Currently the water is undrinkable because the existing well has repeatedly failed bacteriological tests, said Stephens. Bacterial contamination usually means that surface water is getting down into the well, Stephens explained. He suspects the existing well has a broken plastic casing or that the grout between the casing and the well shaft has failed, letting in rainwater.
“I suspect it was earthquake damage that wasn’t discovered at the time because we weren’t using the well then,” he said. Before the Pleasant Grove House was renovated and the restrooms were put in place, water wasn’t used much at the west end of Pleasant Grove.
Drilling the new well will take up to four days, said Stephens. After sampling and a draw down test, the contractor will install a well pump, a pitless adaptor, and a concrete pad around the well head. The entire process could take between 10 days and three weeks.
Calling the well an example of forward thinking, Stephens said it will be compatible with a drinking water system that may someday come to Pleasant Grove.
Stephens expects the project to cost between $20,000 and $25,000.
