However in the prevailing economic climate more attention is being paid to increasing the operating efficiency and decreasing the running costs of bores and associated pumping equipment. The attendance of approximately 150 people from over 28 different countries at an International Groundwater Engineering Conference dealing with the Monitoring, Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Water Wells indicates the extent of worldwide interest now arising in this field. Western Irrigation Pty Ltd, was represented at this conference by the Managing Director Mr Andrew Ogden, who is also a civil engineer. Western Irrigation have been active in the groundwater industry in Western Australia since 1969, and have recently implemented a bore monitoring program for selected groundwater users within the Perth Metropolitan area. The regular monitoring of groundwater production bores is not common, and is in many cases non-existent.
Bores are generally step-tested immediately after construction.
Pump facilities are often equipped with control equipment such as low level probes and flow switches, to protect the pumping equipment from failure. However, the ongoing operating conditions within the bore are often not known until failure through loss of adequate production indicates a requirement for immediate action. The need for regular performance monitoring of bore and pump installations cannot be too strongly emphasised. Through interpretation of the results of the monitoring program, significant details regarding the performance of both the bore structure and pump equipment can be determined. For example, a reduction in flow rate at a constant pumping level may be an indication of pump wear.