For the water supply company Hydron South Holland in the
Netherlands, clogged wells constituted a significant problem
that lowered production capacity of the well field,
disrupted the purification process at the treatment plant, and
decreased overall revenues. This study was undertaken to
develop a better understanding of the clogging process, the
nature of the clogging materials, and the exact position of these
materials in the well.
The Hydron South Holland wells pump anaerobic groundwater
from aquifers consisting of Pleistocene, sandy, and fluvial sediments.
Samples were collected from a number of wells with a
reduced specific capacity. Light microscopy and electron
microscopy were performed on undisturbed samples, and particle
size distribution and chemical analyses were conducted on bulk
samples. On the basis of study results, a new two-pronged rehabilitation
procedure was developed for seriously clogged wells.
Initial findings indicate that the procedure offers both good immediate
results and a significantly lower clogging rate over the long
term. Hydron South Holland is conducting further research to
prevent initial clogging and fine-tune well drilling techniques and
well design. Utilities experiencing well clogging in similar aquifer
conditions can use these findings to optimize their own rehabilitation
procedures or as a jumping-off point for new research on well
clogging and well design. Includes 9 references, table, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. 95 - No. 8 |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 1 MB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 7 |
| Published : | 08/01/2003 |
