By Jay Lawson
The Town of Webb approved a well drilling project that commenced on Thursday, June 4, to restore water flow to the Eagle Bay Welcome Center, which had been plagued by inconsistencies since being opened in the fall of 2013.
“At our meeting [on Monday, June 1], the board agreed to drill a well on the property,” said Supervisor Ted Riehle.
Riehle said the facility had frozen up for the second winter in a row in 2014–15.
The center had been intended to serve snowmobile visitors, as well as those during summer.
“It didn’t thaw out until a couple weeks ago—the weekend before Memorial Day. At that point we had no water in the point,” Riehle said.
Water to the Welcome Center had been sourced from a driven point well, rather than a drilled well, according to Riehle.
“The town opted at the time of design of the TOBIE project to use that water source. We had deeded rights to it and did not have a water source on town property,” he said.
The point water source served other users in the area also, according to Riehle.
“A point is a section of pipe, perforated with a screen, that’s driven into the ground. It does provide water, but it’s not as reliable as a drilled well. And it’s been problematic since the beginning,” he said.
Though the water source made sense earlier, the board decided it’s time to abandon it.
“It hasn’t proved reliable enough for our needs, and we thought it was in our best interest to drill the well on site,” Riehle said.
Riehle said he visited the site with Code Enforcement Officer Andy Getty, and a compliant location was found.
The new arrangement will remedy the perennial freezing problems, too, according to Riehle.
The well-drilling crew broke ground Thursday, and Riehle said he expects the well to be finished this weekend.
“We will have it connected as soon as possible,” he said.
The cost will be determined by the depth that has to be drilled.
“We got a competitive rate. It’s obviously an emergency situation. We couldn’t wait a couple weeks to drill. It was important that we get it done now,” Riehle said.