Maintaining the quality of groundwater is crucial for individuals and communities that rely on wells for safe drinking water. For the sake of public health, groundwater must be tested periodically using the right tools and methods. Well monitoring is an effective way of analyzing your water supply, which you can learn more about below.

What Is a Monitoring Well?

Monitoring wells are water wells designed to observe and analyze groundwater. The devices themselves consist of a small borehole tube sealed into the earth in an underground reservoir, complete with a permeable screen at the bottom for water collection. They are primarily used to measure an underground reservoir’s level, volume, and quality of water. Well monitoring keeps track of water as it rises and falls in the tube.

Why Is Well Monitoring Important?

Well monitoring can tell you a lot about the water in a designated area. The wells reveal how much water is flowing through an aquifer at any given time, allowing you to track the effects of precipitation, water extraction, and seasonal changes. Level probes measure and keep track of the groundwater level over an extended period of time. You can chart the water table by drilling multiple wells in one area, which is mainly used to ensure your water levels are adequate. If the analysis finds that the resource is being over-exploited, the wells can be used to calculate a more sustainable extraction rate.

The other major value of well monitoring is water testing. Sometimes pollutants like fertilizer, chemical spills, and industrial effluents carried by surface water can end up in water sources. Monitoring wells collect groundwater samples that allow professionals to detect and treat contaminants before they reach homes and businesses, keeping the community’s water safe. Well monitoring is an essential tool that ensures people are getting clean, contaminant-free water while maintaining that the area’s aquifer is not depleted.

For well monitoring services in the Anchorage area, turn to GeoTek Alaska. As a statewide leader in geophysical services, their environmentally friendly projects are able to reach remote locations far and wide. They are proud to offer Geoprobe® Prepacked Well Screens for faster installation and more efficient monitoring. For more information about their state-of-the-art monitoring wells, visit them online. Call (907) 569-5900 to discuss products and services with a knowledgeable geo scientist today.