New Culinary Water Well Project
NOTICE OF ROAD CLOSURE
A short section of 600 North street will be closed at approximately 100 East. This closure is necessary for the drilling / construction of the well. This road closure will begin on Tuesday, November 5, and will continue for up to three months. Local access to all homes and the church on 600 North will remain open. Traffic will be detoured around the closure for the duration of the project.
Background
Lindon operates four culinary water wells. These wells are the primary source of culinary water for our residents and businesses. Two of these wells are over 60 years old and have gradually produced less water over time. All the wells are necessary to provide enough culinary water at peak demand times. Due to the age of our existing wells and limited ability to shut down any one well for an extended period for repairs or maintenance, the city has planned to drill a new well. Over several years, the city has saved enough funds ($2.08 million) for this first phase of the well construction which includes drilling & well testing.
Purpose
The new well will provide critical redundancy to Lindon’s culinary water system. If one or more of our older wells fail or need maintenance, the new well should provide the city with enough water to continue with normal water delivery to our existing water customers. The new water source will also help provide water to Lindon’s growing population.
Location
Engineers who specialize in well site selection and well construction were hired by the city to help locate a new well location on property that the city already owns. After geologic evaluation of different sites, evaluating reports of nearby groundwater resources and doing a great amount of other research, these engineers recommended a location for the new well site. The site needed to be in a location that is able to accommodate 50+ years of use and will remain accessible to well maintenance equipment and public works vehicles. This site was selected as the best scientific and logistical location for the new well. The project was put out to bid and awarded to a well drilling contractor who began work in early October 2024.
What to Expect
The new well will consist of a 24” diameter casing that will extend 1000’ deep (twice as deep as our other wells). This depth is beneficial to reach specific groundwater sources and obtain higher volumes of water. This well is being drilled with a large circular spinning drill hooked to a truck and crane assembly. The well is not constructed by pounding or mining, so there should be very minimal ground vibration. There should be no physical impact to surrounding properties, other than noise during the operation.
NOISE: There will be loud noise associated with this drilling activity, which the drilling company compared to a couple large truck engines revving at a high speed. The drilling is required to continue around the clock (24/7) and will last approximately six to eight weeks, followed by several more weeks of daytime only work on the well site.
The northern sides of the construction site will be surrounded by 16’ tall sound walls to help deflect the noise. Even with the sound walls, we anticipate the noise may be an inconvenience. Unfortunately, there is no way to eliminate the noise, and the drilling operation must continue 24/7 to be completed correctly and prevent collapse of the well. We will need your patience and understanding during this process.
ROAD CLOSURE: The well drilling necessitates a large amount of water which will be obtained from a nearby fire hydrant. Discharges of water and sediment on the construction site will be part of the normal drilling process. Given the size of the drilling rigs (which will extend into the street), and location of the hydrant across the street, it was determined that closure of the 600 North roadway during the project will be necessary. Access to the church, park, cemetery, and all homes will remain and should not be impacted.
Work Schedule
The contractor estimates beginning the project in early October 2024 by preparing a gravel work surface in the NW corner of the farm field (east of the church). They will then set up the sound walls and equipment. The drilling is estimated to last six to eight weeks, working around the clock (24/7). This will then be followed by several additional weeks of work during regular daytime hours, as explained below. After the drilling is completed, a separate well contractor will complete a process which entails “developing” the well. This process does not add or alter any physical improvements at the site, but rather is a system of pumping and testing of the well at high volumes in such a manner as to prepare the well for use. It involves cleaning the well of drilling fluids, silt, and clay, and allowing the gravel pack to settle around the well casings. The goal is to improve the well's yield and water quality, and to prevent sand pumping. This process may take several additional weeks to complete after the well drilling is finished. However, it does not continue around the clock and is completed during typical daytime work hours. The next phases for the new well will be for the city to design and construct the wellhouse building and pumps, and then enlarge water & storm drain pipes in 600 North street which will connect to the new well. These next phases likely won’t begin until summer or fall of 2025, or later.
Thank you!
We know this project will be an inconvenience due to the noise and traffic detour. At the end of this project you’ll benefit from a more reliable water system that should serve your family and neighborhoods in Lindon for many decades. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this process.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Lindon City Public Works at 801-796-7954.