Monashee Aquifer Testing and well pump services

Dave playing with a little pipe wrench

Happy St. David’s Day!!!! Ceri Jones Rhys Jones

16” well, 1400 gallon per minute testing in Williams Lake, BC. Thanks Pierre Cote for the photo!

Getting loaded up and ready for a new milestone event for the business. 75 HP pump capable of pumping up to 2,500 gallons per minute along with its 8” drop pipe and 8” lay flat. 😎

I know much has been written of our changing climate, but it is having a direct impact on groundwater, and in particular, surface ("Dug") wells. I have received many calls over the summer from people with complaints that their pumps are not working properly, only to discover that it is is in fact problems with wells going dry.

There is no quick fix to this, and in fact no fix at all. There are however, a few options to help manage what you have and to keep your pumping systems from damage when a well does run dry.

1) Install a dry-well protection device: These are a specialized electronic sensor that can detect changes to motor current when it is no longer pumping water. It shuts off the pump and locks it out for a period of time while the well recovers.
2) Consider having a Hydrovac service come and remove built up sediment from the bottom of a dug well. This will create a larger reservoir for water.
3) Add a cistern pumping system (See photo): This is a large storage tank that collects 100% of your well water, 24 hours per day. A pump within the cistern provides your home with the water from such a tank. When combined with prudent use, this option - although expensive - is a fantastic way to maximize what water you have. It also provides for the worst-case scenario of having to have water delivered.

We are more than happy to discuss options for maximizing what you have available from your well.

"We have no water!"

This is an extremely common problem this time of year and almost without exception, the problem is a frozen water line. When pressure tanks are in sheds, garages, pits or sumps, they are prone to freezing. If you have a loss-of-water problem, check the breaker and then consider using a heater to warm your pressure tank fittings and water lines - especially where they come through the floor or the wall from the well. These steps can save you money!

My gorgeous wife Theresa can do it every bit as well as the boys!

This is the before and after of a flowing artesian well near Fintry that had been vandalized by trespassers. We were contracted to modify the well to be sanitary, and more vandal-resistant.

This stuff, which brings to mind a full diaper, is the result of iron-oxidizing bacteria in the well. They derive energy by way of oxidizing dissolved iron in water, and create this gross rusty residue. It clogs pipes, clogs pumps, and makes for gross drinking water. It is difficult to treat, and means Filtration is likely needed.

You know that the extremely deep well water is warm when you see this as you are removing the test pump!

Microchips and supply chain issues are affecting the well pump installation business. We are experiencing sometimes significant backorder delays! In addition, some staple items such as pumps, controllers. PVC pipe and electrical cable are in short supply and getting very expensive. There is no simple answer; we are fortunate to have supply contacts across Canada and do our very best to find what we need.

There is a rush to finish off house construction this time of year, and unfortunately the well is often the last thing to be considered. If you are building, or know someone that is, make sure the well pump is taken care of early!

Yes, this is a well from which people are getting drinking water. This is in a "well pit" where instead of just using a pitless adapter, the whole well was cut off and set inside a pit. No cap at all and the local amphibians just love it. Note the extreme deterioration of the steel well casing.

Monashee Aquifer Testing and well pump services updated their phone number.

The good news is life is returning to some measure of normal! The bad news is it has created shortages and price increases on staples of the industry such as pumps, motors, PVC pipe and plumbing fittings. Even well drillers cannot get steel casing, and PVC liner - if it can be sourced at all - is up in excess of 500% in cost. We are already facing an inability to do some work for lack of available components!

For some reason our website is down. I am trying to work with GoDaddy to sort it out. Hopefully up soon!