Stepping Away from Water Damage Clean Up Oakland County, MI Stress through the Use of Proper Wells

People who live in Oakland County, Mi are essentially situated in a watershed. A watershed is characterized by the presence of water draining into water features like lakes and rivers. In Oakland County, there are five large watersheds and approximately 1,400 lakes. With the large amount of water features, flooding can be a major concern for residents.

The local government has stepped up to prevent the need for water restoration. When there is flooding, water damage clean-up in Oakland County, MI becomes required. This situation can be a financial and emotional burden on the residents of the county. Avoiding the damage is surely the more convenient route to take. One specific aspect the county has taken is to set specific standards when it comes to the design of well houses. Formulated by the County Water Resources Commissioner, the goal of these rules is to lessen the risks of flooding from faulty installation of wells.

The use of the right materials is the first step in making the wells more resistant to damage. Well casings should be installed brand new and compliant with the ASTM specifications. The wall of the pipes found in the well installations should be at least 0.375 inches. Also, the pipes should be certified by the supplier as to having properly complied with the standards set before they are installed. Wells casings may either be beveled or threaded. If the pipe is threaded, the coupling should be made through the process of back-welding.

As for the installations of well screens in the wells, Oakland County states that the utilized screen should be of a 304 stainless steel grade. It should also be wire wound and feature a 304 stainless steel bottom plate. Grouting for the casing of the well must make use of cement that is at least 15 lbs/gallon. The grout should make use of Portland cement with no more than six gallons of water.

There are some situations when gravel is needed so that the annular space between the screen and well bore is stabilized. When gravel is needed, the materials used should be a minimum of 94% silica. The uniformity coefficient of the gravel should not exceed 1.35.

The pumps featured in the well should be of proper size and strength. Some situations of flooding are traced back to the use of failed pumps. Water restoration and cleanup can be skipped entirely if the basics of the wells are properly cared for. Oakland County requires that the pumps give off a normal system operation pressure of 50 -70 psi at street level. In areas that have significant elevation alterations, the operating pressure should be at least 40 psi at the highest and read a maximum of 80 psi at the lowest elevation.

The pumps that are used must be deep well and have vertical turbines as well as hollow shafts. Pumps that are used should have water lubricated bearings and bronze semi-enclosed impellers. They should also have close coupled shafts and anti-reversing ratchets with mechanical seals. Joints of the pumps must be sealed through the use of multi-part silicone sealants.