By Greg Ellison

(Oct. 28, 2021) Berlin officials are plotting replacement of one of three wells at an estimated cost of $350,000, plus a long-range goal of obtaining grants to install a fourth site to provide sufficient water to accommodate future growth.

Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood reported on Monday that well three on Branch Street went offline several weeks earlier.

“Wells one and two are still operating,” he said.

Berlin’s Water Resources Department discovered well three was discharging excessive amounts of sand and stones while preforming routine maintenance on Sept. 28.

In short order the town contacted vendor AC Schultes to delve into the issue.

On Oct. 12, AC Schultes representatives reported that after scoping the well it discovered bottom screening had collapsed.

Town officials reviewed the situation with DBf Engineering.

“Josh [Taylor] with DBF recommended replacing well three immediately,” Fleetwood said.

Vendors cautioned against rehabbing well three as it would likely cut production by half.

Berlin uses on average 400,000-500,000 gallons of water daily.

“Well one produces about 1.5 million gallons of water a day and well two produces 350,000-400,000 gallons a day,” he said.

Fleetwood said with well three currently offline maintaining well one on Powellton Avenue would be vital, while well two on Franklin Avenue would prove less troublesome if needing repair.

“If well two goes down we’re going to be ok,” he said. “If well one goes down we’re going to be tight.”

Fleetwood said DBf Engineering recommended moving forward with installing a new well on Branch Street.

“We did explore with DBF … the possibility of grant funding for a well,” he said. “Grant funding is available but there’s about a 12- 18 month lag time before we could get that money.”

Mayor Zach Tyndall said all three wells date to the 1940s.

“All three of those wells have some age on them,” he said.

Councilman Dean Burrell asked about the current condition of wells one and two.

Stormwater/Wastewater Superintendent Jamie Latchum said well two had a new pump installed three weeks ago.

“Well one also had a flow test and is doing well,” he said.

Latchum expressed comfort with the current condition of wells one and two.

To finance the estimated $350,000 cost, Fleetwood said tapping ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds was recommended.

Although the estimated time to receive grant monies would prohibit addressing well three replacement with appropriate speed, the funding option could be pursued to install a fourth well on the north end of town.

“We would probably drill on the north side of town because we don’t have one there,” he said.

Fleetwood said  adding an additional well near routes 50 and 818 would compensate for future growth.

Latchum said costs to install a new fourth well would need to be explored.

“It could be upwards of a million dollars,” he said.

To start the process, Latchum said a test well would be drilled to determine water quality at the location.

“They’ll pull all your samples and they’ll test the water before you do the building,” he said.

Tyndall acknowledged there is some risk that the site selected for drilling would not produce water of sufficient quality.

“The engineer has told us the risk is nominal at this particular site,” he said.

Tyndall said following the discussion during the Town Council meeting on Monday, where the consensus sided with moving forward with replacing well three, the matter would be considered for action during the groups next meeting on Nov. 18.