A closer look at southeast regional drinking water wells: identifying problems using a down well camera

A majority of Georgia’s rural residents have their drinking water supplied by private water wells. It is critical these wells function properly and are free of pollutants. Over the past year, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service has been using a down well camera to gain a better understanding of private drinking water wells with concerns identified by a drinking water well test. The down well camera captures footage that allows a specialist to check a well’s casing, depth of casing, presence of seepage at joints, and depth to water level that might lead to contamination. Images obtained with the camera identify problems and provide individuals with information necessary to encourage them to repair their well and remove the presence of any potential surface pollutants. The down well camera offers Cooperative Extension Services a way to target the needs of their clientele and educate the public. This presentation will showcase selected video frames captured by the camera.Sponsored by: Georgia Environmental Protection Division U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Water Science Center U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Water Resources Institute The University of Georgia, Water Resources Facult