What's going on with our wells??

We all keep hearing about people who have water problems and about different well tests, etc. So I interviewed the owners of McGowan Pump, who conducts many well inspections/tests/repairs in our area, to get some answers.

Question 1: Tell us about your company & what services you offer/provide.
McGowan: We've been in business for approx. 15-16 years. We are a family owned & operated business. We provide sales and service which include the engineering, installation & service of water pressure systems & storage systems. We are a service contractor for most major homes warranty insurance companies such as American Homes Shield, First American Home Buyers Protection, Fidelity, 2-10 Home Buyers, and Buyers Home Warranty. We do well tests and inspections for escrow and also conduct the Water Yield Test required by Fresno County to obtain a building permit.

Question 2: Do you do more than one type of well test?
McGowan: We do a 1 hour inspection test for escrow where we send a probe into a well to measure the depth & we attach a meter to monitor the GPM that is pumped out of the well. We take readings every 5 minutes for 30+ minutes at 0 PSI which give an approx. idea of what the pressure system is delivering to the home and at what depth.
We do a draw down test (Water Yield Test) required by Fresno County to obtain a building permit in water short areas. This test is performed for a min. of 4 hours and a maximum of 48 hours. We monitor and record time, depth and GPMto reach required gallons total for that time of year. We then monitor and record the time it takes the well to recover 90% of drawn down, up to 24 hrs. This test shows us what the well will produce over a period of time and if there is sufficient water to support a household.(For more information you can find requirements on the Fresno Co. Dept. of Public Works & Planning website, under "water requirements for issuance of building permits in water short areas".)

Question 3: Typically we have a "well test" done while in escrow. Is that test really a good indication of how good the well is or is it just testing the pump? In that test, are you also inspecting the pump and its condition?
McGowan: When a well test is done in escrow, it gives you an idea of what you can expect to get out of that well at the time. Its not an indication of what it may pump a year from the test date or even what it may pump if you pumped water out for more than 1 hour. We do a visual inspection for loose or exposed wires, faulty pressure release valves or anything that may need to be replaced. We are testing both the well and its production and the condition of the pump.

Question 4: How important do you feel a well test is?
McGowan: All homeowners or buyers should be issued a well drillers report if available. On that report, it has an estimated GPM for that well. During escrow a test of the pressure system, pump, tank and all components of the system should be taken as well as a test determining what the well is capable of producing.

Question 5: What problems are you encountering in this area? When doing a well test, what would you consider a low producing well? If a well test comes in showing a lower production, what recommendations do you give?
McGowan: This being a drought year, a lot of our calls have been from people out of water thinking something is wrong with their system when actually it's that they have run their well dry and it hasn't had time to recover OR their pump and motor failed due to running their well dry. There are so many variables when conducting a well test. Generally, a test that shows 5 GPM or less, we consider a low volume well. Depending on the number of people in the household, how much landscaping, if they have animals, how much time is spent at home, etc., should be taken into consideration when deciding if the GPM that a well produces is enough for a potential homeowner.

Question 6: Please tell us anything you feel is important for the public to know about wells and well inspections.
McGowan: You want to know all you can on the well and the pressure system before you buy. Generally, you can find a sticker on the water tank or control box with the company's name and number of who serviced the system last. Call them and see what you can find about the system. If you have any questions about the well inspection, get the number of the company who performed the test and give them a call. Talk to the technician that ran the test. Remember to wrap & insulate all exposed pipe & components: this includes booster pumps and pipes going to storage system during the winter season. A good time to do this is any time before November. Make sure that when insulating booster pumps that you leave room for air to circulate around motor to prevent the motor on booster from heating up. Just remember that when choosing a pump company, the right one for you makes the difference between you having water and having none.

I'd like to thank McGowan Pump for answering my questions. If you have any questions or need help, call them at 559-787-2700

DO you have any suggestions for future newsletter interviews? Please call or e-mail JERI at 559-855-5454, or 559-259-9992 or jeri@psnw.com