PROJECT INFORMATION:
The City of Gillette has experienced considerable draw down and reduced
production in their "in-town" wells tapping the Fort Union and Lance/Fox
Hills aquifers. In addition, the city has made major expenditures in
rehabilitating wells and replacing pumps. The Gillette Area Master Plan
identified the importance of improved management of the multi source
Gillette water supply system in order to reduce operation and
maintenance costs, maximize production from existing sources, protect
the long term yield of the Fort Union formation, and insure uniformity
of water quality available to Gillette water users through blending of
supply sources.
The 1994 project activities included pump testing and logging of
existing wells, analysis of the operation and maintenance procedures for
both the in-town wells and the Madison well field, and a review of
overall system configuration. The 1994 study established a schedule for
rehabilitating Gillette's existing Fort Union well field, for developing
maximum production from the Madison well field (included as a Level III
recommendation in the 1995 New Development program), and eventually for
a new Fort Union well field.
In 1995, the design for the replacement of two wells was completed.
After easements are obtained, this portion of the project will be bid.
Also, in 1995, an existing well was rehabilitated. In 1996 three wells
will be replaced and two supply pipeline will be constructed.
RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
The WWDC recommends that the project appropriation be increased from
$550,000 to $1,475,000 or $925,000. The appropriation will serve as a
50% grant with the City of Gillette responsible for the remaining 50%
of the project budget. The total project budget is $4,060,000 of which the
WWDC could ultimately provide $2,030,000. Additional funding requests
of $555,000 are expected to complete the project during the 1998
Legislative Session.