Looking for a reputable water survey company but don’t quite understand the industry’s terminology? Learning a few of the most common terms used for water surveys will help you to understand the process of determining water depth and yields, before drilling.
When it comes to water surveys, American Water Surveyors (AWS) provides ranchers/farmers, home owners, well drillers, real estate developers, municipalities and golf courses the service of finding groundwater depth, yields and suitability prior to drilling, which can cost a fortune if a water survey is not conducting beforehand.
AWS has been using EKS technology for over a decade to successfully determine depth and flow. Located in Texas, AWS offers highly portable services, allowing us to work with clients outside of the state.
If you plan to do a water survey, understanding water survey terms will be important. Below are some of the most common terms used in the industry and their importance and relevance to water surveys.
Groundwater
Groundwater is part of the water cycle and results in the infiltration of precipitation through voids in soil and rocks. Once all the available space is filled with water, this is known as saturation. Groundwater flows downward through aquifers. An aquifer’s recharge rate provides water surveyors some indication of the quantity of water that can be pumped in a sustainable manner. The upper surface of the saturate zone is referred to as the water table.
Aquifer
An aquifer is composed of granular sediments or fractured rock, which contains a sufficient level of saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of water to wells and springs. It has the ability to transmit groundwater in sufficient quantities, which can be used for drinking water and irrigation.
Water Table
The water table is also known as groundwater table and occupies the upper level of an underground surface where the soil or rocks are always saturated with water. Based on the season, the water table can fluctuate as it is affected by varying climates and precipitation levels used by vegetation. Water tables can also be affected by water wells and the excessive amounts of water being withdrawn.
Water Quality
The chemical, physical, biological and radiological characteristics of water are more commonly referred to as “water quality.” Water surveyors can assess your land’s water quality to ensure the health of ecosystems, safety of human contact and drinking water.
EKS Technology
Electrokinetic Survey Technology (EKS) aims to provide surveyors with an estimate of the depth to groundwater and the permeability, and consequently the yield, that might be expected from a well drilled into the aquifer.
Yield
Water yield is determined by the amount of fresh water runoff and can be estimated in gallons per minute or liters per second. Hiring AWS to come out and run a water survey to determine depth and yield before you dig a well can save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars.
Impermeable
When a certain material is not able to transmit significant quantities of water, it is said to be impermeable. Having an impermeable surface can cause many issues including surface water pollution, contaminated water flowing into rivers, lakes and wetlands, and the water table not adequately recharging, resulting in groundwater being used up faster than it is recharged.
Before you drill, contact AWS for all your water survey needs. Don’t make the costly mistake of drilling before having your land assessed. It could cost you hundreds, even thousands of unnecessary dollars.
