Sourcing water from a well is a great solution for many properties. However, there may come a time when your well starts to lose water. Even if you’re not in this situation yet, well owners need to know why this can happen and what they can do about it.
Causes of Low Well Yield
Most wells access water from the local water table. The water table is the underground layer where the ground is saturated with water. The water table lies between the upper soil layer and the aquifer (the underground rock layer that stores water).
Ideally, groundwater in the aquifer will be replenished over time by precipitation, keeping the water table (and therefore the water supply) full. Unfortunately, we don’t always live in an ideal world.
Under certain conditions, the water table can fall lower and lower underground. Causes include:
- Seasonal changes
- Drought
- Overpumping
Essentially, a dropping water table means that water is leaving quicker than precipitation can replace it. The longer this imbalance continues, the lower the water table drops.
Symptoms of a Dropping Water Table
Since changes to the water table happen underground, you may not always know that there’s an issue until it starts affecting you at home. Symptoms to look out for include:
- Frequent or sustained changes in water pressure
- Decreased water flow
- Sputtering sounds or other signs of air in your water supply
- Increased water pump cycling
These changes occur because there isn’t enough water underground, but your well pump still tries to draw water up anyway. It’s similar to drinking a beverage with a straw.
At first, you sip gently and get plenty to drink; as you drink more, you have to pull a little harder because the liquid level (and the pressure) decreases. Then, suddenly, you reach a point where you’re pulling in air instead of liquid, and the drink is all gone.
Drought Effects in Upstate New York
Broadly defined, a drought occurs when there’s a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period that causes water shortages and/or other measurable hardships, such as crop damage. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, New York State experiences drought every two to three years, on average.
Regional droughts in upstate New York largely result from progressive changes in seasonal temperatures. Over time, winters have gotten warmer, a portion of precipitation that used to fall as snow now falls as rain, and snow and ice melt earlier in the year.
Taken together, this means that water is reentering the aquifer at different times, in different amounts, and at different rates than it used to. Changes in snowmelt, in particular, can set the stage for drought conditions.
A smaller amount of snow and ice is melting earlier in the year than the historical average. This means there’s less water entering the aquifer, and it’s flowing in for a shorter period. These changes often lead to drier conditions in warmer months, a dropping water table, and possible water shortages.
Solutions for Changing Water Supplies
There are numerous ways to address a dropping water table and low well yields. Possibilities include:
- Adopting water conservation measures
- Replacing toilets, showers, or other fixtures with low-flow options
- Installing a water storage tank
If you are seeking a more robust solution, you can also consider hydrofracking. If your well contractor determines that your well could benefit, they can inject high-pressure water into the well to clear out existing and open additional fissures in the rock.
More fissures mean more pathways for water to flow into your well. Even if the water table is low, hydrofracking can increase your well yield (in both the short and long term) by allowing water to enter your well from new locations.
If you need assistance with low well yields or a dropping water table in Valatie or the surrounding upstate area, call Goold Wells & Pumps today. With over 90 years of experience, we’re here to help with all your well needs, including digging and installation, regular service, and water supply troubleshooting. You can count on Goold Wells & Pumps for outstanding workmanship and attention to detail. We are committed to keeping your well and water supply in peak condition. Goold Wells & Pumps—Trusted Name Since 1928.