MOUNT VERNON — Recent issues with Well #6 highlight the need for the Knox County commissioners to move forward with drilling a new Well #7.
The county has two main wells (#6 and #3) and three smaller wells (#1, #2, #4) in its wellfield on Pipesville Road. The large wells produce more gallons per minute than the small ones.
The wells operate in cycles, with one large and one smaller well running together. For example, #6 and #1 will run, then #3 and #2, and then #6 and #4.
However, Well #6 is undergoing repairs and has been inoperable since June. The county is waiting on repair parts.
A malfunctioning air conditioner is the latest glitch.
Water and Wastewater Superintendent Jeff Pickrell told the commissioners on Aug. 19 that the department has spent about $50,000 to repair the well so far this year.
With Well #6 inoperable, the bulk of the work falls to Well #3, with support from the smaller wells.
Pickrell said that if Well #3 goes out, customers will likely be on a water restriction.
“Thus the reason why we talked about moving forward with Well #7, developing a third large well just for these circumstances,” he said.
“We believe we can run three [smaller] wells and take care of things, but if you see demands like we did on July 4, we’re probably going to have a few issues.”
Pickrell estimates a $60,000 cost for design services related to the new well.
He hopes to bid the well project yet this year.
Crews will drill the well, then test the water and pump. Pickrell will send that information to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
“They’ve approved the site, but they haven’t approved bringing the well online yet. They want to see all of the water data,” Pickrell said.
Protecting the wellfield
Drilling the new well requires the county to prepare a new wellhead protection plan. The plan covers a 300-foot circumference around each well.
Pickrell said the wells are considered highly susceptible because the water table is shallow.
Last year, the county erected a fence to protect the wells.
“We hit water at 7.5 feet, so it doesn’t take much to contaminate it. If you contaminate one of the wells, the chances are you can contaminate the whole thing,” he said.
The Howard Youth League uses fields in the protected area surrounding the well field for its baseball and softball programs. It is up to the OEPA to determine whether the league can continue to use the fields.
Pump stations experience issues
Pickrell said the Apple Valley pump station on Crab Apple Drive has experienced significant power issues.
AEP investigated and found that the company has power drop issues.
“Once we went back to our generator power, we haven’t had any problems with our pumps,” Pickrell said.
“That’s one of the good things of using some of the ARPA (American Rescue Pan Act) money to put in standby generators. That’s been a godsend there, for sure.”
Workers pressure-cleaned lines at the Harbor View pump station, but velocities are not as high as they need to be.
Pickrell plans to replace the pumps and keep the existing pumps as spares for the other pump stations.
