Feasible design and operational guidelines for skimming wells in the Indus basin, Pakistan

The parameters considered in the model studies were as follows: perforated well depth with respect to depth of the freshwater layer in the aquifer (i.e. well penetration ratio), number of boreholes and spatial distance between them in a multi-borehole well system, well discharge rate and daily operational hours. The results indicate that a single borehole well operated at a discharge rate of ranging from 32 to 180 m3/h (9-50 l/s) can be operated successfully with a 30-60% well penetration ratio for an operating time of 4-8 h/day where the thickness of the freshwater layer ranges from 20 to 30 m. Multi-borehole wells consisting of four to eight boreholes at a spacing of 3 m can be installed where the thickness of the freshwater layer ranges from 10 to 20 m without compromising the quantity and quality of pumped water.