How to Measure Well Water Depth
Homeowners and environmental professionals need to measure the depth of water in drinking water, irrigation and monitoring wells to determine the amount of water available in the casing. In addition, if you know the depth to water in your well, it will help you decide the level at which to set your well pump. The process for measuring the depth to water is simple, and the equipment is available to rent through most environmental equipment retailers. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Electronic water level indicator
- Gloves
- Rubbing alcohol
- Wrench, or other well cover tool
Instructions
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1
Remove the well cover and water well cap, if present. Before you measure the water level, let the well sit open for approximately 20 minutes so that the groundwater has sufficient time to equilibrate in the well. Wear gloves while you remove the well cover and measure the water level.
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2
Rinse the probe of the water level indicator with rubbing alcohol to ensure that it is clean and free of debris before you insert the equipment into the well.
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3
Turn on the electronic water level indicator and test that the probe is operational by pushing the "test" button on the equipment. If the water level indicator does not have a "test" button, insert the probe into a cup of water to make sure that the equipment sounds a beep when it intersects water.
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4
Lower the probe into the well slowly until you hear a beep. You will know that you have reached the top of the water when you first hear a strong beeping tone. Hold the probe's measuring tape to the side of the well casing and read the measurement directly from the tape. Most measuring tapes take into account the length of the water probe, so the measurement you read is accurate for a depth from the top of the well casing.
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Tips & Warnings
To measure the depth from the land surface, grasp the measuring tape at the top of the well, pull it down the casing to the land surface, and hold it in place. Read the measurement that is then at the top of the casing, which is the corrected depth to groundwater from the land surface.
Use a water level indicator that has a measure tape that reads to 0.01 foot for the most accurate readings.
Use an oil/water indicator probe if you suspect that fuel or oil is present on the top of the water.
Weighted tapes, chalked tapes and sliding floats are also used for measuring water levels but are not as accurate as electronic water level indicators.
