Calibrated Test -- Geothermal Well

Bowman Consulting and Northern Virginia Drilling completed a calibrated test of the well's capacity. Today's test, with the geologist's report, will confirm the well's potential as a source of water for the geothermal system. We have requested Northern Virginia Drilling complete one additional test to determine the well's potential as an ejection well. The drillers will pump water into the well to measure the speed at which the water is absorbed into the aquifer. The School is considering an "open loop" geothermal system with one well serving as the water source and the second well serving as the ejection well.

The picture shows the drilling team reading the pump dial and a sonic water level meter. The latter instrument measures the temperature of the water (55 degrees) and the level of the water table at various pump speeds (generally around 74' below the surface of the parking lot).