Alabama Private Wells: Why Yield Drops, per Alabama Extension

Alabama Cooperative Extension System page "Problems With Water Yield in Private Water Wells". Author and date are not stated on the page. Only stated points are included.

Key points from the page

Aquifer material: more porous, saturated materials routinely produce high-yielding wells; less porous clays and bedrock can have slow yields, as low as under 5 gallons per minute. Metamorphic bedrock in the Valley and Ridge is described as a poor aquifer.
Shallow dug wells are vulnerable to drought and seasonal water table declines and many cannot be easily deepened.
Wells can go dry when the pump discharge rate is greater than the groundwater recharge rate.
Scale buildup (calcium, iron and magnesium carbonates) is named as the most common cause of reduced yield; bacteria can feed on it and form bio-slime, which reduces yield.
A submersible pump installed just below the water table can draw water down too quickly, causing frequent cycling that often damages the pump.
A screen mesh that is too large lets sediment through, which can damage the pump.
Repeated rapid water-level changes can introduce oxygen, which may dissolve minerals, including arsenic, into the water.
Benchmarks: the page says the FHA requires 3 to 5 gpm for older wells and 5 gpm for new wells; USGS considers 5 gpm adequate for domestic supply.

Pressure tanks: the page does not mention them.

Not verified: current FHA requirements and Alabama well-construction rules; the page does not source them.

[AD_SLOT]

Request a quote

Tell us your location and setup, and we will pass your request to local suppliers or installers.

[QUOTE_BUTTON]

General information only. Not plumbing, legal or code advice. Confirm with a licensed professional and your local authority.