Council accepts bid to start new well project
GLENWOOD CITY — The City Council accepted the low bid for a test well that will become the site of a new water utility well and pump. The site chosen by the council is on city land next to the present water tower along Third Street.
The city is in the process of abandoning one of its two wells and pump house that is located off Water Street near the Community Center on the city’s west side. That site has provided water for city residents since the city was founded back in 1885. At one time the site had two wells, but about 25 years ago the city drilled a new well at Hinman Park and constructed a new water tower along Third Street in the northern part of the community.
Last year the DNR cited the city for deficiencies at the Water Street well site. The council hired a firm to pull the pump to determine if they could bring that facility into compliance. After reviewing the information gained, the council approved applying for grants to finance a new facility at a different location. The Water Street location is within the flood plain of Tiffany Creek, and that was one of the reasons that a new location was sought. It is estimated that the cost of the new facility could be close to a million dollars.
At Monday night’s meeting, Kevin Oium of Cedar Corporation of Menomonie presented the Council with bid tabulations from four companies that submitted bids to drill a test well and test pump the site to determine if that location is acceptable for a new facility.
The Council accepted the low bid of $46,160, from Sam’s Well Drilling out of Randolph, Wisconsin. The other bids ranged from $61,850 to $69,116. Oium informed the council about the test well indicating that it will be a six-inch hole drilled to 650 feet deep with a six inch casing 230 feet deep. The company will install a 300-gallon per minute pump and operate it for a 24-hour period to determine the amount and quality of the water. Last month the council heard that if the site is acceptable the new pump will produce around 900 gallons per minute. That is the same amount that the present well at Hinman Park provides.
During the conversation about the new well, council member Ken Peterson questioned Oium about the new well and noting that his private well is near the new site and if the new pump would draw down water and deprive his water source. Peterson was looking for some sort of guarantee that he would not lose his private well, which he said was 230 feet deep.
Oium said that the new well would be in a different aquifer than his well is, but gave no guarantee. Oium informed the council that this test well and the information gathered needed to be done before the end of June to allow for applying for the grant monies.
