Water Well Project Underway
July 18th, 2023 by Joe Burgess
According to a Monticello Mayor Jason Akers, another infrastructure project for the residents of Monticello is underway.
Well #4, which supplies water to residents on Oakland, Conley, Cooper and countless other city streets is located near North Conley Street. The well was listed as a priority infrastructure repair when the city obtained its infrastructure plan in 2020. Originally estimated at a cost of over 1.9 million dollars, the original recommendation was to cap the well, relocate it and dig another well. The well is over 300 feet deep.
“We reviewed this recommendation and after consulting with well and pump experts, found that there was no reason to cap the existing well and relocate it. The problem wasn’t the well. It was the dilapidated pump and piping system used in the well. Doing our homework and seeking out subject matter experts will not only fix this well’s problem, it saved us over 1.8 million that can go to other things our people need”.
This particular well pump deteriorated in part because at some point in years past, Well 6 was shut down due to a buildup in manganese. Well 4 then had to pick up the duties of both wells, meaning it worked double to supply the needs of residents and businesses.
City Water Operators fixed the Manganese issue on Well 6 and re-opened it, but the overuse of well 4’s pump had already impacted its performance.
The project is expected to be completed within the month.
Pic 1: Crews have removed the old pump and have begun extracting piping from Well 4:
Pic 2:
Below: Piping is heated to break down adhesives that joined the original piping so the pipe can be separated and extracted for examination and repair.
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