Yield & Drawdown Flow Testing
Certified flow rate testing (GPM), static water level, pumping water level, and recovery time analysis for ranch sales, loans, and system design.
Common Signs & Symptoms of Failure
- ⚠ Buying or selling a West Texas ranch, hunting lease, or residential acreage
- ⚠ Bank, title company, or VA/USDA mortgage underwriter requiring certified flow report
- ⚠ Planning a new high-demand orchard, livestock expansion, or irrigation zone
- ⚠ Suspecting the well is producing less water than it did in previous years
Technical Execution & Equipment Standards
- ✓ Sustained 4-hour, 8-hour, or 24-hour continuous yield testing with electronic flow meters
- ✓ Electric sounder acoustic water tape measuring static level down to 1/100th foot
- ✓ Real-time drawdown curve recording pumping water level under sustained load
- ✓ Post-test aquifer recovery timing measurement back to baseline static equilibrium
- ✓ Official TDLR-stamped comprehensive water yield and specific capacity certificate
Equipment Specifications: Features Solinst electronic water level sounders, McCrometer flow meters, digital pressure gauges, and certified water sampling bottles.
Our Step-by-Step Field Process
1. Baseline Static Water Level Sounding
Before pumping starts, we measure resting water level with an electronic sounding probe accurate to 0.01 ft to establish true hydrostatic head.
2. Sustained Multi-Hour Constant Rate Pumping
We run the well at constant, measured discharge rates for 4, 8, or 24 continuous hours, recording discharge gallons per minute (GPM) via digital paddlewheel flow meters.
3. Drawdown Curve Recording
At timed intervals (1 min, 5 min, 15 min, 30 min, 60 min...), we record pumping water depth to calculate total drawdown and specific capacity (GPM per foot of drawdown).
4. Aquifer Recovery Monitoring & Certification
Once the pump shuts down, we record the exact minutes required for water to return to original static level, verifying aquifer recharge capacity and stamping official TDLR reports.
Edwards Aquifer & West Texas Geology
Val Verde County land values correlate directly with verified water rights and well production. A certified flow test gives buyers and sellers undeniable proof of aquifer sustainability and equipment health.
Preventative Maintenance Tip for Landowners
Before purchasing raw West Texas ranch acreage, make your sales contract contingent upon a certified 8-hour yield and water quality test.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many gallons per minute (GPM) does a ranch house need?
A standard single-family residential home requires 5 to 10 GPM. However, cattle ranches with multiple stock troughs, headquarters bunkhouses, and wildlife watering stations typically require 15 to 40+ GPM or storage buffer tanks.
What is the difference between static water level and drawdown?
Static water level is the resting depth of water when the pump is off. Drawdown is the distance the water level drops while pumping continuously. The smaller the drawdown, the stronger and more permeable the water-bearing rock.