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 and
an existing well was rehabilitated. In 1996 two wells were drilled and
the design of a supply pipeline was initiated. In 1997 two additional
wells were replaced and the supply pipeline was designed. In 1998 the
final three wells will be replaced and the supply pipeline will be
constructed.
RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
The WWDC recommends that the project funding be increased with a
$250,000 grant to cover 50% of the cost of the final phase of this
project. The sponsor will provide the matching 50% with city funds.