Groundwater Extraction Process ~GroundwaterExtractionProcess
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To fully understand the groundwater extraction process and how it can be beneficial to business we must first look at groundwater, the definition and its uses. In order for businesses to extract groundwater in many countries licenses are needed to help protect over use of essential groundwater reserves. Before the process of extraction begins the proper license should be obtained by the regulating body of the region for extraction.
What is groundwater?
Groundwater is the layer of water that sits below the ground's surface, it flows very slowly and fills the gaps between rocks, sediment and other materials. The first layer of the ground is called the unsaturated zone, below this is the saturated zone, this zone is where the groundwater sits and can be extracted from. Groundwater is very important for communities and is often used in periods of drought. It provides an essential source of water for drinking, agriculture and industrial uses when water is scarce. Groundwater can be found in larger quantities in aquifers, these are pools of groundwater that form beneath the ground. Aquifers are often used as the main source of water when extracting groundwater.
Locating the best source of groundwater
One of the first steps in the groundwater extraction process is locating the best source of groundwater. Several methods can be used to work out the likely locations of aquifers. By assessing the landscape hills and valleys, surface level plants, cracks in the ground and any wells in the area hydrologists are able to effectively map out the locations that groundwater is most likely to be found. Companies should review the area and ensure that the supply of groundwater meets their needs, if an aquifer is depleted it can take several years for it to become usable again. Groundwater flow direction should also be calculated before starting the extraction in order to find the best location to extract water from the aquifer. Multiple small bore holes can be inserted into the ground to calculate the flow of the groundwater and the best location for extraction. This work should always be completed before the extraction process starts to avoid any complications or an intermittent supply of groundwater.
Testing the water
Once a suitable site has been found for the groundwater to be extracted from it needs to be tested. Contaminated groundwater cannot be used for consumption, agriculture or industrial processes. The area must first be thoroughly cleaned using environmental remediation techniques. This can take a significant amount of time and investment. Once cleaned the water needs to be able to be successfully tested and proven to be safe before use. If the water is clean and safe for use then the groundwater extraction process can continue.
Creating the well or borehole
Once the location has been found and the water has been tested and proved to be safe for use then the well or bore hole needs to be created to extract the water from. The hole should be created so that it sits below the level of the water table. The water table level can change depending on the amount of rainfall, therefore to ensure supply continuity the well should go beyond the water table level.
Groundwater pump installation
There are several different groundwater pumps that can be used to extract water depending on your needs, the supply of power and how long the groundwater is going to be used for. Groundwater pumps should be installed by professionals with detailed knowledge of the extraction process. These pumps can be added as a temporary measure or more permanent solution. Groundwater pumps include some filtration systems to remove large particles from the water but they do not remove small particles or filter the water if needed. As part of the groundwater pump installation a tank needs to be installed to collect the groundwater so it can be filtered and treated before it is ready to be used.
Ongoing maintenance and testing
As part of the groundwater extraction process it is important to monitor and assess the quality of the water on a regular basis. Groundwater can easily become polluted from external sources without releasing. Local spillages, landfill sites, agriculture sites, industrial processes and many more sources can cause water contamination. Regular groundwater sampling and testing is a must in any extraction site, even if the water is being treated it may need alternative treatment methods based on the test results.
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