Water Well Efficiency

There are three aspects to well efficiency. First is designing the most efficient well, second is selecting the most efficient pump, and third is operating system at the most efficient discharge. Without having a reliable simulation model, there is no way to determine optimal well design. This paper will comment on pump selection but concentrate on optimal operation. There is controversy over defining well efficiency and measuring it. Traditional methods related efficiency to well losses. This paper reviews these and suggests that well efficiency should be measured by maximizing net present worth. The basis of this is developing cost and benefit functions and selecting a well discharge that maximizes net present worth. This may not always be delivering water at least cost nor minimizing well losses.