In March, the only drinking water well in Why, an unincorporated community in southern Arizona, shut down. The resolution was put out earlier this week.
After months of investigation, it was discovered that a hole in the well’s casing had caused chunks of gravel around the well to fall.
Jennifer Lynch, environmental quality manager for the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ), said well maintenance managers began rescuing the well in April.
“Their current plan is to cover the well with an eight-inch steel casing,” Lynch said.
Installation of the new sleeve case will begin next Monday. Officials hope to pump the water soon afterward.
Bill Hadley, maintenance operator and director of the Why Household Water Improvement District, said these problems don’t come up very often. Wells are generally said to have a lifespan of 40 to 50 years.
“When you reach the surface here, the water temperature is still about 103 to 105 degrees, and the temperature below that plays a big role in the degradation of some of the equipment that is installed there,” Hadley said. said Mr. .
The public drinking well was only installed in 2009, and Hadley said the Why district’s pumps and motors only last three to five years.
Why DWID last month asked the Pima County Board of Supervisors to declare a state of emergency for the Why region and asked for financial assistance.
The community draws water from the town of Ajo, creating an economic burden on top of maintenance costs.
Since then, Why DWID has been in contact with state agencies and nonprofits to incorporate new information into community emergency operational plans, Hadley said.
Lynch said PDEQ is responsible for overseeing public water systems serving up to 50,000 people and will conduct monitoring, compliance assessments and sanitary surveys for enforcement. The agency also works closely with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
“It’s like with the Why system, if there’s a problem, we kind of work together to regulate the system,” Lynch said.
As of May 29, PDEQ has taken control of the Why Water System along with six other facilities.
