Water for the domestic use is and has been a concern for some time now. I’ve written about the failing well and the new well and wellhouse in
Well number 3 is located in the golf course behind the golf maintenance building. The well house there supported both well number 3 and number 5. Well number 5 was the well that failed this past year. Using these two wells at the same time posed some problems as they were too close together. Pumping both of them produced less than each rated capacity so we would alternate their use. Upon further analysis it was noted that well number 3 had a larger pumping capacity than the pump was sized for. This pump was originally sized to pump 350 gallons per minute. When this well was installed the city didn’t need the larger capacity that could be achieved from a larger pump so a smaller more efficient motor was installed.
Up until well number 5 failed it didn’t make sense to upgrade the motor as the interference between the two wells wouldn’t have given us any more water. Now with well number 5 out of the picture, the interference problem isn’t there and the full capacity of the well number 3 can be utilized. Recognizing that the city has been in the process of swapping out the 30 hp motor and installing a 40 hp pump motor in well number 3. This change out will give us significantly more gallons per minute. We’re hoping to get 600 gpm but it may be 550 gpm.
In making this change over a good deal of existing equipment is being used in the well house. The piping for the larger well number 5 is being used now for the upgraded well number 3. The VFD (variable frequency drive) controller from well number 5 is being reused to better control the system with slower startups of the pump and use to match the needs for water demand. This not only saves energy but it also reduces wear on the pump motor extending its life. All the disinfection equipment continues to be used as well.
Making these changes is accomplishing more with the resources we have. With these upgrades we benefit with the potential for 60 to 70% increase in the production of the well with limited additional costs. This additional capacity in production doesn’t quite get us to the point of what was lost with the well number 5 failure but it does get us close. With well number 6 coming on board we should be ahead of the game for the summer season.
