By Stuart A. Smith, MS, CGWP of Ground Water Science

Copyright 1998-2008, Stuart A. Smith, All rights reserved. Copying is permitted but please credit the source. Original version (since repeatedly updated) presented at el XV Congreso Nacional del Agua, La Plata, Argentina, April 1994. A PDF of the paper copy version en espanol (circa 1994) is available.

Covered in this article:

Aqua-Freed, chemical reformulations and other derivative concepts

Blended and "extreme" chemical method treatments

Force treatments

Suction flow control and other well gizmos and gadgets

Conclusions and prospects

Causes of well deterioration and maintenance monitoring

References

Numerous available text references describe methods of well rehabilitation. Innovations in well restoration methods are improvements that are somewhat more effective than "conventional" methods in some cases. Well rehabilitation or restoration and well maintenance are analogous to war and diplomacy or heart surgery and heart-healthy lifestyle, respectively. Where the latter is neglected or half-hearted (as recent history testifies), the former often becomes inevitable. Improved well rehabilitation methods in this analogy are simply the bigger, faster cannon: they make a bigger impression, but are still a poor substitute for preventing maintenance actions. 

Three representative development areas will be discussed further here. All are "new" in the sense of being different than the routine, but all are derivative and not revolutionary. That is in itself an important fact to know: there are STILL no miracle cures to well problems. The key is to understand the strengths and weaknesses of any process and to use the best mixture in an informed manner.

Aqua-Freed, chemical reformulations and other derivative concepts

Aqua-FreedTM process: cold CO2 fracture opening and encrustation removal (often called "freezing")
While "dry ice" (solid CO2) has long been used as a well development tool in North America, control of dose and application have been a problem. The Aqua-Freed procedure (Aqua Freed, a subsidiary of Subsurface Technologies Inc., Rock Tavern, NY, described in Mansuy, 1999) was developed as a way to provide the redevelopment effects of cryogenic CO2  in a controlled manner. Post-planning, this process has four steps as follows:

1)    Injection of gaseous CO2 to begin forming carbonic acid

2)    Injection of cryogenic liquid CO2, starting agitation and freezing

3)    Allowing time for penetration into the formation and reaction

4)    After application, remove packer and thaw, venting and depressurization,

5)    Mechanical redevelopment (this is crucial, Mansuy 1999* notes)

This process is described by its developers as acting on the formation and encrustants in the wells through gas expansion and freezing and thawing, which dislodges deposits, and also through the formation of carbonic acid, acting under pressure. The carbonic acid solution is relatively high in concentration and acts as a mild acid, which can attack deposits. The thermal shock on bacteria and their biofilm networks probably has some benefit in dislodging biofouling.

* Contact us for a reference list.

The Aqua-Freed process has some other attractive features:

1)    The injectant is chemically reduced and not reactive with organic molecules

2)    It does not work under high pressure, so that fracture opening is minimized

3)    The material, compressed CO2, is relatively safe to handle (suspending dusts of aluminum, Mg, Ti, Cr and Mn in CO2 streams should be avoided)

4)    No other chemicals are absolutely necessary. Some Aqua-Freed service providers will add a chemical rehabilitation step and additional redevelopment at this point as needed. This is highly recommended.

Problems identified are (at present):

1)    Commercial restriction (exclusive territories) and not cost of the action may result in a lack of optimal price (Subsurface Technologies does not agree with this assessment – “we report, you decide”). Some price differential between an Aqua-Freed quote and a "standard" chemical rehab quote may be due to inadequate chemical application or handling and disposal. Some contractors will "low ball" chemical treatment bids, betting on change orders later. This is something you should definitely be aware of. In other words "compare apples to apples" in proposal review.

2)    Possible structural damage to the well (also disputed, but service providers have told stories – probably a declining situation as they gain experience). This is not significantly addressed in Mansuy (1999).

3)    The cold thermal shock is admittedly not nearly as effective as can be applied by heating the water.

4)    Kinetic force generated is readily dissipated in hydraulically highly conductive aquifers and is most likely confined to discrete channels. In other words, your author is agnostic about their description of what goes on during treated, and especially the illustrations of it.

5)    The poor thermal conductivity of lithological materials also will limit cold transmission to the immediate area of the well, based on studies of glacially influenced materials.

6)    In our experience: Competence in application is not consistently high quality. If packers are not set properly and the CO2 blows out up the casing, the effort and money are wasted.

Its best use is probably in situations with significant encrustation immediately at the screen or borehole wall vicinity, removal of which will provide significant relief. ALSO, where chemicals are (irrationally) forbidden.

Casings must be firmly sealed into the formation with cement, unless the packer is used to isolate the casing. In its current form: it is probably best to be very cautious with bentonite-grouted wells, especially structurally weak monitoring wells (although with time, use with these wells should be possible). One additional problem at present in recommending the process is a lack of DETAILED objective, documented case histories of its effectiveness (short testimonies are available at their web site). This situation WAS NOT alleviated with Mr. Mansuy's 1999 book, but the recently published AWWA Research Foundation report on well cleaning comparisons includes a number of Aquafreed case history evaluations.  The original schedule for release of this report was 2000 and finally published for restricted distribution in 2006. In this report, the documented Aquafreed cases included additional cleaning steps (chemical and mechanical), such that it is not objectively possible to separate the effect of the Aquafreed treatment from that of the additional treatment steps. So the question of Aquafreed effectiveness is still open.

Your authors do not have direct experience with this procedure and cannot vouch for its effectiveness. We are willing to be available to so document results if a service provider would like us to do so.

The carbon dioxide injection maintenance technology (Aqua Gard) marketed by Subsurface Technologies appears to have merit, as a CO2 saturation environment in well water discourages microbial growth and reduced state discourages oxidation, and the CO2 injected generates some development energy.

Chlorine alternatives for biofouling removal

The use of chlorination in wells is becoming more restrictive in parts of North America and Europe (not entirely a bad thing). Both because of this, and because shock chlorination is seldom the most effective treatment, several other treatments are being used for biofouling control.

Hydrogen peroxide: Like ozone and halogens, aqueous hydrogen peroxide is a powerful disinfectant and oxidant. It has been used with some effectiveness in removing well biofouling in both water supply and environmental wells. On the other hand, H2O2 can enhance microbial growth away from the well as it breaks down to form H2O and O2. It is after all used as a means of providing oxygen in this way for in situ bioremediation of ground water. H2O2 is also strongly reactive with combustible mixtures.

Good use: Removing H2S that builds up under hydrostatic pressure while HCl is dissolving iron sulfide clogs in deep wells (don't use chlorine for that purpose). Go on to the next...

Organic acids: Contractors who perform well maintenance (as well as this author) are abandoning the use of chlorine compounds in favor of certain organic acids for use in preventive maintenance treatments. We are finding that the biofouling bacteria become accustomed to the chlorine and actually make more oxidized iron and organic byproducts. No total bacterial kill is achieved with chlorine. The clogging zone also simply reestablishes itself further out in the formation, beyond the reach of the treatment process. In addition, frequent use results in the formation of chlorinated organic compounds (those famous disinfection byproducts DBPs).

Chelating organic acids such as acetic or glycolic acid have both antibacterial effects and serve to remove oxidized iron products. The microflora are not extensively disrupted, but their clogging products are removed. Glacial acetic is somewhat less expensive per unit, but glycolic has a higher pK, can be used in lower concentration, smells better, and is available in NSF-listed blends.

Use of heat: This approach is described in Borch et al. (1993), Gariboglio and Smith (1993), Smith (1995), and Alford and Cullimore (1999). Heat is often favored as a biofouling removal method where chemicals cannot be used for environmental reasons. However, heat is cumulative around the well structure when applied (due to lithologic resistance to heat transfer – same problem as with cold), and can actually enhance growth away from the thermal shock zone. Alford and Cullimore (1999) provide a useful experience history. It is also very inefficient in terms of fuel or power to generate thermal energy, and can also deteriorate grout, plastic casings, and other bore features. We have found through experience that the best approach to using heat is as a part of the blended chemical heat treatment method described in the following.

New chemical products: Effectiveness and safety? Proof that well rehabilitation has become a notable market factor in North America has been the interest that companies have shown in providing products for it. There has been an appearance of numerous new products with product names. Most of these products are derivations or packaging for long-used and familiar chemical products such as glycolic, sulfamic, acetic, phosphonic, and citric acid, or caustic soda, often with indicators, stabilizers, or wetting agents added.

The fact that these products are available from suppliers that drilling companies normally frequent (instead of the back dock of the chemical supply warehouse) has made their use more attractive. Instructions for use, provided by people who have some knowledge in the field, improves safety and confidence. Commercial support has resulted in testing and National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certification of some products. Some states require "brand-name" products for some applications.

The brand names and lack of full disclosure of blends in literature does make it more difficult to determine the formulations of the products and how they will react in use. This results in a "trust me" relationship with the supplier. Which is OK if you DO trust the supplier AND the RESULTS ARE GOOD.

One trend in the USA especially, but also in Canada and Europe, has been concern about the environmental impact of well treatment chemicals. Increasingly, specifications require that chemicals have National Sanitation Foundation or equivalent approval for potable water use, and detailed instructions on purge water treatment and disposal. It is possible that several products, notably muriatic acid (industrial-grade hydrochloric acid) with its impurities, may disappear from the list of suitable water well treatment chemicals in North America. This ISN'T SUCH A HEARTBREAKER considering how they are mis- and over-used by unknowledgeable people. Good quality HCl, with its high H+ Cl-ionization constant, will likely remain in wide use (there isn't a good chemical alternative for Fe sulfide removal), although glycolic acid, with its own high pK and NSF certification, is a safer, more versatile alternative.

The carbon dioxide treatments bill themselves as “greener” and permitting well cleaning without chemicals. However, glycolic treatments, properly designed and administered, as equally as safe, even around sensitive electrical equipment. The trick is in the application – which we can train you to do.

P-containing acids. Some chemicals sold for well cleaning are phosphorous-based acids (e.g., phosphoric or phosphonic). They have no particular advantage over others except for sulfate salt removal, where they excel. When used, P is left behind on minerals and can be a nutrient boost for regrowth. Those who promote these products versus acetic or glycolic acid note that the latter types can leave behind short-chain carbon compounds as food (e.g., acetate). Our experience is that ground water has a significant assimilable C content, but it lacks the all-important P needed for respiration and energy transfer in cells. Also, dislodged biofilm supplies large quantities of assimilable C. We advise taking your chances with the carbon. Use a shock method of treatment to remove brittle sulfate minerals.

Polymers. There are numerous chemicals that can be used as surfactants and chelating agents in dislodging and removing clog material. One important issue is the introduction of nutrients. Ground water is typically low in P. Do not use phosphorus-containing compounds in well cleaning or maintenance. Other non-P polymers are used in highly effective blends, aiding the acid in taking apart and dispersing clogs. These are somewhat specific and difficult to compare. 

Blended Method Treatments

One trouble in considering chemical treatment types individually is that they seldom work to best advantage alone. The problem is that practice from the 1970s onward emphasized the chemical selection and dosage, and de-emphasized the importance of (time-consuming) mechanical development.

(1) Firstly, EFFECTIVE agitation is necessary for chemical treatments to have maximal effect.
(2) Chemical activities can be otherwise augmented by mixtures and temperature increase.
For example, surfactants improve the contact between disinfectants and bacteria in biofilms, acids provide ionic shock, and such mixtures can be heated to increase molecular activity. An extended contact time additionally improves effectiveness of biocidal action. Effective agitation puts chemicals in contact with clogging deposits and helps to remove them. Best common analogy: Those of you who wash dishes (and you should if you don't :-)) know that cleaning is most effective with detergent, hot water, and agitation and scrubbing.

The patented BCHT process (developed by ARCC Inc., Port Orange, FL, USA, U.S. Pat. # 4,765,410) is probably the best example of an intentional blended method approach. Its effectiveness and results have been studied by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on an unprecedented scale for a rehabilitation method. It is the best-documented innovative method (Leach et al. 1991; Kissane and Leach, 1993; Alford and Cullimore, 1999; Ground Water Science, 2000; Guy et al., 2006).

This method employs all the recommendations for rehabilitative treatment based on recent research:

1)    Analysis of problem causes

2)    Physical agitation in combination with chemicals

3)    Heat augmentation of chemicals

4)    Appropriate mixtures of chemicals customized for the situation

5)    Staged treatment to produce various effects.

The treatment is followed by analyses of results and treatment is repeated and modified as necessary. The BCHT process involves three phases of application to shock, disrupt, and disperse biofouling (Alford and Cullimore, 1999).

The Shock phase involves water-jet injection of a heated (90-200 F) tailored chemical solution (chlorine-based early in development, now more typically high-quality glycolic acid) amended with nonphosphate (polyelectrolyte) surfactant (known as CB-4 – works well against calcite) into the production zone. The result is (1) a reduction of chemical demand in the Disruption phase (next), (2) softening of biofouling and encrustants, and (3) increasing microbial kill and more effective development.

The Disruption phase is commenced after an overnight "presoak" involves more customization (based on analysis of the well conditions), but revolves around injecting with water-jet a tailored chemical mixture, again heated to achieve 60 to 95 C in the well and allowing a contact time as long as possible. The pH shift is down to as low as pH 1 (but more typically pH 2). Heating increases metabolic rates at the fringe of the heat influence zone, increasing assimilation of toxic disinfectants.

The Dispersion phase involves "plain good old fashioned well development": the physical removal of the disrupted fouling material from the affected well surfaces. Standard surging methods are employed (e.g., Borch et al. 1993; Smith, 1995).

BCHT has been employed on a variety of applications, including municipal water supply wells, pressure-relief wells with redwood-stave screens, and pumping wells at dangerous hazardous waste remediation sites. The process requires very specific knowledge of chemicals, their application, and their effects on fouling, wells, and ground water quality.

The Ultra Acid-Base process or UABTM is a less technically intensive variation on BCHT (developed by the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Initiative in cooperation with ARCC Inc. associates Droycon Bioconcepts in Canada) that inflicts contrasting extremely acidic and caustic environments on the biofouling in a system. The treatment process involves three phases of chemical application to remove the clogging biofilms. As with BCHT, the first phase is intended to shock the bacterial cells and biofilms, the second to disrupt (break up) the biofilms, and the third to disperse the biofilms and other clogging material.
    The shock phase of the UAB treatment process begins after pre-heating the well intake area with hot water to increase the down hole temperature to about 65 C. The shock phase itself involves application of a hot water solution, disinfectant or detergent acid such as acetic, and nonphosphate wetting agent surfactant). The water in the well and surrounding aquifer is maintained at a temperature of at least 65 C, to enhance the chemical effect. High temperatures increase the rate at which chemicals react and reduce the amount of chemical needed for cleaning. The wetting agent helps the hot water and chemicals to penetrate the biofilms.
    The disrupt phase works to kill bacteria by causing a shift from a strongly acidic to a strongly alkaline solution. Although some bacteria thrive in acid conditions and some in caustic environments, none (including those adapted for circum-neutral pH environments) do well when rapidly shifted to another environment. This process has been highly effective in applications in the U.S. and Canada.

The developers of both processes have been able to fully train several crews to date, and general application may require an unprecedented training effort. This need for training has restricted somewhat the application of BCHT. It is (in the author's opinion) worthwhile to obtain the training to employ these very effective approaches. The payoff is in being able to supply a very effective treatment using locally available resources and equipment, with little or no chemical disposal after treatment.

Use the Force, Luke...

Improving the application of force in redevelopment is a crucial area of improvement. Among these are treatments based around detonating a shaped or charged wire, cord or device in wells. This cleaning approach has been in common use in the water and oil industry for several decades. These methods take advantage of the different elastic properties of the materials (filter pipes, gravel back-fill and surroundings, deposits between the gravel particles) to loosen deposits from well and aquifer/filter pacl surfaces. These are effected by the detonation at differential frequencies. The water-carrying voids in the filter slits, gravel fill and the virgin soil can be significantly enlarged by this process.

Sonar-Jet®  (Water Well Redevelopers, Anaheim, CA, Pat. #4,757,663), in development for over 50 years, is among the best known of these. It employs two controlled physical actions working simultaneously:

   1. A mild "harmonic" (kinetic) frequency of shockwaves designed to gently loosen hardened mineral, bacterial or other type deposits, even heavy gypsum deposits almost impossible to attack chemically.

   2. Pulsating, horizontally directed, gas pressure jets fluid at high velocity back and forth through the perforations to deep clean the productive aquifers.

The shock waves loosen crust-like deposits and the gas jets repetitively surge the well's own fluid back and forth through the perforations, to deep clean the surrounding aquifer.

Beginning April 1, 1997, all Sonar-Jet® devices manufactured were of a new and improved version:

1) Force capacity was doubled, "while still considered safe."
2) A wider range of in-well devices for vaious applications, including PVC casing.
3) Better cleanup of Sonar-Jet debris to eliminate pump clogging.

EnerJet (Welenco, Bakersfield, CA) is a similar device (explosive/implosive type of cleaning method) that involves the use of detonating cord and blasting caps attached to a wire carrier that is used to clean wells. Different strengths or grain sizes of detonating cord are used depending on the diameter, condition, and amount of encrustation on the casing. There is a centralizer at the top and bottom of the string, plus a basket at the bottom to catch a sample of the encrustation and gravel that may enter the well during the cleaning process. The high-energy gas breaks up encrustation as it moves through the perforations and into the gravel pack and formation. According to the developers, EnerJet works better on hard mineral deposits than on "bacteria or algae"; "they seem to absorb the blast and are often treated with chemicals."

Sonar-Jet or Ener-Jet type cleaning has typically been considered optimal for near-well, hardened deposits, and has been not so effective on soft, biofouling plugs, which can be forced outward into the formation by the harmonic step. However, sometimes problems identified as biofouling actually have hydraulic impact through deposition of hard solids in pore spaces, especially around persistently dewatered screens and filter packs. We have had very good results using it in such wells, and in rock wells with hardened ferrous sulfide encrustation.

A highly effective use of the system is as follows:

1)    Conduct borehole TV and review history and water chemistry, and determine that a hardened or entrenched deposit exists

2)    Perform an initial bore cleaning

3)    Perform the Sonar-Jet treatment

4)    Follow immediately with a chemical and redevelopment step

5)    TV, pump test and review.

The Shockblasting Method: The Shockblasting® method (Berliner Wasserbetriebe, BWB), is described to illustrate how these methods arise independently around the world. This system also works with small amounts of explosives along a cord, utilizes the elastic impulses and the pressure of the gas fumes which arise along the whole length of the filter. Modern explosive cords, which are available in different charge quantities, are used to produce the detonation. The charge quantity that is necessary for the optimal outcome of the regeneration of the well depends on:

1) The nominal width of the filter pipe
2) Type and quality of reinforcement materials
3) Type, age and intensity of the sedimentation.

As with Sonar-Jet and Ener-Jet, the well is initially brushed and pumped out, TV surveyed, loaded with the device, "shot" then the deposits are removed conventionally by pumping out the debris. "Afterwards, an intensive de-silting of the filter is carried out meter for meter." BWB says "Findings gained from experience for the effectiveness and usability of Shockblasting® in wells made of different materials and from compregnated laminated wood are available."

Andreas Wicklein of BWB further noted that "This method has been further developed, so that a regeneration of wells made of brittle or worn-out materials can be carried out. Before, these wells would have been unsuitable for regeneration using the Shockblasting® method (i.e. vitreous clay, plastic and similar materials, as well as strongly corroded steel filters). Now, a better quality filter pipe (coiled wire filter), which is somewhat smaller, is used. The old filter is detonated along with its pipe. For this, a suitable explosive charge is used, thus loosening and regenerating the surrounding filter gravel. In this case as well, an intensive de-silting is carried out afterwards in order to improve the results even further."

The patented Airburst Method (U.S. patent 5,579,845) develops based on high-pressure gas pulses, in its current form, generated by a Bolt Technologies gas gun. A similar device was developed independently by Pro-Well Technologies, an Israeli firm. Advantages:

1)    Highly efficient action of shock wave and strong surging without utilizing explosives. The device can be fired in rapid succession, e.g., 1-ft intervals up and down a screen, and the pressure waveform and amplitude adjusted by managing the pressure and gas volume.

2)    Very effective for well development, redevelopment, routine well maintenance and post-treatment well surging or airlifting.

3)    It may be used instead or in conjunction with any chemical well O&M technique.

The ability to develop concusive force is an improvement over air surging. The force is on the order of that developed by explosives-type tools such as Sonar-Jet, but is a) dialable and b) repeatable in the same application. These are major advantages. 

Airburst and similar tools, of course, cannot bring in water if the formation is dry, or do miracles with very tight rock aquifers. It is highly portable (no rig needed), and the multiple firing capacity is an improvement over shooting. The gas can be air or a specific mix, for example, N2 can be used.

Suction flow control

In any well, the pump represents the lowest pressure point in the aquifer volume affected by the well. Where the pump is situated in the casing above the screen, almost all flow enters through the top 10 to 15 % of the screen (Nuzman, 1989; Pelzer and Smith, 1990; Ehrhardt and Pelzer, 1992). If the pump is situated in the screen, flow through the screen occurs predominently near the pump. Inflow velocity is higher than the average calculated for a screen dimension and slot size, using, for example, the methods published in Driscoll (1986). A concentration of clogging is commonly induced in this high-velocity zone during well operation. Additionally, German experiments (Ehrhardt and Pelzer, 1992) have demonstrated a vertical flow component in some filter-packed wells due to this flow pattern. The relatively high-velocity vertical flow tends to erode filter pack and results in sand pumping.

One technology that has been developed in recent years to counteract uneven well inflow is the refinement of the controlled-inflow pump tailpipe referred to as a suction flow control device (SFCD). SFCD are simple devices that are refinements of the field- or shop-fabricated perforated pump intake pipes also installed to modify the path of water entering the pump. SFCD, like tailpipes, may be installed attached to the pump intake, or installed as a liner in the well intake, sealed by a packer at the top of the screen.

The SFCD refinement is that perforations are made in an engineered pattern that forces flow to enter the well in a more cylindrical fashion as intended, generally by gradually reducing resistance to flow from top to bottom. The perforation pattern is designed based on well hydraulics information for the specific well: screen length and diameter, slot size, total depth, depth-to-screen, and design pumping capacity. Units installed in North America, Europe, and the Mediterranean region have a generally excellent track record of controlling sand pumping even in flawed and damaged wells with very little hydraulic resistance.

A proposed use for SFCD in pumping wells is to normalize flow across the intake screen, reducing the tendency of clogs to concentrate near the pump, and thus lengthening the time between well cleaning events. Secondarily, SFCD can reduce the negative impact of less-than perfect design and installation in formations with finely laminated fine-particle layers. The use of the specifically designed SFCD, as opposed to crudely engineered imitations, is recommended for better results.

The SFCD design available and fabricated in the U.S. is the Aquastream, produced by Sand Control Technologies (Aquastream Inc.). Aquastreams consist of a single-wall PVC or stainless steel pipe, which is slotted in the pattern desired, coated with an external filter pack. While the design and fabrication of the Aquastream product resulted in mixed success in the past, recent experience has offered a record of good service, according to Aquastream. The company offers a guarantee, continues technological advance, and offers related services to improve the prospects of success with their technology.

A more refined design and fabrication process was developed by Rudolph Pelzer of Herzogenrath, Germany. This design has been marketed under the Eucastream mark, first by Kabelwerk Eupen, Eupen, Belgium, and then Eufor Inter SPRL (also Eupen, Belgium) in Europe and the Mediterranean region. The Eucastream consists of a single, specifically perforated PVC or stainless steel pipe without a filter pack that, like the Aquastream, fits with a seal inside the well intake. Unfortunately, practical commercial access to this design is still limited to Europe and the Mediterranean, however, it is possible to find published calculations for an engineered tail pipe that serves the same function.

Well gizmos and gadgets

Improved materials: Slowing deterioration of well components and limiting recurrence of preventable problems is making the success of rehabilitation more likely. Notable product developments include the widespread availability of all-stainless steel and stainless-and-plastic pumps, high-quality rigid plastic pump discharge (drop) pipe with twist-on-twist-off connections (e.g., Certa-LokTM ), and flexible discharge hose that permits easy pump service while providing reliable, high-strength, corrosion-resistant material (e.g., WellmasterTM by Kidde Fire Fighting, Angus Fire, North America, Angier, NC or Boreline Inc.).

Computers and controllers: SCADA systems originally developed for process treatment have been adapted for wellfields, permitting rapid, easy, and continuous monitoring of well and pump hydraulic performance, and even physical-chemical changes. These have become flexible and inexpensive enough for nearly all important wellfields. Pump controllers help to maintain regular current flow of the proper characteristics and phase to pump motors, prolonging motor life, and shielding motors from line surges. All pump motors should be equipped with automatic controllers.

Conclusions and Prospects

There are now available rational, effective methods to conduct systematic preventive maintenance on wells and associated water systems to control biofouling and other problems.

1)    Biofouling can only be effectively prevented if detected at an early stage and controlled immediately, and other well clogging problem prevention benefits from early detection.

2)    There are effective preventive and rehabilitative treatments for wells that can be used to control biofouling and other well problems such as sand-pumping. However,

3)    Some devices available that can help in preventing deterioration have limited commercial availability at the present time. Demand has to be developed.

4)    While effective, both the maintenance and rehabilitation methods require knowledge. Personnel must be trained in the use of these methods, and implementation may require some expert guidance.

Wide application of these recently refined methods will require that operators and managers of water supply and ground water remediation systems accept that improved methods will improve their operations. Also, education and specific training are required.

The costs of adapting these new methods are not insignificant, but are absolutely less costly than the effects of uncontrolled deterioration of wells and water systems. Besides, these costs become budgeted, regular maintenance costs rather than emergency costs. Companies that provide services for wells may find profitable new opportunities.

We highly recommend that troubleshooting well problems and making plans for solving them be done by competent, experienced professionals, and that you obtain several opinions or get them from relatively unbiased sources. We endeavor to be that commercially unbiased expert resource.

Related research, support and training are available from Ground Water Science Look for (or schedule) our seminars or hands-on training in well maintenance and rehabilitation methods.