How to Fix a Water Well With a Declining Yield
A declining water well yield can disrupt daily life, turning routine tasks like showering or running appliances into a challenge. With growing demands on groundwater due to population growth and varying water use patterns, low-yield wells are a pressing issue for many U.S. homeowners, especially in rural and coastal regions. A well’s yield—measured in gallons per minute (GPM)—indicates how quickly it replenishes water from the aquifer. When this falls below household needs (typically 5-10 GPM for a family of four), it signals a problem requiring action. This guide details the causes of declining yield, a precise method to measure it, and effective solutions to restore your well’s performance, ensuring a steady water supply without the high costs of drilling a new well.
Understanding Declining Well Yield
Declining yield occurs when your well produces less water than before, often noticeable through weaker pressure, sporadic flow, or pumps running longer to meet demand. According to industry data, over 15% of private wells in the U.S. face yield issues yearly, driven by aquifer changes or system wear. Unlike sudden water loss, yield decline is typically gradual, making early intervention key to avoiding complete failure. Addressing it promptly can extend your well’s lifespan and prevent repair costs that can run into thousands in today’s market.
Common Causes of Reduced Well Yield
Identifying why your well’s yield is dropping is the first step to fixing it. Several factors can contribute:
Aquifer Strain: Increased water use from nearby homes, farms, or industries can deplete the aquifer, reducing available water.
Sediment Accumulation: Sand, silt, or minerals like calcium can clog well screens or casings, restricting flow.
Pump Degradation: Aging submersible or jet pumps lose efficiency, delivering less water even if the aquifer is stable.
Pipe Scaling: Corrosion or mineral buildup in pipes narrows pathways, limiting output.
Bacterial Blockages: Iron bacteria or slime can obstruct flow, common in wells with high mineral content.
Well Design Limitations: Shallow wells or poorly positioned screens may struggle to access sufficient water over time.
Look for signs like reduced pressure during high-demand tasks (e.g., laundry) or cloudy water, which may indicate sediment or bacteria. These clues guide your diagnostic approach.
Measuring Your Well’s Yield Accurately
Before applying fixes, measure your well’s current yield to confirm the decline and quantify the issue. Follow this precise method to determine GPM and potential harvestable water:
Prepare the System: Locate the breaker controlling your well’s power. Turn on as many faucets, spigots, or appliances as possible to deplete the well until water stops flowing.
Shut Off and Time Recovery: Turn the well breaker to “off” and start a 15-minute timer. During this period, turn off all faucets and appliances except those where hoses can be attached.
Set Up Collection: Attach hoses to the open faucets and direct their ends into one of two five-gallon buckets (labeled A and B) at a central location. Have someone secure the hoses to ensure they stay in the bucket during flow.
Restart and Measure: When the 15-minute timer ends, turn the well breaker back on and start a stopwatch. Water will flow through the hoses into bucket A.
Cycle Buckets: Once bucket A is full, quickly move the hoses to bucket B without stopping the water. Dump bucket A’s water and repeat, alternating buckets and counting how many you fill until the well runs dry again.
Calculate GPM: Multiply the number of filled buckets by 5 (gallons per bucket). Divide this by the sum of 15 (recovery minutes) plus the stopwatch time in minutes. The result is your GPM. To estimate daily harvestable gallons, multiply GPM by 1,440 (minutes in a day).
For example, if you fill 6 buckets in 3 minutes post-recovery, calculate: (6 × 5) ÷ (15 + 3) = 30 ÷ 18 = 1.67 GPM. Then, 1.67 × 1,440 = 2,404.8 gallons daily. This confirms whether your well is low-yield and guides solution choices.
Diagnosing the Problem Further
Beyond yield measurement, additional diagnostics pinpoint the cause:
Check Pump Health: Use a multimeter to verify stable voltage (220-240V for submersibles) at the pump’s control box. Unusual noises like grinding suggest wear.
Inspect Pressure System: A waterlogged pressure tank (low air pressure) or faulty switch can mimic yield issues. Drain the tank and check the air valve; it should read 2 PSI below the cut-in setting (e.g., 38 PSI for 40 PSI cut-in).
Test Water Quality: Cloudy or discolored water indicates sediment or bacteria. Use at-home kits or lab tests to check for total dissolved solids (TDS) or bacterial growth.
Evaluate External Factors: Note nearby activities like new wells or heavy irrigation, which may strain the aquifer. Local water boards can provide aquifer data.
If these steps don’t clarify the issue, a professional can use a downhole camera to inspect casings or conduct a drawdown test to assess recovery rates.
Solutions for Restoring Well Yield
With the cause identified, apply targeted solutions to boost performance, ordered from least to most invasive:
1. Clean and Maintain Well Components
Sediment or bacterial buildup often restricts flow. Chemical cleaning with safe acids (e.g., phosphoric acid for mineral scale) or biocides for bacteria can clear blockages. Mechanical brushing of the well screen follows. This can increase yield if clogging is the issue, with professional costs typically affordable. Schedule cleanings every 2-3 years to prevent recurrence.
2. Upgrade Pump or Pressure System
An outdated pump may struggle to draw water efficiently. Replacing it with a high-efficiency submersible or jet pump, ideally with a variable-speed drive, matches output to demand. If the pressure tank is too small, upgrading to a larger model (e.g., 80 gallons) buffers low yield during peak use. Ensure compatibility with your well’s depth and GPM.
3. Install a Storage and Automation System
For wells with limited aquifer recharge, adding storage is highly effective. Atmospheric tanks store water harvested gradually, ensuring supply during demand spikes. Automated systems adjust draw to avoid overpumping, which can further reduce yield.
4. Well Rehabilitation Techniques
If cleaning isn’t enough, rehabilitation methods like air surging (using compressed air to clear blockages) or redevelopment (pumping to restore flow paths) can revitalize wells. These are moderately priced but can be effective alternatives to drilling. Hydrofracking, while an option, faces regulatory hurdles and inconsistent results.
5. Deepen or Relocate the Well
As a last resort, deepening the well to reach a deeper aquifer or drilling a new one may be necessary if depletion is severe. This requires permits and significant investment, so exhaust other solutions first.
The Well Harvester®: A Top Solution for Low-Yield Wells
For many homeowners, the Well Harvester® from Epp Well Solutions stands out as a premier low yield well solution. This patented system integrates a 215-gallon storage tank with advanced automation to harvest water at the aquifer’s natural recovery rate, preventing overpumping that exacerbates yield decline. Its touchscreen provides real-time monitoring of water levels, usage, and pump status, adjusting draw dynamically to maximize output—potentially 1,440 gallons daily from a 1 GPM well. The dry-run protection extends pump life by up to 50%, and its straightforward installation (often completed in hours) avoids major modifications. Backed by a 3-year warranty, the Well Harvester® is ideal for wells facing depletion, offering a cost-effective alternative to deepening or new drilling.
Preventive Measures to Sustain Yield
To maintain your restored yield, adopt these practices:
Limit Demand: Keep usage below well capacity (e.g., stagger appliance use to stay under 10 GPM).
Routine Maintenance: Inspect pumps and tanks yearly, clean screens biennially, and test water quality twice annually for sediment or bacteria.
Conserve Water: Use low-flow fixtures and schedule irrigation off-peak to reduce aquifer strain.
Leverage Automation: Systems with real-time sensors prevent overuse, preserving yield.
Monitor Local Use: Check with water boards for nearby groundwater activity to anticipate depletion risks.
When to Call a Professional
If diagnostics suggest complex issues—like severe aquifer depletion or casing damage—consult a certified well contractor. They can perform advanced tests (e.g., step-drawdown analysis) or recommend tailored rehabilitation. Delaying risks total failure, with replacement costs high in 2025. For most cases, systems like the Well Harvester® often resolve issues without escalation.
Restoring Your Well’s Potential
A declining well yield doesn’t have to disrupt your water supply. By accurately measuring GPM, diagnosing the cause, and applying solutions like cleaning, upgrades, or automation, you can restore reliability. The Well Harvester® offers a standout approach, blending storage and smart tech to maximize output sustainably. Start today: measure your well’s yield, explore options with Epp Well Solutions, and secure a free quote to keep your water flowing strong.
