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Wells, pumps and power: California T1 water treatment operator math

Drawdown, specific capacity, horsepower, efficiency, pumping cost.

Below are 3 worked examples. Each answer is computed with the formulas and constants on the CA Exam Conversion Sheet (revised 4/30/2026), and the solution names the line it uses.

Formulas from the sheet for this topic

Example 1. A well yields 1,830 GPM. The static water level is 187 ft below ground and the pumping water level is 236 ft below ground. What is the specific capacity?

  1. A) 7.75 GPM/ft
  2. B) 37.3 GPM/ft
  3. C) 74.6 GPM/ft
  4. D) 9.79 GPM/ft
Show the answer and worked solution

Answer: B) 37.3 GPM/ft

1. Drawdown = 236 − 187 = 49 ft. 2. Specific Capacity = Well Yield ÷ Drawdown [Sheet p.1, Pumping: "Specific Capacity (GPM/Ft) = Well Yield (GPM) / Drawdown (Ft)"] = 1,830 ÷ 49 = 37.347 GPM/ft. 3. Answer: 37.3 GPM/ft (rounded to 3 significant figures).

Source: CA Exam Conversion Sheet (Revised 4/30/2026), p.1, Pumping: "Specific Capacity (GPM/Ft) = Well Yield (GPM) / Drawdown (Ft)"

Example 2. Before pumping, the water level in a well is 86 ft below ground. After pumping for several hours it stabilizes at 164 ft below ground. What is the drawdown?

  1. A) 39.0 ft
  2. B) 250 ft
  3. C) 78.0 ft
  4. D) 125 ft
Show the answer and worked solution

Answer: C) 78.0 ft

1. Drawdown = pumping water level − static water level (the denominator of [Sheet p.1, Pumping: "Specific Capacity (GPM/Ft) = Well Yield (GPM) / Drawdown (Ft)"]). 2. = 164 − 86 = 78 ft. 3. Answer: 78.0 ft.

Source: CA Exam Conversion Sheet (Revised 4/30/2026), p.1, Pumping: "Specific Capacity (GPM/Ft) = Well Yield (GPM) / Drawdown (Ft)"

Example 3. Before pumping, the water level in a well is 44 ft below ground. After pumping for several hours it stabilizes at 128 ft below ground. What is the drawdown?

  1. A) 44.0 ft
  2. B) 172 ft
  3. C) 128 ft
  4. D) 84.0 ft
Show the answer and worked solution

Answer: D) 84.0 ft

1. Drawdown = pumping water level − static water level (the denominator of [Sheet p.1, Pumping: "Specific Capacity (GPM/Ft) = Well Yield (GPM) / Drawdown (Ft)"]). 2. = 128 − 44 = 84 ft. 3. Answer: 84.0 ft.

Source: CA Exam Conversion Sheet (Revised 4/30/2026), p.1, Pumping: "Specific Capacity (GPM/Ft) = Well Yield (GPM) / Drawdown (Ft)"

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