What is a sanitary well cap?
A "sanitary" well cap (also called a "vermin-proof" well cap) looks similar to a standard well cap but has a rubber gasket to seal the cap to the casing and vertical bolts joining the two pieces of the well cap. A study by Penn State documented the effect of installing a sanitary well cap on existing water wells.
What are well caps and why are they important?
These components are required by most states because they help protect groundwater by sealing the well from potential surface contamination. Standard well caps simply bolt onto the well casing and often allow for entry of insects, surface water, or small mammals into the well.
What is a pitless well cap?
This is the case with well caps, in the past well pits were used as a way to access the connection between the well and discharge pipes. Now the well casing extends above ground, a pitless adapter is inserted below the frost line and the casing is topped with a well cap.
Do sanitary well caps reduce coliform bacteria?
A study by Penn State documented the effect of installing a sanitary well cap on existing water wells. Sixteen private wells that contained coliform bacteria were disinfected with chlorine and fitted with a sanitary well cap.
What is the purpose of a well cap?
The well cap is the topmost part of your well and it is vital to ensuring that you have a clean water supply. The well cap keeps foreign objects, nitrates and other soil contaminants out of your well. Obviously, this cap must be secure and have no leaks or gaps in order to perform its function properly.
What is a well seal cap?
A well seal is seated along the top and inside edges of a well casing, creating a seal with an integrated O-ring gasket from the inside of the well casing. From this quick comparison, it is clear that these two types of well covers are used for very different purposes.
Should well cap be sealed?
A properly installed cap prevents the well from becoming contaminated from surface pollutants. If a well cover is not sealed properly, insects (such as earwigs) can crawl through gaps around casing or through unscreened vents and form nests inside the well.
What is a Pitless well cap?
A pitless adapter is attached to your well casing to provide a sanitary and frost- proof seal between the casing and the water line running to your home. This device protects the water from freezing and permits convenient access to the well and well components without having to dig around the well.
How long can a water well sit unused?
Well drillers have the necessary equipment and knowledge to ensure state codes are met. Any person who plugs a well is required to submit an abandoned well plugging record to the local health department within 60 days of plugging the well.
What does capping a well mean?
Capped well - A well that is closed or capped with a covering capable of preventing surface pollutants from entering the well and sustaining weight of at least 400 pounds and constructed in such a way that the covering cannot be easily removed by hand.
How do I protect my well cap?
The Top Ten Things You Can Do To Protect Your Well1 - Locate Your Well. ... 2 - Inspect the Wellhead. ... 4 - Conserve Water. ... 5 - Keep Surface Water Runoff Away From the Wellhead. ... 6 - Maintain a "No Pollution" Buffer Around the Wellhead. ... 7 - Protect the Soil From Contamination by Oil, Gasoline and Household Chemicals.More items...
Do well caps need to be vented?
Well Cover & Cap Requirements & Well Cap Venting: Water wells require a water-tight cap or cover to prevent contamination from surface runoff or flood waters. But some well caps also require an air vent.
What is the life expectancy of a drilled well?
The average life span of an oil or natural gas well is 20 to 30 years. However, new technologies are being developed to find new ways to extend the life span. The life span of a well is based on the active years the well is in production.
Do all wells have a cap?
At the top of a water well is the wellhead. Of all the water well components, this is the most visible. The head is durable PVC and holds a cap that keeps debris out of the well.
Should you cover your well head in the winter?
Freezing temps on the way and no time to make adjustments? If your wellhead is exposed to outside elements and freezing temperatures are on the way, wrap it with insulation, blankets, towels, or anything else you can find that will not cause damage to the wellhead but can help protect it from the cold.
Can you bury a well cap?
Some older well caps are located below ground. While they may be properly sealed, a below ground well cap has more potential risk of contamination. To avoid contamination, a well cap should be raised above ground.
How do I find my well cap?
Locate the wellhead in your yard. This is the top of your well. There should be cap or seal on the top of the casing (pipe) that should extend at least twelve inches above the ground to keep contaminants from entering the system. Soil should slope away from the wellhead so surface water doesn't puddle.
Why is my well cap leaking?
Leaks in steel water well casings can be caused by a variety of troubles including corrosion, pressure from stones or other objects outside the casing, splits at a welded or defective casing seam, even a lightning strike, and nearby construction that includes blasting.
How do you replace a water well cap?
3:0622:58How to install a well cap with ETR Premium Well Cap Kit - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo let me first get a pliers from my tools. This particular cap here has three nuts that areMoreSo let me first get a pliers from my tools. This particular cap here has three nuts that are compression nuts and they kind of Center the cap on tie so what we do is we first want to loosen them.
How do you open a well cap?
Use a wrench to loosen any bolts if you have a well cap. These may be along the outside edge of the top of the well cap. Alternatively, there may be set screws on the side of the cap, for which you can use a screwdriver. Carefully lift wires or wire nuts and push to the side.
What is a sanitary well cap?
A "sanitary" well cap (also called a "vermin-proof" well cap) looks similar to a standard well cap but has a rubber gasket to seal the cap to the casing and vertical bolts joining the two pieces of the well cap. A study by Penn State documented the effect of installing a sanitary well cap on existing water wells.
How many private wells have coliform bacteria?
Sixteen private wells that contained coliform bacteria were disinfected with chlorine and fitted with a sanitary well cap. Of these wells, 44 percent did not contain coliform bacteria one month later and 19 percent did not contain bacteria after one year. The sanitary well caps were most successful in eliminating bacteria from wells ...
How many colonies of bacteria are in a sanitary well cap?
The sanitary well caps were most successful in eliminating bacteria from wells that previously contained small numbers of coliform bacteria (< 3 colonies per 100 mL of water), compared to those that had more gross contamination.
What are the missing features of a well?
The most important features missing from some private water wells are a sealed, sanitary well cap and a grout seal.
Why do we need a well cap?
These components are required by most states because they help protect groundwater by sealing the well from potential surface contamination. Standard well caps simply bolt onto the well casing and often allow for entry of insects, surface water, or small mammals into the well.
Can a well be drilled into aquifers?
Wells drilled into aquifers that are contaminated by animal wastes, septic systems, or surface water can contain coliform bacteria regardless of well-construction practices. Sanitary well caps are inexpensive and can easily be installed on an existing well by a qualified water well contractor.
Is a well cap mandatory in Pennsylvania?
A sanitary well cap with a rubber gasket. Photo: Bryan Swistock, Penn State. Pennsylvania is one of only a few states that does not have mandatory state wide construction standards for private water wells. As a result, some important components of a properly constructed drinking water well may not be present on some wells.
What are the missing features of a well?from extension.psu.edu
The most important features missing from some private water wells are a sealed, sanitary well cap and a grout seal.
How tall should a sanitary well be?from pgblazer.com
A sanitary well should have a parappet wall upto a height of atleast 70-75cm. Platform. A cement concrete platfrom should be constructed around the well with a radius of atleast 1m in all directions. The margin of the platform should have a drain for collecting the spilled water. Drain.
What precautions should be taken when using a well?from pgblazer.com
The people who use the well should observe certain precautions to ensure the quality of the water. They should dump waste materials around the well . Washing of clothes and animals in the vicinity of the well should be prohibited. Quality.
Why should a well be of good quality?from pgblazer.com
It should be of good quality so as to endure the rough handling by the people. It should be regularly serviced and there should be provision to repair it quickly if any fault were to arise. Consumer responsibility. The people who use the well should observe certain precautions to ensure the quality of the water.
What are the criteria for a sanitary well?from pgblazer.com
The criteria for a sanitary well are: Location .
Why do we need a well cap?from extension.psu.edu
These components are required by most states because they help protect groundwater by sealing the well from potential surface contamination. Standard well caps simply bolt onto the well casing and often allow for entry of insects, surface water, or small mammals into the well.
Why do you need a cement concrete cover?from pgblazer.com
A proper cement concrete cover is essential for maintaining the quality of the water of the well. It increases the bacterial quality of the well water considerably. Hand pump. A hand pump should be installed to draw water from the well. It should be of good quality so as to endure the rough handling by the people.
