MONROE - Well No. 3 was found to have radium seeping from its formation when it was opened last December for rehabilitation.
The well near the city's Water Department on 5th Street and 17th Avenue is in the process of getting a good scrubbing, while its pump is being reconditioned.
Water Utility Supervisor Mike Kennison said the cleanout should help reduce the level of radium to acceptable standards set by the Department of Natural Resources. If not, the city has several options.
"One option would be to use a filtration system, which would be expensive," Kennison said. "A second option would be to blend the water with sources from other wells."
"I don't even want to think about having to do that," he added.
According to Kennison, the pump has been pulled and crews are checking the well for contamination.
The casing pipe and liners will get scrubbed with a 12-inch diameter wire brush to dislodge any surface mineral scale buildup, followed by an Airburst Well Rehabilitation technique.
The airbrush technique uses a high pressure, pulsating air gun to redevelop the open sandstone formation.
High pressure bursts are released throughout the entire open borehole to remove mineral buildup from the formation and fracture zones to fully expose the native formation.
Following each cleaning, debris is removed from the well bottom with a sand pump to achieve the original well depth of 1,334 feet.
If DNR standards are achieved, the reconditioned pump is reinstalled, and a suction flow control device possibly installed. The well should be good for another eight to 10 years.
Water Well Solutions, Oconomowoc, is performing the maintenance work, which included a well performance test and video inspection, authorized by the Monroe Common Council Nov. 17, 2009.
Water Well Solutions estimated the project cost at about $85,000, barring any major pump repairs or replacement assembly parts.
The cost for Well No. 3 rehabilitation, as well as for other water utility projects, such as a portion of 8th/9th Street water lines replacement and painting a water tower, is included in the utilities' five year-projection budget and in the city's request for a water rate increase submitted to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission Nov. 18.
The PSC is allowing the city a 29 percent increase in water rates, giving the water utility about $382,246 more in annual revenues.
"But, what people don't understand is that it will take 15 years to recoup expenditures," Kennison said.
The Common Council voted Feb. 17 to postpone its approval of the rate increase until March 2, to allow committees to consider the city budget and seek other options to offset some of the utilities' overall expenses.
The well near the city's Water Department on 5th Street and 17th Avenue is in the process of getting a good scrubbing, while its pump is being reconditioned.
Water Utility Supervisor Mike Kennison said the cleanout should help reduce the level of radium to acceptable standards set by the Department of Natural Resources. If not, the city has several options.
"One option would be to use a filtration system, which would be expensive," Kennison said. "A second option would be to blend the water with sources from other wells."
"I don't even want to think about having to do that," he added.
According to Kennison, the pump has been pulled and crews are checking the well for contamination.
The casing pipe and liners will get scrubbed with a 12-inch diameter wire brush to dislodge any surface mineral scale buildup, followed by an Airburst Well Rehabilitation technique.
The airbrush technique uses a high pressure, pulsating air gun to redevelop the open sandstone formation.
High pressure bursts are released throughout the entire open borehole to remove mineral buildup from the formation and fracture zones to fully expose the native formation.
Following each cleaning, debris is removed from the well bottom with a sand pump to achieve the original well depth of 1,334 feet.
If DNR standards are achieved, the reconditioned pump is reinstalled, and a suction flow control device possibly installed. The well should be good for another eight to 10 years.
Water Well Solutions, Oconomowoc, is performing the maintenance work, which included a well performance test and video inspection, authorized by the Monroe Common Council Nov. 17, 2009.
Water Well Solutions estimated the project cost at about $85,000, barring any major pump repairs or replacement assembly parts.
The cost for Well No. 3 rehabilitation, as well as for other water utility projects, such as a portion of 8th/9th Street water lines replacement and painting a water tower, is included in the utilities' five year-projection budget and in the city's request for a water rate increase submitted to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission Nov. 18.
The PSC is allowing the city a 29 percent increase in water rates, giving the water utility about $382,246 more in annual revenues.
"But, what people don't understand is that it will take 15 years to recoup expenditures," Kennison said.
The Common Council voted Feb. 17 to postpone its approval of the rate increase until March 2, to allow committees to consider the city budget and seek other options to offset some of the utilities' overall expenses.