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PERMIT#: M-1998-013 <br /> INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: ECS <br /> INSPECTION DATE: November 1,2016 <br /> In 2015 Bestway hired a contractor recommended to them by the Lees (Johnathan Glover of Glover's Drilling) <br /> to install a new well and pump system with the intent of replacing the historic well water supply. The permit <br /> for the replacement well was issued by the SEO on July 7, 2015 for well permit #298013-A. According to the <br /> records submitted to SEO by Glover's Drilling, the replacement well was drilled and completed on November <br /> 13, 2015 to a total depth of 25 feet (5 feet deeper than authorized by the SEO permit). The replacement well <br /> was screened with 4.5 inch, slotted schedule 40 PVC from 10 to 25 feet below ground. The static water level <br /> reported during the well testing following installation was 8 feet, with a pumping level of 20 feet, and a <br /> production/recovery rate of 3 gallons per minute over a two hour test interval. <br /> The replacement well permit issued by the SEO required that the new well be located within 200 feet of the <br /> existing historic well (Condition 7). However, the replacement well was installed approximately 100 feet closer <br /> to the excavated/dewatered area than the historic well, rather than further from the potential influence of <br /> mining activity. Locating the replacement well 100 feet closer to the dewatered area than the previous <br /> historic well would not be conducive to minimizing the potential impact of dewatering activity on the well. <br /> When, as part of this investigation, DRMS inquired through Bestway how the new well location had been <br /> selected, Mr. Glover stated via e-mail that he "had wanted it to the southwest corner of the property- owner <br /> wanted it close to its present location". Bestway subsequently hired a third party (John's Well Service) to <br /> confirm the recovery rate of the replacement well. An invoice dated October 4, 2016 from John's Well Service <br /> states that the recovery rate of the replacement well was 4.2 gpm. <br /> Because the historic well was still accessible at the time of the inspection, DRMS requested that Bestway <br /> characterize the historic well recovery rate utilizing the same well contractor (John's Well Service, Inc.) that <br /> was used recently to verify the production of the replacement well, so that a valid comparison between the <br /> two wells could be made. This testing was completed on November 14, 2016. The recovery rate of the <br /> historic well was measured to be four gallons per minute (gpm), almost identical to the replacement well. <br /> DRMS noted that the historic well also utilized a 42 gallon pressure tank as part of the previous system (Photo <br /> 2). The static water level in the historic well at the time of testing was measured to be 11 feet below grade, <br /> and the total depth of the historic well was measured to be 12.5 feet. This well was represented by Ms. Lee <br /> on the Registration of Existing Well forms filed with SEO as being 20 feet deep. DRMS also noted that the old <br /> well had not been properly abandoned within 91 days of completion of the new well as required by Condition <br /> 3 of the replacement well permit. <br /> It appears that the replacement well and the historic well have very similar recovery rates of approximately 4 <br /> gpm. However, due to the difference in well construction, the storage capacity of the two wells differs <br /> significantly. The historic well, constructed of four-foot concrete rings, stores 94 gallons for every foot of <br /> water standing in the well. If even if static water level returns to 8 feet below ground as measured during <br /> installation of the replacement well, the 12.5 foot deep historic well would have a standing capacity of 423 <br /> gallons without accounting for any recharge or pressure tank storage capacity. The replacement well is <br /> constructed of 4.5 inch slotted pipe to a depth of 25 feet. This 4.5 inch pipe stores 3.3 gallons for every foot of <br /> water in the well. Therefore, at the same static water level of 8 feet below ground, the replacement well has a <br /> standing capacity of 56 gallons. <br /> DRMS appreciates the proactive replacement of the water well by the operator. However, in order for the <br /> operator to replicate the water supply provided by the historic well, DRMS will require that a minimum 500 <br /> gallon cistern, and possibly a pressure tank, will need to be added to the replacement well system within 90 <br /> days of the mailing date of this report. <br /> Page 3 of 5 <br />