Reduce Effects of Drought on Water Wells

Contact: Dr. Monty Dozier, 979-845-2761, m-dozier@tamu.edu

COLLEGE STATION – Reports of private water wells in Texas going dry because of the lingering drought are becoming more common, said a water expert with Texas Cooperative Extension.

“As water use and the number of households relying on private water wells increase, groundwater sources are being depleted,” said Dr. Monty Dozier, Extension water resource specialist in College Station. “Couple this with the fact drought continues to grip much of Texas, and homeowners face the risk of loss of water pressure and even water production.”

But well owners can help ensure a continuing water supply, he said.

Shallow water wells in areas with high use are the most at risk, Dozier said. These are the first to go dry when pumping exceeds water recharge from rainfall.

Presently, the hardest hit areas of the state appear to be in the Texas Hill Country and the area west of Fort Worth.

“Development in these areas has led to an increase in the number of water wells, both private and publicly owned, that withdraw water to meet domestic, irrigation, manufacturing and other water demands,” he said.

Well owners can enhance the production of their wells until significant rainfall occurs, he said.

Steps include:

– Reducing water usage.

– Installing water-saving devices.

– Reconfiguring water well pumping systems.

– Lowering the well pump, drilling into deeper water sources or finding alternative water supplies.

Well users can also reduce water demand by changing a few habits:

– Taking five-minute showers rather than baths.

– Keeping cold drinking water in the refrigerator.

– When letting water run as it warms up, catching it in a bowl and using it for cleaning or for watering plants.

– Turning off the water while brushing teeth or shaving.

– Running only full loads of laundry or dishes.

Changes in outside water use include:

– Maintaining mulch or other groundcover to reduce soil moisture loss.

– Reducing the amount of water used in the landscape.

– Replacing water-loving plants with more drought-tolerant varieties.

– Watering only in the early morning or late evening when evaporation rate is lower.

– Watering turf only when it shows signs of wilting, such as when footprints can be left on turfgrass or the blades curl slightly.

– Reducing the number of times cars are washed and washing cars only at a car-washing facility.

– Replacing any leaking faucets inside or outside the home.

Homeowners can also save water by replacing older toilets, showerheads and faucets with more water-efficient models.

Some water-saving devices may be eligible for a rebate from city municipalities. “Check with your local city water works or manager’s office to see if you qualify for such a rebate,” he said.

Water wells can be reconfigured by installing an automatic shut-off switch such as a coyote switch, Dozier said. That will protect the pump and motor from overheating if the well goes dry and the unit begins pumping air.

Coupling this switch setup with pumping water from the well into a large storage tank 1,000 gallons or greater rather than straight to the house can help extend the life of low-yielding wells, he said.

“By pumping into the tank and then using another pump to deliver pressurized water to the house, a well owner can use a timer system to pump water into the storage tank,” he said. “This allows the well owner to schedule the timing of water well use, such as overnight when peak water demand is lower.”

By storing, water will be available on demand, and service is less likely to be disrupted due to a lack of volume, he said.

“This should eliminate loss of water during such inconvenient times as taking a shower and allows more time for water wells to recover after pumping as ended,” he said.

Another alternative is to have the water pump lowered, Dozier said.

“In most water wells, water rises some distance up the casing of the well due to pressure associated with the aquifer,” he said

Some wells — called artesian wells — can flow to the surface without additional pumping.

If the water pump is not set at the bottom of the well, owners may be able to lower the pump below the water table and tap into the water-bearing formation, he said.

“Consult a licensed well driller or water well pump installer regarding lowering pumps,” he advised.

If the pump is set at the bottom and the well depth is higher than the current water table, owners can take more drastic measures, he said. These may include drilling a deeper well to access water at a lower depth or securing an alternative water source.

“Again, consult with a licensed well driller before determining if suitable water is available by drilling deeper,” he said. “If this is not an option or if it is cost prohibitive to drill, then alternative water sources will have to be found.”

Contact county or city governments to determine if a public or privately owned water supplier is available in the area.

“The cost to be hooked up such a system can be expensive,” Dozier said. “However, it may be well worth the investment to help insure the delivery of clean, quality water to your home.”

A water storage and delivery system can be installed to receive delivered water. With such a system, water is purchased and stored in the storage tank and then used as needed, he said.

“You should be aware that if you are experiencing disruptions in your water well service, then other private well users in your area are probably experiencing the same problems,” he said. “Therefore, you need to ask your water supplier how long of a time period in days you can expect between deliveries.”

To determine per person daily water requirement, multiply the number of days by 70 gallons. Then multiply this value by the number of people in the household to determine how much water needed between deliveries.

Consider installing a rainwater capture system.

A rainwater capture system is designed to collect rainwater from roofs and store the captured water in storage tanks, Dozier said. The tanks range from small rain barrels for indoor plants and smaller flower beds to large tanks for in-home and landscape demand. Further information on designing and building a rainwater collection system is available from the local Extension office or by visiting http://rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu.

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