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 were completed and construction of the supply pipeline was
completed. Two items remain, these are the finishing out of the last two
control buildings and abandoning the old wells. This work will complete
in 1999.
RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
No legislative action required.
