Search To Begin For New Water Well

Posted by Publisher on

Fairhope, Alabama 

 Update: The city council did vote to proceed.

Well field #1.


Water well exploration site.

AT WELL FIELD #1

This week, the city council is expected to authorize drilling/testing for a new deep water well in the vicinity of "well field number one" on Fairhope Avenue behind the Baptist Church and elementary school. 

Two wells are already there, numbers one and eight under the tank tower. There is a pumping station/treatment plant there too.

Exploration cost is estimated at $23,500 (O'donnell and Assocites Llc.).   Cost for a new well depends on depth; purer water is found at greater depths.

Mayor Sullivan points to the failure to install new wells 10-15 years ago as a reason for current water shortfalls.


Comments

Anonymous said…
The mayor likes to blame everyone else including the previous mayor, the weather and the citizens for the water shortage. She would look more like a leader if she acknowledged the fault of the current city leaders not doing enough to ensure the infrastructure kept up with the growth they approved.
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Anonymous said…
We tried to get a city manager for better management four years ago but you people voted it down.
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Anonymous said…
Sullivan and Martin are new, not to blame. Others have been here a long time and dropped the ball.
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Elroy said…
Perhaps people moving her should evaluate the available utilities in advance instead of complaining about inadequate service after they move in?
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Larry R. said…
Why not be forward looking and explore a desalination plant instead of more wells. We sit on Mobile Bay with unlimited water and a good supply of natural gas to fire an evaporation system.
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Anonymous said…
Desalination is very expensive!
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Anonymous said…
This whole water mess is giving us a lot of drama. I am constantly scratching my head about how this is playing out. What was not included in this article is when the well will be completed. I believe the Mayor stated it would be Spring, 2023. Why is it taking so long to drill a simple well? You would think in a water emergency the red tape could be cut.

What about another storage tank? Is it true that Daphne has at least double the tanks we have? Yet, we’re supplying water to other jurisdictions? Isn’t our population about the same as Daphne?

I would agree that Sullivan and Martin are not to blame for this problem. One Councilman is blustery, the other two seem lifeless. Hoping with all the folks coming to Fairhope that these officials are challenged and we vote them out.
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Publisher said…
The proposed well mentioned in this article would be an additional new one, number 12 for anticipated growth 5 - 10 years from now. The well the mayor has referred to, number 11 on S. CR 33, was completed earlier this year (2 million gallon added capacity/day) -- BUT the new, bigger pipeline necessary to bring the water to town won't be done until next spring. Drive down CR 33 and you will see it being installed.

It can take about 8 months to drill and install a new well; cost up to $1 million.

The city of Fairhope has about 22,000 water customers, Daphne only about half that because other water systems operate in their coverage area too (Belforest, Loxley).

Mayor Sullivan is talking about at least one more well, number 13, and possibly another storage tank to deal with growth in coming years.

All as we understand the situation. Citizens may always contact the mayor directly with questions too .... .
Sunday, September 10, 2023
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