EP 1110-1-27
27 Jan 00
Table 2-2. Parameters Useful in Well Maintenance Monitoring
Type Tests
Parameters Obtained
Hydraulic testing
Flow and drawdown for specific capacity (water
level rise in injection wells).
Total amount of pumping time and quantity
pumped per year.
Periodic step-tests for well and pump efficiency.
Power and fuel consumption for pump efficiency.
Physicochemical parameters (for changes due to
Total and ferric iron, and total manganese (and
other metals as indicated).
Important anions as identified, including sulfides,
sulfates, carbonates, and bicarbonates.
possible (instrument readings may be replaced by
checking ratios of Fe (total) to Fe2+ (soluble)).
Turbidity or total suspended solids calculation of
product water.
Calculation of corrosion/encrustation potential
using a consistent method.
Microbial
Total Fe/Mn-related bacteria (IRB), sulfur-
reducing bacteria (SRB), slime-forming and other
microbial types of maintenance concern as
indicated.
Visual/physical
Pump and other equipment inspection for
deterioration
g. Incorporating PM data collection into the site data collection effort. Too often the significance
and central importance of data are overlooked in the context of the scope of the whole project. What may
seem to be minor clerical details to those responsible for a project's overall management can be important
later in site operations. The quality and completeness of boring logs, well completion diagrams, and well
testing, etc., are often left to contractors who do not appreciate the value of the data, or left to
inexperienced, overworked, or unsupervised junior technical staff. Omissions in the data are often
apparent only when it is too late to correct the deficiency.
(1) Data are easiest to obtain and more accurate if data collection is incorporated into the project
plan at the onset. There is a tendency to omit maintenance planning, data gathering, and repair costs when
bids are higher than budgeted, or to inadequately fund these tasks as costs are adjusted to available funds
during project management. Budgets to fund remediation activities themselves can be unrealistic in this
regard in not adequately considering the real costs of maintenance.
(2) Compiling data at a later stage of a project's operation is generally difficult and less
successful. The following sections describe the types of testing and information recommended, and how
the information should be collected, recorded, and managed, along with useful references and standards in
practical use. A minimum of baseline data on each well is needed to assess and interpret the well's
performance through time. Specifications should assure that there are specific requirements for data
collection and analysis for O&M purposes.
2-3