ASCE Manual of Practice No. 127

Prepared by the Task Committee on Hydraulics of Wells of the Groundwater Hydrology Technical Committee of the Groundwater Council and Watershed Council of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute of ASCE.

Hydraulics of Wells: Design, Construction, Testing, and Maintenance of Water Well Systems provides comprehensive treatment of the engineering issues related to the development and management of economical supplies of groundwater. Because groundwater is typically of high quality and dependability, this vital resource is used to supply drinking water in nearly all parts of the globe. Demand for groundwater is expected to increase as population expands and technology advances. Yet groundwater is not free from costs and limitations, including the construction and maintenance of wells and pumping equipment, as well as storage and transmission infrastructure. Threats to well capacity and water quality rise from a variety of factors, such as pollution, overuse, and drought.

This Manual of Practice codifies existing practices in the water well industry in order to improve the identification, development, and management of groundwater resources in the future. Topics include: fundamentals of hydrogeology; efficiency of water well systems; design of water wells; construction, development and testing; corrosion; incrustation; wellhead protection; and maintenance. Appendixes include a detailed example of a system design for a water well and sample technical specifications for drilling, constructing, and testing of water wells.

MOP 127 guides engineers and designers through the process of planning, designing, installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting water-well systems. Managers, administrators, and water-well operators at all levels of government as well as in the private sector will find it an indispensable reference to water wells assets.