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Table 4. Advantages and disadvantages of high-capacity and low-capacity water-supply wells <br />for water-quality studies (modified from Alan Welch, U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., <br />1992)--Continued <br />LOW-CAPACITY WATER-SUPPLY WELLS <br />Advantages: <br />- Domestic wells are a major source of drinking-water supply for rural population, so wells <br />reflect this resource use. <br />- Good to excellent areal and depth coverage in some areas, particularly for water-table <br />aquifers. <br />- Low-capacity pumping rates limit withdrawal of water from water-bearing formations other <br />than those screened. <br />Disadvantages: <br />- Domestic wells may not be available in urban and suburban areas. <br />- Documentation of well-construction characteristics may be poor or unavailable. <br />- Well construction, pressure tanks and treatment, and/or pumps may preclude being able to <br />collect a sample at the well head. <br />- Downhole chlorination may affect water quality. <br />- The relation between well locations, septic systems, and other potential processes that could <br />affect ground-water quality must be established in order to correctly assess what conditions <br />water-quality data truly reflect. <br />15