Program description:
Wells are a distinctive part of groundwater-source water facilities, large or small, including irrigation, environmental, and municipal water supply. These wells are in close contact with the nonengineered “wild” environment: numerous formation changes over depth, and water chemistry and microbiological changes. Well components have large surface areas.

Well deficiencies or failures can be hard to detect in a timely fashion. However, current or potential issues can be detected and tracked with available methods, permitting preventive maintenance actions and treatment.

A feature that wells and wellfield arrays have in common with other engineered systems is the benefit provided by good design, material choices, and expert construction. Thus, a total life-cycle asset management program for “wild” wells involves planning, design, baseline documentation of performance, environmental condition, and performance tracking to establish trends and make decisions over time, and planning service events proactively based on that tracking.

State-specific CEU recognition:

• Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Groundwater Resources Program — 1 hour
• Maryland State Board of Well Drillers — 1 hour
• Minnesota Department of Health, Well Management Section — 1 hour
• Montana Board of Water Well Contractors — 1 hour
• Nevada Division of Water Resources — 1 CEU
• Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Well Driller and Pump Installer Program — 1 CEU
• Oregon Water Resources Department, Well Construction and Compliance — 1 credit
• Tennessee Division of Water Resources, Drinking Water Unit — 1 hour
• Wyoming Water Well Contractors Licensing Board — 1 hour