Incrustation of Water Wells

Groundwater analysis should cover all the inorganic parameters usually associated with water quality analysis, together with a profile of bacterial activity. Incrustation, or blockage of water flow, in a well system takes many forms, but in general, they can be divided into biological blockage, mineral blockage, and physical blockage. Incrustation forms in water-well systems for many reasons, but the primary cause of incrustation is water quality. This chapter describes the effects of velocity, pressure, and temperature changes and discusses three types of incrustation: chemical, physical, and biological. The chapter discusses iron deposits, field testing of incrustation, and timely maintenance and presents three types of treatment: acid treatment, chlorine treatment, and polyphosphate treatment. Finally, the chapter discusses how historical records of well field operational data often illuminate the incidence of fouling in well systems.