Since the early 1900s, Water Survey staff have often been called upon to investigate problems with wells. The ingenious device on the left was created by Water Survey staff in 1934 to view the interior of a well at the University of Illinois. A Kodak camera was suspended in the well and pictures were taken to help assess down-hole problems. This was the beginning of the “down-hole camera” development for water wells in Illinois. At right are pictures of the well screen in the University of Illinois’ Well No. 8. Well screen fouling, as well as well casing joint problems viewed from these photos helped engineers determine what, if anything, could be done to improve or fix poor pumping rate problems.
