Two AH wells face production problems

Collapsed well being repaired while crews examine second well's reduced rate of production

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By RYAN LANCASTER

Staff Reporter

Airway Heights crews expect to finish repairs on a collapsed municipal well by the end of this week before investigating why a second well hasn't been producing to its full potential.

Early last week Airway Heights City Council passed an emergency resolution to bypass bidding requirements for acquiring a new pump and related drilling work at Well No. 8, which is located near 21st Avenue and Garfield Road. Councilwoman Charlotte Lawrence said repair costs could run anywhere from $25,000 to $40,000, depending on the extent of damage.

“This just reiterates the need to find other water sources,” she said.

Well 8 is one of four Airway Heights municipal wells and a critical water source for the city. “Without that pump we're losing about 300,000 gallons a day,” Public works director Kelly Williquette said last Thursday. “It's significant; especially during this time of year we need that well up and running.”

Airway Heights residents consume more than 350 million gallons of water per year on average, according to the city's website.

Williquette said blockage in the well was determined to be relatively thin, which could mean a clay wall gave way to create a bridge that prevented the pump from drawing water and led to motor burnout. Crews are now replacing the pump and drilling through the collapsed portion of the well, re-sleeving it further down to prevent further cave-ins.

Public works crews are also trying to determine the reason for a slowdown in production at the city's Park West well, located a few miles south of Airway Heights on Craig Road. Williquette said that well was producing more than 1,000 gallons per minute but lately has been yielding a fairly steady 40 gallons per minute.

“We pulled the motor and took a look down in to see if it did have a possible collapse,” he said. “There were some clay pockets and sandy areas below the casing, similar to Well 8. It could be keeping water from being able to recharge.”

Airway Heights had already been planning a project to deepen Park West in order to “maximize our ability to use this well to its full potential,” according to the city's website.

The website also reminds residents that the municipal irrigation code is in full effect through the month of September. The code prohibits irrigation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and repeated violations can result in a civil infraction or a misdemeanor charge.

Ryan Lancaster can be reached at [email protected].