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PROBLEM <br />In the spring of 2008, Applicant's employees determined that the 80 year old well had <br />developed a leak. The Bureau of Land Management contracted with Layne Christensen <br />Company to do a down-hole inspection of the well. It took months to get the inspection <br />scheduled and results reviewed and the leak at the well became slowly progressively <br />worse. What Layne determined is that the well casing was deteriorating and the BLM <br />hydro-geologists stated that they thought the well had a leak at 10 feet below the surface, <br />which could be causing the leakage rising to the surface. However, there were other <br />leaks noted at greater depths, approximately 2400 feet. A test hole to determine whether <br />the 10 foot leak was shallow enough to be fixed was scheduled with Layne Christensen <br />but as the excavator started to break up some of the concrete surrounding the well casing, <br />the well leak became much worse and all work halted. The well leak is now coming out <br />of the outside of the casing and when the well-head is closed the increased pressure sends <br />water squirting out at an alarming rate. Applicant has installed the piping needed to take <br />the pressure off the well and deliver the water into the imgation ditch for Applicants use <br />and for the use of the Canon Heights irrigators, so the water is being put to beneficial use. <br />It has been the recommendation of Layne Christensen and BLM officials that the old <br />well should not be repaired, due to the fact that an 80 year old well does not warrant the <br />money needed to repair it. There is no recourse but to drill a new well. At this time the <br />well is supplying Applicant with winter water but the BLM is anxious to get the well <br />capped, as it is considered a liablility. We do have plans set in place to use Southeastern <br />Water Conservancy District project water we leased previously if the water is needed <br />before a new well can be drilled. <br />Analyses of Alternatives <br />Applicant and officials from the Bureau of Land Management have narrowed down the <br />alternatives to the well failure to three: <br />1. Cap the old well and discontinue the lease between BLM and Park Center <br />Water District. This alternative is unacceptable to Applicant and its users <br />as it has established that the 4000 customers of Park Center are reliant on the <br />well in the winter months as well as in times of drought. <br />2. Attempt to repair the existing well casing. After viewing the leaks at the well, <br />representatives from Layne Christensen advised Applicant not to touch or <br />further disturb the well site, as it could result in total well failure. BLM has <br />contacted Haliburton, who said there might be a possibility that the well could <br />be fixed, but that they were not in the business of fixing artesian wells. The <br />firm of HRS Water Consultants, Inc., in Lakewood, Colorado suggested that <br />the existing well might be reahabilitated by installing a 4'/i" slipliner into the <br />existing casing and then pressure grouting to fill the annulus between the liner <br />and the existing casing. They estimated the cost of this attempt to fix the well <br />would be in excess of $200,000. And they could not recommend any <br />