Programme Introduction

The course provides you with:

• an introduction to a variety of types of boreholes and wells, their use, design, and operation.
• a practical introduction to the main methods of drilling and borehole investigation techniques used to assess aquifer and well properties in the context of developing successful water supply boreholes.
• an introduction to methods of optimising borehole design, including the selection of appropriate technology and types of pumps, well and aquifer development, and test pumping.
• an awareness of the need for long-term maintenance and rehabilitation of water supply boreholes, and details of appropriate methods.

Programme Objectives

By the end of the course, you’ll have an understanding of:

• the types and uses of boreholes and wells
• drilling and borehole investigation techniques
• the principles of optimal borehole design
• an awareness of the need for, and methods used in, long-term borehole maintenance

Programme Outline

• Background to groundwater investigation and development, sustainable yield.
• Types of boreholes and their uses, appropriate technology, water supply wells, boreholes for sampling and monitoring.
• Borehole site location selection.
• Drilling methods.
• Borehole investigations, wireline geophysics, lithological analysis, and sampling of cuttings.
• Well, design principles and practice, open holes, casing, screens, gravel packs.
• Drilling processes, cementing, centralisers, the verticality of wells.
• Optimal design.
• Aquifer and well development.
• Pump selection for different purposes.
• Test pumping for sustainable yield / deployable output, and aquifer properties (step and constant rate tests).
• Well, maintenance and rehabilitation.
• Well, design and operated for monitoring and water quality sampling.
• Current Issues in Water Treatment.
• Disinfection Technologies