The intent of a well flow test is to provide a reasonable assessment of the ability of the private well system to provide sufficient water for normal residential use. Water flow will be sustained at a rate of 3 to 5 gallons per minute for a total of 300 gallons.
A "Passed" designation indicates that well water flow was sustained per the above parameters, with no significant loss of pressure or volume, and without significant clouding or silting. No guarantee of future performance is included.
A "Failed" designation indicates that the well water flow did not meet these parameters.
If well water is lost during the test, a rough determination of the recovery rate may be attempted. No determination of the depth, location, or storage capacity of the well, or the age or longevity of the pump is necessarily included.
A determination of water quality is not included in this test. For that, see Water Quality Test.