Information for Water Well Owners in the Raton Basin
Domestic Water Wells in Las Animas County, ColoradoJohn Fontana,
Geologist, PGVincent E. Barlock, Hydrogeologist, CPG
Sponsored By: Las Animas County Cattlemens Association Las
Animas County Health Department Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.
Trinidad & Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce Trinidad State
Junior College Vista GeoScience LLCCommon Issues for Well
OwnersPoor Water Production (Quantity)General Water Quality Odors
and/or Taste Color, Staining or SedimentNatural Gas (Methane) in
WaterSolutions, Testing & MaintenanceResources Available
Las Animas CountyConstruction of Water WellsWho Regulates?
Division of Water Resources (DWR) State Engineers Office (SEO)
Permits & Well Ownership TransfersBoard of Examiners (BOE) of
Water Well Construction and Pump Installation Contractors Licensing
& CertificationConstruction & Design RulesProtection of
Ground WaterYour Well Permit & Construction Record Files
Common Aquifer TypesAlluvial AquiferStream Valley Sands and
GravelsGenerally ShallowerBedrock AquiferSandstone, Siltstone,
Shale or CoalPorous or fractured RocksGenerally Deeper
AQUIFER: The water bearing sediment or rock your well is drilled
into
Alluvial WellsSurface CasingFilter packWell Seal
5Bedrock WellWith a well seal & filter pack, or
Open bore completion
Open Borehole Bedrock WellHarder Formation
Steel Surface Casing
No filter-pack or Annular Seals
Poor Water Production (Quantity)Well Yield = Gallons Per Minute1
Gallon per Minute = 1400 Gallons per DayDoes Your Well Go Dry?
Seasonally or Under Heavy Use?Could be from:Tight or Low-Flowing
AquiferDry Season Low Water TableDrawdown (Over-pumping)Fouling of
the Well Screen or PumpPump Damage or FailurePoor Well Design or
Construction Approaching Lifespan of the Water Well
Yield in Alluvial Aquifers
Better YieldSandsGravelsPoor YieldSiltsClaysYield in Bedrock
AquifersBetter YieldSandstoneFractured RocksLower YieldClaystone
(Shale)Siltstone
SHALE
Seasonal Fluctuation or DroughtSpring/SummerFall/WinterHigh
water levelLow water level
Drawdown Over-Pumping of the Aquifer
NO PUMPINGFouling (blockage) of the Well Screen or Pump
Silts and ClaysEncrustationHard WaterIronBio-FoulingBacteria
Growth
Poor Well Design or ConstructionMinimum Construction
Requirements were Met? May not be adequate Sand/Gravel Filter or
Open BorePost-Drilling Development(Required Cleaning after
Drilling)Adequate Bore-Hole Diameter/DepthCasing Size & Screen
TypeIs the Casing too big for the bore
Solutions to Low-Yield WellsISSUES:Naturally Low Yielding
AquiferSeasonal drop in ground water table, or droughtDrawdown
(over-pumping of the aquifer)SOLUTIONS: Install a Cistern
Drill a deeper well
Reduce usageSolutions to Low-Yield WellsISSUES:Pump
FailureFouled Screens or PumpPoor well design or
constructionLimited lifespan of the water well
SOLUTIONS: Inspect, Repair PumpRedevelop the wellChemical , or
Physical Cleaning of WellLast Resort : Drill a New Well.
Limited Lifespan of a Water Well
Typically years to decades:The Geology Well
Design/ConstructionMaintenance Normal Corrosion/ Wear &
TearAmount of Use/PumpingGeneral Water Quality:
Odor
Taste
Color & Sediment
ODORSMy water smells! BACTERIA!Stagnant Water SmellSeptic Tanks
Like OdorsRotten Egg or Sulfur Smell Bacteria + Sulfates in Well =
Hydrogen Sulfide GasYour nose is very sensitive to this gas
SOLUTION: Chemical treatment or other cleaning by an expertLook
around for sourcesTesting, inspection, and maintenance
TASTETastes Metallic or Salty! Dissolved Mineral Content
BacteriaNitrates
SOLUTION: Water quality testing by an expert Check whether some
minerals are above drinking water standards. Filtration and
treatment system See CDPHE for guidance on drinking standards.
COLORDissolved MineralsExcessive Bacteria Activity
SedimentSOLUTION: Water Quality test Bacterial Activity Reaction
Test (BART) Chemical well treatment for bacteria issues and/or Well
filtration/treatment system for high mineral content
SEDIMENT Grit / Particulates Cloudy Water - SettlesCauses:
Improper or damaged well screensPoor well development: original
drilling, or formation debris is getting into the wellLack of a
sand/filter pack around the screens SOLUTION: Filtration
systems/traps can remove some sedimentRedevelop and clean well if
not done originallyContact a consultant or licensed pump installer
for options
GAS BUBBLES It looks like soda water!Causes:Dissolved Air or
Natural Gas - Methane and/or Carbon DioxideSourcesNatural Bacteria
Coal Bed MethaneRaton & Vermejo FormationLas Animas County,
West of I-25
COAL BED METHANE DESORPTION
NATURAL GAS (METHANE)Is natural gas (methane)
hazardous?Non-Toxic. Not Regulated by EPA.Flammable & Explosive
(5% in air)
SOLUTION: If suspected: Request a dissolved methane test. If
methane is in your water, test the air in the home.Methane
Mitigation SystemsVented Cistern Methane or Gas Removal System
(works for methane, radon, other gases)Potential Impacts to Water
Wells
Potential Impacts to Water WellsMalfunctioning septic systems
Fuel spills Chemical pesticides or fertilizersHousehold hazardous
wastes, paints and solvents storage and spillsRoad salt runoff
Livestock manure, animal fecesImproperly abandoned historic mines
& wellsContamination & spills from nearby industry
Livestock Pen, Well Head & Cistern
Testing, Maintenance & TreatmentHave your well records on
hand (DWR-SEO)Maintain and Test your WellLaboratory TestingColorado
Dept. of Health & Environment (CDPHE) LabPrivate Water Testing
LabsWell Maintenance ContractorsWell Drilling & Pump
ContractorsLicensed through the DWR-SEOOptionally Certified by a
NGWAConsultantsHydrogeologists Certified Water Well Maintenance
Contractors
ResourcesLaboratory Testing & InformationCDPHE & Private
LabsEPA - The Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800-426-4791.Consultants
& ExpertsColorado Ground Water Association -
coloradogroundwater.orgWell Drilling ContractorsDWR-SEO (Permits,
Licensed Water Well/Pump Contractor)Colorado Water Well Contractors
Assoc. - cwwca.orgNational Ground Water Association -
wellowner.orgColorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
Well Owner AssociationsNational Ground Water Association -
wellowner.orgWater Systems Council - Well Owners Network -
watersystemscouncil.orgAmerican Ground Water Trust agwt.orgThe
Goal: To insure your water is enjoyed by everyone!
THANK YOU Sponsored By:
Las Animas County Cattlemens Association Las Animas County
Health Department Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. Trinidad
& Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce Trinidad State Junior
College Vista GeoScience LLC
This presentation is intended to provide general information
regarding water wells. It is not intended to address any specific
circumstances regarding individual water wells. For specific
questions regarding your individual circumstances contact one of
the agencies listed above or a qualified water well maintenance or
repair contractor. The sponsors make no representation express or
implied as to the accuracy or completeness of the information in
this presentation, and are under no obligation to update or correct
such information. The sponsors expressly disclaim any liability
resulting from the use of this presentation or any errors therein
or omissions there from.