Q. What is a well flow test?
A. A well flow test (or well yield test) is a test that is conducted to determine whether there is an adequate flow of water from a private well.
Q. When is it done?
A. Usually, a well flow test is done at the request of a person who is interested in purchasing the property on which the well is located.
Q. What are the requirements?
A. Generally, the flow rate and length of the test is set forth as a condition by the financial institution that is providing the mortgage. In my experience, they have generally asked for a flow of a minimum of 3, sometimes up to 5 gallons per minute over a two hour time period.
From time to time, they will request a longer test of, say, 4 hours.
Q. Running a well pump for that long seems a little excessive. Can it cause damage to the components?
A. Unfortunately, there have been instances where a well has been pumped dry, or a pump has burned out. (That’s the exception, not the rule.) But this is the only way to tell if the well will provide a sufficient supply of water for your daily needs. It’s much better to find out prior to the purchase, then the morning after when you turn the shower on to a dribble.
Q. OK, so the well failed the test. What do we do now?
A. There are several things that can be done to improve the flow, such as having the well drilled deeper, or even adding an additional or larger water holding tank.
All is not lost at this point, but a least you know where you stand.