumping test:
a qualied well driller;
a qualied well pump installer; or
a person working under the direct supervision o the
qualied well driller, qualied pump installer or qualiedproessional with competency in hydrogeology
A qualied proessional3 with competency in hydrogeology
should be responsible to plan, design, implement and interpret
the pumping test in the ollowing situations:
where a pumping test or a well is required by an approving
agency; or
where the yield o the well needs to be maximized; or
when data needs to be interpreted, or example:
- when there is a need to assess the impact o the pumping
well on nearby surace and groundwater resources; and- when estimates o an aquiers properties are required
What are the key thngs to consder whendesgnng and plannng a pumpng test?
Designing and planning a pumping test is critical prior to
testing Lack o planning can result in delays, increased costs,
technical diculties and poor or unusable data
Some things to consider in the pre-planning stage are:
4time o year the pumping test should be done
4 natural variations in the groundwater levels that occur
during the test that needs to be accounted or
4 inorming others who may be aected
4 depth o pump setting and type o pump
4 pumping duration
4 pumping rate
4 control and measurement o the pumping rate
4 requency o measurements o the water levels
4 measuring water levels in neighbouring wells and/or
streams
4 discharge o pumped water
4 collection o water samples or water quality analysis
4 special conditions to be aware o eg, salt water intrusion
in coastal aquiers
What tme o year should a pumpng testbe done?
An approving agency may require a pumping test to be
conducted during a low recharge period (eg, dry period) or other
time o the year For ractured bedrock and other low-yielding
wells, a pumping test should be done during a dry period when
water tables are at their lowest levels to allow or a conservative
estimate o long-term yield Optimal times or testing in BC aresummer and all in coastal areas and all and winter in the Interior
Are there natural varatons n thegroundwater levels?
Natural variations in water levels caused by tidal, river and
barometric changes can infuence water levels during pumping
and recovery Even diurnal variation can occur in shallow water
tables due to the great dierence between night and day
evapotranspiration Pre-pumping and post-pumping (recovery)
water level measurements in the pumping well and any
observation well(s), can be used by the qualied proessionalhydrogeologist to lter out natural fuctuations
Should other well owners be notfed about
the pumpng test?
I the pumping test involves pumping a large volume o water or
a long duration (eg, 24 to 72 hours), owners o neighbouring wells
(ie, any well within 300 eet or 100 meters o the pumping well)
should be notied Pumping o these neighbouring wells during
the pumping test could aect the results o the test, especially i the
neighbouring wells are to be used as observation wells
What type o pump should be used and atwhat depth should t be placed?
The pump is normally placed above the well screen to maximize
the amount o drawdown or the pumping test The intake o
the pump should not be placed within the well screen as this
may cause increased velocities resulting in sanding and potential
casing deteriorization, along with screen plugging For bedrock
wells the pump is set at or just above the uppermost major water-
bearing racture (reer to the drillers well construction report)
There are several actors to consider when determining the typeo pump to use and the depth at which it should be set, including:
well diameter;
desired pumping rate;
total dynamic head including the pumping water level, the
above ground head (i applicable) and all riction losses in
the casing, pipes, ttings, etc;
reliability o power source; and
horsepower requirements3 Qualied proessionals who are registered with the Association o Proessional
Engineers and Geoscientists o British Columbia
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As well, consider whether the pump is submersible and has
variable speeds Power needs to be continuously available to
the pump during the test I power is interrupted, it may be
necessary to terminate the test, allow the well to recover and
run a new test
How much tme wll the pumpng test take?
The duration o the pumping test depends on the purpose
o the well, the type o aquier and any potential boundaryconditions Aquier types and potential boundary conditions
can be obtained rom:
well construction reports or the pumping well and any
neighbouring well(s);
inormation on the aquier and surace water bodies, such
as lakes or rivers in the vicinity o the well; and
qualied well drillers and proessional hydrogeologists
Minimum durations o traditional pumping tests are 24 to
72 hours unless stabilization occurs Local by-laws, regulatory
requirements or a qualied proessional can stipulate minimum
pumping durations Duration is generally longer, eg, 72 hours,
or bedrock wells due to uncertainties associated with bedrock
aquiers, and 48 hours or wells completed in unconned
aquiers due to the delayed release o water as the water level
goes down or delayed yield eect
How s the pumpng rate selected?
The well should be pumped at or above the required yield
and the well should not be rated above the pumping rate used
during the test
Other considerations or setting the pumping rate are:
wells should not be pumped at a rate higher than the
manuacturers recommended transmitting capacity or the
well screen to avoid damage to the well and aquier near
the well Check the well screen details in the drillers
construction report and reer to the section on entrance
velocities in Groundwater and Wells
wells completed in unconsolidated aquiers (eg, sands and
gravels) with an open bottom (eg, no well screen) should
not be pumped at a rate which could cause the heaving o
aquier materials into the well and locking up the pump
bedrock wells should not be overpumped (ie, water
levels should not be drawn down past the uppermost
water bearing racture) because turbulence at the
borehole/well interace could damage the aquier
ormation and result in excessive turbidity in the water
A qualied proessional involved in the design o a pumping
test may determine a step drawdown test is needed beore the
constant rate pumping test is conducted I a step drawdown test
is done, the well should be rested between the step test and the
constant-rate pumping test to allow or the water level to recover
A qualied proessional should determine the optimum pumping
rate or traditional pumping and step drawdown tests
Another consideration when selecting the pumping rate is
borehole storage (eg, water stored in the well casing) In most
cases, or a short period ater pumping begins, all the pumped
water comes rom borehole storage However, in some cases,
where the well is deep and the rate o intended use is low,the borehole storage may never be pumped out In these
instances, the pumping rate can be initially set higher than the
rate o intended use to remove the borehole storage and then
the pumping rate is cut back to match the rate o intended use
How s the pumpng rate controlled andmeasured?
Control o the pumping rate during the test is important as it
allows or reliable drawdown data to be collected to determine
the yield o the well and aquier properties Controlling the
pumping rate by adjusting the pump speed is generally notsatisactory It is better to use a gate valve to adjust the pumping
rate to keep it constant The discharge pipe and the valve should
be sized so that the valve will be rom to open when
pumping at the desired rate The valve should be installed at a
sucient distance rom the fow measurement device to avoid
any impacts rom turbulence Measuring the discharge o pumped
water accurately is also important and common methods o
measuring discharge include the use o an orice plate and
manometer (see Figure 3), an inline fow meter (see Figure 4), an
inline calibrated pitot tube, a calibrated weir or fume, or observing
the length o time taken or the pumped water to ll a container
o known volume (see Figure 5) The fow measurement device
should be compatible with the expected pumping rate Calibrated
in-line fow meters and orice weirs are used to measure pumping
rates or high production wells I an orice weir is used, the
discharge pipe should be straight and level or a distance o at
least six eet (18 meters) beore the water reaches the orice plate
For relatively low pumping rates (eg,
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How and at what ntervals wll changes n
water levels be measured?
Prior to the test, all water monitoring instruments should be
checked to be sure they are working properly Fresh replacement
batteries should be available or all manual sounding probes
Beore the test begins, synchronize the watches o all observers
and data loggers time-o-day settings All stop watches should
be started at the time the pump starts pumping water orstopped i doing a recovery test
Establish initial conditions by measuring static water levels
in the well and any observation well(s) or a period o time
beore starting the pumping test As a general rule, the period
o observation beore the start o the test should be at least
one week All observers should use the same measuring point
on the top o the well casing or each well I static water levels
in the aquier are changing due to recharge or other actors, a
qualied proessional should be consulted on establishing the
water level prior to the test
A sounding tube or access tube, typically a to 1 (19 to 25 mm)
diameter PVC pipe that extends rom the top o the casing
down to 3 to 4 eet (09 to 12 meters) above the pump, can
be used to take water level measurements without the probe
getting tangled in the pump wiring Water levels can be
measured using water level probes (see Figure 6) or pressure
transducers (see Figure 7) I pressure transducers are used, select
types that cover the range o drawdown anticipated Pressure
transducers should be calibrated beore and ater the test Take
manual readings o the water level prior to and ollowing the test
and periodically throughout the test to conrm the water levelmeasurements by the transducer Measurements should be taken
to the nearest 1/8 or 1/4 (03 to 06 cm)
During a constant-rate pumping test the pumping rate must
be measured correctly and recorded regularly In general, the
lower the pumping rate, the more accurate and careul the fow
measurement must be An unrecorded change o as little as
two per cent in the pumping rate can aect the interpretation
o the data, ie, indicate a alse stabilization or a boundary
condition At the beginning o the test the pumping rate should
be set as quickly and accurately as possible and should remain
constant or the duration o the test For example, the pumping
rate should not vary by more than ve per cent and should
generally be within two to three per cent or higher pumpingrates It is good practice to measure and record pumping rates
requently at the beginning o the test (eg, every 15 minutes
or the rst hour) and hourly thereater or tests o one to three
days Checking the pumping rate allows or adjustments to be
made i the rate has drited, and conrms the selected pumping
rate has been maintained Adjustments to the pumping rate
should be recorded along with the measured rate and water
levels during the pumping test Good record keeping is key to
interpreting the pumping test results
Figure 5. A ve gallon bucket (~20 liters) and a stop watch can be
used to estimate low pumping rates.
Figure 4. In-line fow meter.
Figure 6. Water level measurement using water level probe and
sounding tube.
Sounding Tube
WellWater Level Probe
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The Ministry o Environment has developed a Pumping Test
Report orm to record inormation and data collected rom the
pumping and recovery test http://wwwenvgovbcca/wsd/plan_protect_sustain/groundwater/brochures_ormshtml An
Excel spreadsheet has also been developed to record the test
drawdown and recovery data The recommended minimum
intervals or water level measurements in both the pumping and
observation well(s) during the pumping and recovery phases
is shown inTable 1 as well as on the back o the Pumping Test
Report orm Data collection at the minimum specied intervals
will establish conditions that aect groundwater fow to the well It
may not always be possible to take the drawdown measurements
at the specied intervals In these cases, water level readings would
be recorded with the actual time the drawdown was recorded
Monitoring water level recovery ater the pump has stopped is
very important because it aids the interpretation o the pumping
test Recovery data also tend to smooth out variations in the
pumping rate, should variations occur To obtain accurate recovery
data, a check valve should be installed at the bottom o the pump
discharge pipe to eliminate backfow o water into the well
Typically, the duration o the recovery test is directed by the
qualied proessional At a minimum, recovery water levels in the
well should be monitored or the same duration o the pumping
test or at least until 90 per cent recovery has been achieved
The pump should not be removed rom the well until the waterlevel has returned to 85-90 per cent o the pre-pumping or
static water level or until the supervising qualied proessional
indicates the pump can be removed However, generally or a
24-hour pumping test, 90 per cent recovery occurs within two to
three hours ater the pump is stopped and the pump can then
be removed This event should be recorded on the data sheet I
the water does not recover within the same time duration o the
pumping test (eg, 24 hours) the water level should be monitored
daily or an additional week
I the water does not return to 90-95 per cent o the starting
water level ater a week, the test pumping rate is likely higher than
the aquiers capacity to sustain this rate and urther testing (ie,
longer pumping time and lower pumping rate) may be required I
this happens, a qualied proessional should interpret the pumping
test and recovery data and recommend a course o action
Good record keeping is key to interpreting the data collected
rom a pumping test Occasionally, fuctuations in the water level
will occur, due to nearby pumping o another well, sudden rainallevents, tidal variations or changes in surace loading o the aquier
due to heavy equipment (eg, trains) It is important to accurately
Table 1
Recommended minimum intervals for water level
measurements for pumping tests.
Well being pumped
during pumping:
Every minute or the rst 10 minutes**
Every 2 minutes rom 10 minutes to 20 minutes** Every 5 minutes rom 20 minutes to 50 minutes**
Every 10 minutes rom 50 minutes to 100 minutes**
Every 20 minutes rom 100 minutes to 200 minutes**
Every 50 minutes rom 200 minutes to 500 minutes**
Every 100 minutes rom 500 minutes to 1000 minutes**
Every 200 minutes rom 1000 minutes to 2000**
Every 500 minutes rom 2000 minutes to 5000 minutes**
Every 24 hours rom 5000 minutes onward**
Final water level measurement just prior to end o pumping
during reCovery:
Every minute or the rst 10 minutes ater end o pumping***
Every 2 minutes rom 10 minutes to 20 minutes ater end o
pumping***
Every 5 minutes rom 20 minutes to 50 minutes ater end o
pumping***
Every 10 minutes rom 50 minutes to 100 minutes ater end
o pumping***
Every 20 minutes rom 100 minutes to 200 minutes ater end
o pumping***
Every 50 minutes rom 200 minutes to 500 minutes ater endo pumping***
Every 100 minutes rom 500 minutes to 1000 minutes ater
end o pumping***
Every 200 minutes rom 1000 minutes to 2000 minutes ater
end o pumping***
Every 500 minutes rom 2000 minutes to 5000 minutes ater
end o pumping***
Every 24 hours rom 5000 minutes onward***
Figure 7. A pressure transducer can be used or automatic
measurement and recording o water level and temperature,
specic conductance or other parameters during the pumping test.
5
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/plan_protect_sustain/groundwater/brochures_forms.htmlhttp://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/plan_protect_sustain/groundwater/brochures_forms.htmlhttp://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/plan_protect_sustain/groundwater/brochures_forms.htmlhttp://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/plan_protect_sustain/groundwater/brochures_forms.html -
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note down data and to record events that occur during the
pumping test Key points to note are as ollows:
changes in the pumping rate;
any periodic cycling on and o o well pumps in the area; sta changes during the pumping and recovery tests;
i and when equipment (eg, sounding probe) was
changed during the test;
i the pumping test was conducted in a well eld, or when
other wells were pumping;
when the pump was pulled out;
times and pumping rates o any observations wells;
precipitation that occurred during the test;
presence o sediments in the pumped water;
presence o any smell rom the discharged water eg,rotten egg (H
2S); and
evidence o cascading water inside the well
When should neghbourng wells and/or
stream levels be measured?
Monitoring o water levels in neighbouring wells (observation
wells) and/or streams to assess the impact o the pumping well
should be specied by the qualied proessional, especially where:
obServATion Well*
during pumping:
Every 10 minutes or the rst 100 minutes**
Every 50 minutes rom 100 minutes to 500 minutes**
Every 100 minutes rom 500 minutes to 1000 minutes**
Every 500 minutes rom 1000 minutes to 5000 minutes**
Every 24 hours rom 5000 minutes onward**
Final water level measurement just prior to end o pumping
during reCovery:
Every 10 minutes or the rst 100 minutes ater end o
pumping***
Every 50 minutes rom 100 minutes to 500 minutes ater
end o pumping***
Every 100 minutes rom 500 minutes to 1000 minutes
ater end o pumping***
Every 500 minutes rom 1000 minutes to 5000 minutes
ater end o pumping***
Every 24 hours rom 5000 minutes onward***
* I the observation well is located in close proximity to the pumping
well it may be possible to take more requent measurements
** Time since the real start time o the pumping or time immediately
ater a step change in pumping
*** Not required i time is beyond the specied duration o recovery
measurements
the pumping rate is high;
there are regulatory requirements; and/or
neighbouring wells or stream levels could be impacted by
the pumping
Existing wells may be used i they are within the same aquier
ormation and the well owner has provided consent Water
levels in at least one observation well need to be monitored i an
aquier storativity value is required The observation well should
not be pumped during the pumping test I this is unavoidable,
the times and pumping rates should be recorded Oten, water
levels may not vary as much in observation wells as they will in
the pumping well, thereore it is important to establish reliable
background conditions prior to the pumping test
How s the pumped water dscharged?
Proper discharge o the pumped water is important to
ensure there is no damage due to erosion, fooding or sediment
deposits in streams (see Figure 3) It is important to assess the
volume o pumped water, i storage or treatment are needed,
and disposal alternatives early in the planning process For land
disposal, direct the water rom the pumping well in a down-hill
direction at a sucient distance rom the pumping well This
will prevent re-circulation o the pumped water into the well
or aquier and will preserve both the pumping water level and
the integrity o the pumping test Several hundred eet or more
o discharge line may be needed (see Figure 8) I the aquier
is conned (reer to the lithology section o the drillers well
construction report), the water can generally be conveyed a
shorter distance away rom the pumping well without aecting
the pumping water level
In an urban setting, the pumped water may be discharged to
a storm sewer but local government approval may be required i
the pumping rate is above a certain threshold
For large production wells, where disposal will be to
an adjacent water body or wetland, the local Ministry o
Environment and Department o Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)
oces must be advised as an approval may be required Even i
the well water is potable, discharging the water to an adjacent
Figure 8. Discharge pipe or a large volume pumping test in Merritt.
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In ractured bedrock aquiers it is important to know the
depth o any major water-bearing racture(s) (usually ound in
the drillers well construction report) to:
ensure the water level is not drawn down below the
racture during the pumping test; and
enable meaningul interpretation o the pumping test and
the wells sustainable yield
A qualied proessional hydrogeologist should be consulted
i the major water-bearing racture(s) are not known
water body could mobilize sediment and impact sh habitat
To eliminate or minimize this, a proper conveyance channel
should be used Ensure the channel is either rock-lined or
vegetated to prevent erosion (see Figure 9) and that the outlet
to the receiving water body does not harm sh habitat by
destabilizing stream banks or eroding instream habitat such asriparian vegetation, river banks or beds
is a water sample requred or analyss?
A pumping test is a good time to collect water quality samples
to assess the chemical, physical and bacterial properties o the
water Water samples should be collected when conditions
have stabilized (ie, usually near the end o the pumping test)
Sanitize the sampling port or bib with isopropyl alcohol or a
dilute chlorine solution beore collecting a sample, taking care
not to introduce the sanitization fuid to the water sample
Consult with the qualied proessional responsible or the test orthe approving authority (eg, regional health authority or local
government) to determine what water quality parameters to
analyze Consult a qualied proessional i eld measurements
are required (eg, pH, temperature, conductivity, alkalinity,
dissolved oxygen and turbidity) Consult the laboratory or
sampling procedures, sampling bottles, coolers and holding
times or delivery o water quality samples to the laboratory
A th sca cts t awaf wh cct tt th
tst?Ihydroracturing (racking) has been used to increase the
productivity o the well, it may advisable to wait up to a week
beore conducting the pumping test Hydroracturing uses large
volumes o water (eg, up to 2,000 US gallons or 76 m3/min)
that either need to be pumped out or dissipate into the
surrounding rock beore the pumping test is done Dissipation
eects o hydroracturing can be checked by measuring the
water level immediately ater the hydroracturing has occurred
and over subsequent hours or days
Small unconsolidated (sand and gravel) aquifers (eg,
covering up to a ew km2 in area) have a limited storage and
recharge capacity and are oten bounded by low permeability
deposits such as silt, clay, till or bedrock (see Figure 10) The
drawdown behaviour in the early part o the pumping test may
give a alsely optimistic impression o the long-term yield The
aquiers limits are reached when the drawdown rate increases
noticeably (ie, an impermeable geologic boundary or barrier
may have been reached) Wells pumped in coastal aquifers
have the potential or salt water intrusion, particularly wherepumping occurs on ocean waterront properties (see Figure
11) In this case, a qualied proessional hydrogeologist should
be involved Monitoring a parameter like specic conductance
throughout the pumping test will indicate whether salt water
intrusion is occurring during the test For example, when specic
conductance has risen to greater than 1,000 micro Siemens
per centimetre (S/cm) which is equivalent to ~250 mg/L o
chloride, it is likely salt water intrusion is being initiated Specic
conductance can be monitored using a specic conductance
PumpingWater LevelStatic Water
Level
AquiferBEDROCK
Static Water Level
Flow of Water to Well
PumpingWater Level
EncroachingSalt Water
Figure 9. Conveyance channel constructed to reduce erosion rom
discharged pumped water.
Figure 10. Drawdown behaviour in small unconsolidated unconned
aquier bounded by bedrock.
Figure 11. Pumping test o a well adjacent to the ocean.
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probe or meter A qualied proessional should be consulted
The qualied proessional will design the pumping test and
determine whether sentinel or observation wells (ie, monitoring
wells located between the oreshore and aults or racture zones
adjacent to sea water and the pumping well) should be installed
or monitored, as well as the parameters to monitor where there is
a reasonable concern about salt water intrusion On the advice o
a qualied proessional, pumping should be stopped i intruding
salt water could aect the water quality in the coastal aquier
Who can nterpret pumpng test data?
Interpretation o pumping test data should be done by
a qualied proessional with expertise in hydrogeology,
especially in the ollowing situations:
when required by an approving agency;
where the maximum well yield is needed;
to assess impacts o the pumping well; or
when estimates o aquier properties are needed
Where wells are tested solely to provide greater condencein the drillers estimated yield, a qualied well driller or pump
installer with competency in pumping test interpretation may
be able to interpret the pumping test data
What should be n a pumpng test report?
The ormal report or a pumping test should contain the
ollowing:
inormation on the well (ie, the well construction report,
type o well and a diagram showing the wells location on
the property, etc); inormation on eld procedures and personnel involved in
the test (ie, person responsible or the pumping test, such
as a qualied well pump installer)
inormation on the hydrogeologic setting, including
reerences to mapped aquiers, when available;
pumping test inormation including the date o the
pumping test, all data on the pump type, depth o pump
setting, pumping rates, method o fow measurement,
observations made during the pumping test, duration o
the test, available drawdown, specic capacity, method o
water level measurements and water levels/times recorded
during the pumping test and recovery period;
analysis and assessment o the pumping test data including
an assessment o the long-term sustainable yield and
potential impacts to neighbouring wells and/or streams;
the qualied proessionals opinion on the short and
long-term capacity o the well and its ability to meet the
applicable production criteria (eg, subdivision by-law or
private sources, projected demand or water systems);
assessment o the water quality results, including copies o
laboratory results; and
signature and proessional seal o the qualied proessional
responsible or the report
Further normaton and resources onpumpng tests
Reference books and ReportsSterrett R. J., 2007. Groundwater and Wells, 3rd edition
New Brighton: Johnson Screens
Allen, D.M., 1999. An assessment o the methodologies
used or analyzing hydraulic test data in British Columbia.
Queens Press
Internet Resources
Ministry o Environment Pumping Test Report orm -
http://wwwenvgovbcca/wsd/plan_protect_sustain/
groundwater/brochures_ormshtml
Guidance document on conducting pumping tests orwells requiring a Certifcate o Public Convenience and
Necessity (CPCN) -
http://wwwenvgovbcca/wsd/plan_protect_sustain/
groundwater/library/eval_well/indexhtml
Checklist or Pumping Test Reports in Support o
Certifcate o Public Convenience and Necessity -
http://wwwenvgovbcca/wsd/plan_protect_sustain/
groundwater/library/eval_well/well-07ht m
Listing o Groundwater Consultants in BC -
http://wwwenvgovbcca/wsd/plan_protect_sustain/
groundwater/library/consultantshtml
Provincial registry o qualifed well drillers -
http://wwwenvgovbcca/wsd/plan_protect_sustain/
groundwater/wells/applications/well_drillers_regpd
Provincial registry o qualifed well pump installers -
http://wwwenvgovbcca/wsd/plan_protect_sustain/
groundwater/wells/applications/pump_install_regpd
BC Water Resource Atlas for information on aquifers and
wells - http://wwwenvgovbcca/wsd/data_searches/wrbc/
indexhtml
Photos by Vicki Carmichael, Jim Fye and Mike Simpson
ISBN 978-0 -7726-7033-5
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