ENVH 310- MODULE 9 -WATER QUALITY QUESTIONS
What act regulates municipal drinking water treatment processes? - Answers -The Safe
Drinking Water Act
Are private drinking water wells subject to the same standards as municipal systems? -
Answers -No, they are not subject to potable standards unless they meet public or
community system requirements.
What is the responsibility of a private well owner? - Answers -To ensure proper function
and monitor the quality of the water for its portability.
How does North Carolina define a well? - Answers -Any excavation for locating, testing,
developing, draining, or recharging groundwater or controlling water movement.
What are the five types of wells described in North Carolina? - Answers -Hand dug
wells, bored wells, jetted wells, driven wells, and artesian wells.
What is a hand dug well? - Answers -A primitive type of well where soil and rock are
removed using a bucket, typically no more than 30 feet deep.
What are the typical dimensions of a hand dug well? - Answers -Diameter of 36 to 48
inches.
Why is the water quality from hand dug wells often poor? - Answers -Because the
water has not had sufficient time to percolate through the soil for treatment.
What is a bored well? - Answers -A modern version of hand dug wells, excavated using
an auger or machinery, typically 30 to 60 feet deep.
What is the diameter range of bored wells? - Answers -Typically 18 to 24 inches.
What is a jetted well? - Answers -A well created by using a high-velocity stream of
water to excavate a hole, typically up to 50 feet deep.
What is a driven well? - Answers -A well constructed by driving a pipe with a well
screen into the ground, typically 30 to 50 feet deep.
What is the diameter range for driven wells? - Answers -From 1.25 inches to 12 inches.
What is a common issue with driven wells? - Answers -They can be easily
contaminated as they draw water from shallow aquifers.
What is the maximum depth for bored wells? - Answers -About 80 feet.
, What geological formations can jetted wells be installed in? - Answers -Areas with
unconsolidated rock formations.
What is a key limitation of bored wells? - Answers -They cannot penetrate consolidated
rock.
What is the risk associated with unmarked abandoned hand dug wells? - Answers -
They pose potential human harm and can degrade water quality.
What is the purpose of a well permit in North Carolina? - Answers -To ensure
compliance with setbacks and construction standards for wells.
How many households in the U.S. rely on private wells for drinking water? - Answers -
More than 13 million households.
What is the main concern regarding the quality of water from hand dug wells? -
Answers -Contamination from the borehole and poor filtration.
What construction method is used for bored wells? - Answers -Excavation using an
auger, bucket, or machinery.
What is the typical depth range for driven wells? - Answers -About 30 to 50 feet.
What is the main advantage of jetted wells over other types? - Answers -They can
create holes quickly using high-pressure water.
What type of well is considered the most primitive? - Answers -Hand dug wells.
What is a significant drawback of driven wells? - Answers -They do not produce much
water due to their shallow depth.
What is the primary function of wells? - Answers -To extract groundwater for drinking
and other beneficial uses.
What are the most common types of wells in North Carolina? - Answers -Drilled wells
What drilling methods are used to construct drilled wells? - Answers -Percussion or
rotary drilling machines
What is the typical diameter range for drilled wells? - Answers -Between 4 and 8
inches, most commonly around 6 inches
What is the purpose of continuous casing in drilled wells? - Answers -To reduce the risk
of contamination and stabilize the well
What act regulates municipal drinking water treatment processes? - Answers -The Safe
Drinking Water Act
Are private drinking water wells subject to the same standards as municipal systems? -
Answers -No, they are not subject to potable standards unless they meet public or
community system requirements.
What is the responsibility of a private well owner? - Answers -To ensure proper function
and monitor the quality of the water for its portability.
How does North Carolina define a well? - Answers -Any excavation for locating, testing,
developing, draining, or recharging groundwater or controlling water movement.
What are the five types of wells described in North Carolina? - Answers -Hand dug
wells, bored wells, jetted wells, driven wells, and artesian wells.
What is a hand dug well? - Answers -A primitive type of well where soil and rock are
removed using a bucket, typically no more than 30 feet deep.
What are the typical dimensions of a hand dug well? - Answers -Diameter of 36 to 48
inches.
Why is the water quality from hand dug wells often poor? - Answers -Because the
water has not had sufficient time to percolate through the soil for treatment.
What is a bored well? - Answers -A modern version of hand dug wells, excavated using
an auger or machinery, typically 30 to 60 feet deep.
What is the diameter range of bored wells? - Answers -Typically 18 to 24 inches.
What is a jetted well? - Answers -A well created by using a high-velocity stream of
water to excavate a hole, typically up to 50 feet deep.
What is a driven well? - Answers -A well constructed by driving a pipe with a well
screen into the ground, typically 30 to 50 feet deep.
What is the diameter range for driven wells? - Answers -From 1.25 inches to 12 inches.
What is a common issue with driven wells? - Answers -They can be easily
contaminated as they draw water from shallow aquifers.
What is the maximum depth for bored wells? - Answers -About 80 feet.
, What geological formations can jetted wells be installed in? - Answers -Areas with
unconsolidated rock formations.
What is a key limitation of bored wells? - Answers -They cannot penetrate consolidated
rock.
What is the risk associated with unmarked abandoned hand dug wells? - Answers -
They pose potential human harm and can degrade water quality.
What is the purpose of a well permit in North Carolina? - Answers -To ensure
compliance with setbacks and construction standards for wells.
How many households in the U.S. rely on private wells for drinking water? - Answers -
More than 13 million households.
What is the main concern regarding the quality of water from hand dug wells? -
Answers -Contamination from the borehole and poor filtration.
What construction method is used for bored wells? - Answers -Excavation using an
auger, bucket, or machinery.
What is the typical depth range for driven wells? - Answers -About 30 to 50 feet.
What is the main advantage of jetted wells over other types? - Answers -They can
create holes quickly using high-pressure water.
What type of well is considered the most primitive? - Answers -Hand dug wells.
What is a significant drawback of driven wells? - Answers -They do not produce much
water due to their shallow depth.
What is the primary function of wells? - Answers -To extract groundwater for drinking
and other beneficial uses.
What are the most common types of wells in North Carolina? - Answers -Drilled wells
What drilling methods are used to construct drilled wells? - Answers -Percussion or
rotary drilling machines
What is the typical diameter range for drilled wells? - Answers -Between 4 and 8
inches, most commonly around 6 inches
What is the purpose of continuous casing in drilled wells? - Answers -To reduce the risk
of contamination and stabilize the well
