Othello may face higher repair costs

Cost for unexpected well work

OTHELLO - The City of Othello may face a large unexpected cost to continue refurbishing Well No. 6.

Municipal Services Coordinator Jay Van Ness said there is 750 feet of column to be pulled out of the well. The column must be pulled before sending camera equipment down to investigate potential problems concerning fluoride concentrations and reservoir commingling.

He said contractors have pulled 220 feet out and are having to cut the majority of the column rather than unthreading it.

"This was unexpected, even by the contractor," Van Ness said.

He said public works personnel visited the site and concur the columns need to be cut.

Van Ness said the materials have rusted themselves together rendering it unusable.

The worst case scenario involves paying for the cost to cut the entire 750 feet of column at a cost of approximately $91,000. The cost of labor also involves 47 hours at a cost of $425 per hour for a total of nearly an additional $20,000.

The portions of the well submerged in water are expected to be unthreaded without having to cut it, Van Ness said.

"Our best guess of static water level in the well is between 450 feet and 480 feet below the surface," he stated.

The initial contract includes the cost of cutting approximately 100 feet of column, Van Ness said.

He said public works personnel are salvaging some parts from the well. They are able to gather parts referred to as "spiders." The spiders look like gears that help guide the turning shaft inside the column. The spiders cost $150 each to buy new ones, Van Ness added.

No action was taken by council at the meeting. An official change order from the contractor was not presented at the meeting. The presentation was for informational purposes.

Well No. 6 is the largest-producing well in the city. It has the capacity to produce 3,100 gallons of water per minute. The well is only used during emergencies due to high fluoride concentrations. The city began testing and repairs began last year to make the well a regular viable drinking source.