This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D5786 − 17

Standard Practice for

(Field Procedure) for Constant Drawdown Tests in Flowing
Wells for Determining Hydraulic Properties of Aquifer
Systems1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5786; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope* D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained

1.1 This practice covers the methods for controlling draw- Fluids
down and measuring discharge rates and head to analyze the D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
hydraulic properties of an aquifer or aquifers. Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
Used in Engineering Design and Construction
1.2 This practice is used in conjunction with analytical D4043 Guide for Selection of Aquifer Test Method in
procedures such as those of Jacob and Lohman (1)/(2),2 and Determining Hydraulic Properties by Well Techniques
Hantush (3).
1.3 The appropriate field and analytical procedures for 3. Terminology
determining hydraulic properties of aquifer systems are se- 3.1 Definitions—For common definitions of terms used in
lected as described in Guide D4043. this practice, refer to Terminology D653.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 4. Summary of Practice
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4.1 This practice describes the field procedures for conduct-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- ing an aquifer test on a well that is flowing, that is, the head in
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. the well remains above the top of the well casing. This method
1.5 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing involves inducing a constant drawdown and measuring the
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace varying discharge rate from the control well.
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may 5. Significance and Use
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not
5.1 Constant drawdown test procedures are used with ap-
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
propriate analytical procedures to determine transmissivity,
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,
hydraulic conductivity, and storage coefficient of aquifers.
nor should this document be applied without consideration of
a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the NOTE 1—The quality of the result produced by this standard is
title of this document means only that the document has been dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it and the
suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the
approved through the ASTM consensus process. criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent
and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are
2. Referenced Documents cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure
2.1 ASTM Standards:3 reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors: Practice D3740
provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.

1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and 6. Apparatus
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Groundwater and
Vadose Zone Investigations. 6.1 Various types of equipment can be used to measure the
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2017. Published January 2017. Originally flow rate of the well. The equipment shall be sized so that it
approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D5786 – 95 (2012). does not constrict the flow rate from the well.
DOI: 10.1520/D5786-17.
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of 6.2 An apparatus shall be placed on the control well
this standard.
3
discharge line such that the well can be shut in to prevent flow
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
prior to conducting this field procedure and so that the
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on apparatus will not constrict flow from the well when it is
the ASTM website. allowed to flow.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

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 D5786 − 17
6.3 Head measurements can be made using one of the response should be rapid enough to make sure that the water
following apparatuses: level in the observation well or piezometer will reflect the
6.3.1 Standpipe—A pipe or piece of well casing may be water level in the aquifer during the test. Alternatively, if
installed to extend above the elevation of the discharge. This observation wells are flowing, measure their response in a
standpipe will also extend above the elevation of the head in manner similar to that described for the control well. Rede-
the control well. This standpipe will allow for direct measure- velop wells or piezometers with unusually sluggish response.
ment of the water level. 7.1.6 Measure the pressure head in the shut-in control well
6.3.2 Pressure Measurement—A pressure gauge (mechani- and observation wells (if any) to determine the trend of water
cal gage, manometer, or pressure transducer) may be installed levels before the commencement of the test. This period should
below the shut-in mechanism in the control well. Determine be equal to the length of the flowing portion of the test.
the head elevation by adding the pressure reading (expressed in 7.2 Test Procedure:
the height of the water) to the elevation of the sensor of the 7.2.1 Based on pretesting results and the conceptual model
pressure gage. of the site (see Guide D4043), select the duration of the test.
6.4 Control Well—This practice requires that water flow 7.2.2 Shut in the Control Well—Completely stop flow from
from a single well. This well, known as the control well, shall the control well prior to conducting the test for a period as long
be drilled and completed such that it transmits water from the as the anticipated duration of the flowing portion of the test.
aquifer (usually the entire thickness of the aquifer) as effi- 7.2.3 Discharge from Control Well—Allow the control well
ciently as practical to reduce head loss between the aquifer and to flow at a variable rate. The flow rate will vary naturally to
the well. Well development should be as complete as practical maintain a constant drawdown at the control well.
to eliminate additional production of sediments (aquifer par- 7.2.4 Measure Discharge Rate—Measure and record the
ticles or drill cuttings) and consequent changes in well effi- discharge rate frequently during the early phase of discharge;
ciency during the test. increase the interval between measurements in a logarithmic
manner as pumping continues.
7. Procedure NOTE 2—Table 1 presents a suggested frequency of discharge measure-
7.1 Pretest Procedures: ments.
7.1.1 Select Aquifer Test Method—Develop a conceptual 7.2.5 Measure Water Level—Measure and record the water
model of the site hydrogeology and select the appropriate levels in nearby wells at a frequency similar as presented in
aquifer test method in accordance with Guide D4043. Observe Table 1.
the requirements of the selected test method with regard to
7.3 Post-Testing Procedures:
specifications for the control well and observation wells.
7.3.1 Tabulate water levels, including pre-flowing (shut-in),
7.1.2 Field Reconnaissance—Make a field reconnaissance flowing, and post-flowing levels. For each well or piezometer
of the site before conducting the test to collect as much detail record the date, clock time, time since flowing started or
as practical on the depth, continuity, extent, and preliminary stopped, and the measurement point.
estimates of the hydrologic properties of the aquifers and 7.3.2 Tabulate the rate of discharge of the control well, the
confining beds. Note the location of existing wells and water- date, clock time, time since flowing started or stopped, and the
holding or conveying structures that might interfere with the method of measurement.
test. Turn off nearby wells well before the test, and disable 7.3.3 Prepare a written description of each well, describing
automatic pump controls throughout the anticipated test period. the measuring point, giving its elevation and the method of
Alternately, it may be necessary to pump some nearby wells or obtaining the elevation, and the distance of the measuring point
allow them to flow throughout the test. If so, the discharge shall above the mean land surface.
be at a constant rate, and not be started or stopped during the 7.3.4 Plot the Rate of Discharge Versus Time—Prepare a
test and prior to the test for a duration equal to that of the test. plot of the rate of discharge versus the time since discharge
The control well should be equipped with a pipeline or began.
conveyance structure adequate to transmit water away from the
test site, such that the structure does not impede the flow of 8. Report: Test Data
water from the control well.
8.1 Record as a minimum the following general information
7.1.3 Construction of Control Well—Screen the control well
(data).
throughout the full extent of the aquifer to be tested.
7.1.4 Test of Control Well—Test the control well by allowing
the well to flow and then stopping the flow. Based on the TABLE 1 Example of Measurement Frequency
recovery response, make a preliminary estimate of the hydrau- Frequency Elapsed Time
lic properties of the aquifer and estimate the initial flow rate 1 measurement every:
from the control well expected during the aquifer test. 30 s 3 min
1 min 3 to 15 min
7.1.5 Testing Observation Wells—Test observation wells or 5 min 15 to 60 min
piezometers prior to the aquifer test to make sure that they are 10 min 60 to 120 min
hydraulically connected to the aquifer. Accomplish this by 20 min 2 to 3 h
1h 3 to 15 h
adding or withdrawing a known volume of water (slug) and 5h 15 to 60 h
measure the water-level response in the well. The resultant

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 D5786 − 17
8.2 Prepare a report containing field data including a de- racy on the semilog or log-log graph paper used in the analysis.
scription of the field site, plots of water level and discharge Radial distances from the control well to the observation wells
with time, and preliminary analysis of data: usually need to be known with 60.5 %. For prolonged large-
8.2.1 An introduction stating the purpose of the test, dates scale testing, it may be sufficient to locate wells from maps or
and times water-level measurements commenced, dates and aerial photographs. However, for small-scale tests, well loca-
times the control well was shut in, dates and times the control tions should be surveyed using land surveying methods. When
well began to flow, and the stabilized head in the control well test wells are deep relative to their spacing it may be necessary
prior to the test. to conduct well-deviation surveys to determine the true hori-
8.2.2 The as-built description and diagrams of control wells, zontal distance between well screens in the aquifer.
observation wells, and piezometers. 8.2.4 Include tabulated field data collected during the test.
8.2.3 A map of the site showing area well locations, the 8.2.5 The names and organizations of personnel performing
distances between wells, and locations of all geologic bound- the tests and calculations.
aries or surface-water bodies which might affect the test.
8.2.3.1 The locations of wells and boundaries that affect the 9. Keywords
aquifer tests need to be known with sufficient accuracy to 9.1 aquifers; aquifer tests; control wells; groundwater; hy-
provide a valid analysis. For most analyses, this means the draulic conductivity; observation wells; storage coefficient;
locations should provide data points within the plotting accu- transmissivity

REFERENCES

(1) Jacob, C. E., and Lohman, S. W., “Nonsteady Flow to a Well of U.S. Geological Survey, 1972.
Constant Drawdown in an Extensive Aquifer,” American Geophysical (3) Hantush, M. S., “Nonsteady Flow to Flowing Wells in Leaky
Union Transactions, Vol 33, No. 4, 1952, pp. 552–569. Aquifer,” Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol 64, No. 8, 1959, pp.
(2) Lohman, S. W., “Ground-Water Hydraulics,” Professional Paper 708, 1043–1052.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee D18 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(D5786 - 95(2012)) that may impact the use of this standard. (January 1, 2017)

(1) Removed jargon and superlatives. (4) Added D3740 to referenced ASTM Standards and added
(2) Updated Terminology section. Note 1 to the Significance and Use Section.
(3) Edited Section 3 and 8 titles to reflect current D18 (5) Added names and organizations performing work to report
requirements. Section 8.

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