CLOGGING OF RECHARGE WELLS BY SUSPENDED-SOLIDS

Field conditions have been reproduced in the laboratory in order to investigate the fundamentals governing the mechanism of clogging of recharge wells. Dosing with water of controlled quality and temperature, containing different types of added suspended solids of known size, with concentration in the range 0. 5-250 mg/L was carried out in 45 degree segmental perspex models simulating confined aquifer conditions. Both filter packed and nonfilter packed wells were tested. It was found that, the lower the concentration of the suspended solids in the recharge water, the greater the weight of solids required to clog the well. The filter pack has been clearly established as a major factor in controlling the clogging speed.