March 2012

Page 1

Get involved in 2012 National Groundwater Awareness Week, page 16

JOURNAL

March 2012

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

Do Your Geothermal Homework The profit is in the details, page 19 Also inside: Tax regulations and your business, page 25 Cell phone use behind the wheel, page 48

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JOURNAL

Vol. 66, No. 3 March 2012 www.waterwelljournal.org

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

FEATURED ARTICLES 19 Do Your Geothermal Homework Getting Down to Brass Tacks By Mike Price

Part 2: The profit is in the details. 25 Tax Regulations and Your Business By Jennifer Strawn

As you drop your 2011 returns in the mailbox, it’s time to think about 2012 changes. 29 Knowing Appraisals By Michael A. Salvadore Jr., SPA, MPPA

Part 2: Differences in various valuation models. 32 WATER WELL JOURNAL Q & A Lloyd Duplantis, Haiti Mission Inc.

Page 19

DEPARTMENTS In This Issue Industry Newsline The Log Web Notes Coming Events Newsmakers Featured Products Classified Marketplace Index of Advertisers Closing Time

IN EVERY ISSUE 6 Editor’s Note Learn. Move On. Repeat.

March

2012

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About the cover Gregory Drilling Inc. of Redmond, Washington, completes a geothermal project in the summer of 2009 at the Juneau International Airport in Juneau, Alaska. The company completed 120 wells to 350 feet and averaged four wells per day with two drill rigs (open-hole, mud rotary was the method). The drilling formation encountered was alluvial sand and gravel to 60 feet, then silts and sands to 350 feet. One-inch loop pipe was installed. Photo courtesy Gregory Drilling Inc. ®

Member of BPA Worldwide. The Water Well Journal (ISSN #0043-1443) is published monthly by the National Ground Water Association, 601 Dempsey Rd., Westerville, OH 43081. Printed and mailed at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and additional mailing offices. Postal acceptance: Periodical (requester subscription circulation) postage paid at Westerville, Ohio, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Water Well Journal, 601 Dempsey Rd., Westerville, OH 43081. Canada Post/ Publications Mail Agreement #40739533. Return address: 4960-2 Walker Rd., Windsor, ON N9A 6J3.

Twitter @WaterWellJournl

Water Well Journal March 2012 3/

JOURNAL A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

Advancing the expertise of groundwater professionals and furthering groundwater awareness.

Chief Executive Officer Kevin McCray, CAE kmccray@ngwa.org NGWA President John Pitz, CPI Page 32

Director of Publications/Editor Thad Plumley tplumley@ngwa.org Associate Editor Mike Price Copyeditor Wayne Beatty

FEATURED COLUMNISTS mprice@ngwa.org wbeatty@ngwa.org

Production and Design Janelle McClary jmcclary@ngwa.org Advertising Shelby Fleck Vickie Wiles

sfleck@ngwa.org vwiles@ngwa.org

Circulation Coordinator Katie McKee kmckee@ngwa.org Contributing Writers Ed Butts, PE, CPI; Donald W. Gregory; David T. Hanson; William J. Lynott; Michelle Nichols; Christine Reimer; Al Rickard, CAE; Jill Ross; Ron Slee; Stuart A. Smith, CGWP; Lana Straub; and Jennifer Strawn Editorial, Advertising, & Publishing Offices 601 Dempsey Rd., Westerville, OH 43081 (800) 551-7379 Fax: (614) 898-7786 Selected content from Water Well Journal is indexed on Ground Water On-Line™ at www.NGWA.org/gwonline ©Copyright 2012 by the National Ground Water Association. All rights reserved.

Our circulation is audited, ask for a statement today.

An APEX award winner nine consecutive years with 21 total awards, most in the groundwater industry.

36 Engineering Your Business by Ed Butts, PE, CPI Groundwater Treatment Part 5(a). Secondary Contaminants Overview

44 It’s the Law by Don Gregory and Jeremiah Thomas Indiana Considers Some Aquifers Subject to Local Regulation Decision could create questions for landowners and contractors.

46 People at Work by Alexandra Walsh Conducting Legal and Compassionate Terminations Make sure you follow these steps when you have to remove someone from your workforce.

48 Safety Matters by Jack Glass, CIH, CSP, QEP, CHMM Cell Phone Use Behind the Wheel You need to focus on the road, not your phone, when behind the wheel.

52 The After Market by Ron Slee The Supply Chain and You International disruptions in the supply chain reverberate worldwide.

54 Savvy Selling by Michelle Nichols Salesperson, Know Thyself Customers are more inclined to buy from people they like. That means polishing your connection skills by learning about yourself. The views expressed in the columns are the authors’ opinions based on their professional experience.

4/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

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EDITOR’S

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Learn. Move On. Repeat. t became obvious that a company I had partnered with recently wasn’t delivering what I had hoped and I had a decision to make. Every time you partner with a vendor, hire an employee, or bring on a subcontractor, you hope it’s a match that can last for years—one that will take your business to the next level, making it hard to remember what it was like before the partnership. But then life gets in the way. The truth is some partnerships never mesh and you have to end them before you or your company are dragged down. I decided to end the partnership. After discussing the matter with colleagues and laying things out on paper —literally writing down pros and cons —it became obvious ending it right away was the best thing to do. And then I got to work. I couldn’t let things end there. When you hit a bump at your job or in your personal life, it is crucial to not let it stop you. It simply needs to be like the speed bumps you encounter in your car every day, something that only slows you down. There are three steps that need to be followed when you have a setback: Learn. Move on. Repeat. I could have sat at my desk and sulked. Worse yet, I could have chose never to explore working with similar vendors or to use products like they offered me. But all that would have

I

done is hurt my customers, and that’s the last thing I want to do. So I went to school. I reviewed past communications with the vendor, recalled past meetings, and discussed different scenarios with staff to see what could have been done differently. The most important thing was that I had to learn from the partnership that had come to an end. And then I went to step two: I moved on. I didn’t dwell on it. I didn’t keep kicking myself or try playing the blame game. After all, I knew neither one could yield anything positive. When you get to the point that you can say to yourself, “It’s unfortunate, but it happened”—you’re ready for step three: repeat. No one’s perfect and we’re all going to stumble from time to time, so we have to make sure we learn each and every time we do. It’s similar to a company that has an accident at a job site. A good firm will perform an analysis right away to prevent incidents reoccurring in the future. Treat yourself the same way. When you do, you’ll end up surrounded by customers wanting to be partners for life.

Thad Plumley is the editor of WWJ and director of publications at the National Ground Water Association. He can be reached at tplumley@ngwa.org and on Twitter @WaterWellJournl.

Advertise your products and services to the groundwater industry’s most influential readership. Call Shelby Fleck and Vickie Wiles in the NGWA sales department at (800) 551-7379. ● ● ● ●

Approximately 25,000 readers every month. More than 19,000 are groundwater contractors. Approximately 4000 reside in professions also allied to the field. Readers reside in every state, Canada, and other international locations. Circulation is audited by BPA Worldwide. Ask for a statement.

6/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

Shelby Fleck

Disclaimer Water Well Journal and the National Ground Water Association provide information for guidance and information purposes only. This publication is not intended to provide investment, tax, or legal advice. The information contained herein has been compiled from sources deemed reliable and it is accurate to the best of our knowledge and belief; however, Water Well Journal and the National Ground Water Association cannot guarantee as to its accuracy, completeness, and validity and cannot be held liable for any errors or omissions. All information contained herein should be independently verified and confirmed. Water Well Journal and the National Ground Water Association do not accept any liability for any loss or damage howsoever caused in reliance upon such information. Reader agrees to assume all risk resulting from the application of any of the information provided by Water Well Journal and the National Ground Water Association. Trademarks and copyrights mentioned within Water Well Journal are the ownership of their respective companies. The names of products and services presented are used only in an educational fashion and to the benefit of the trademark and copyright owner, with no intention of infringing on trademarks or copyrights. No endorsement of any third-party products or services is expressed or implied by any information, material, or content referred to in the Water Well Journal. Subscriptions/Back Issues For questions, changes or problems with your subscription call Sharren Diller. Subscriptions: Water well contractors and other qualified groundwater industry personnel in U.S. and Canada — free; others in U.S. — $105 per year; $15 per copy. Canada – $120 per year; $24 per copy. International: $140 per year; $35 per copy. Subscriptions available through NGWA offices only. We reserve the right to refuse subscriptions to anyone not directly engaged in the groundwater industry. Claims for missing issues must be made in writing within three months of publication and will be subject to the availability of back issues. Advertising Disclaimer Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for all content (including text, representation, and illustrations) of advertisements printed and also assume responsibility for any claims arising therefrom made against the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertising that it believes is not in keeping with the publication's standards or is deemed unsuitable or misleading.

Vickie Wiles

waterwelljournal.com

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IN THIS

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ISSUE

he March 2012 issue of Water Well Journal contains several feature articles and columns that will help your groundwater business run more efficiently.

Several water well contracting companies have been diversifying into or considering going into geothermal installation in recent years. If you’re thinking about doing so, Associate Editor Mike Price’s feature article titled “Getting Down to Brass Tacks� on page 19 is a must-read. Price concludes his two-part series “Do Your Geothermal Homework� with a look at how the profit is found in the details of a geothermal job. He chats with a variety of water well contractors, including one from Gregory Drilling Inc. in Redmond, Washington, on bidMike Price ding for a job, drilling conditions, and working with a general contractor. In the accompanying sidebar article, Price writes about the National Ground Water Association’s voluntary certification designation for geothermal drillers, the Certified Vertical Closed Loop Driller (CVCLD). Gary Henderson, the owner and operator of Premier Geothermal in Ankeny, Iowa, talks about the importance of the certification after becoming the first to earn it. Two feature articles touch on the office-side of the groundwater business as freelance writer Jennifer Strawn details new tax regulations. In “Tax Regulations and Your Business� on page 25, she points out that while you may have just dropped

your 2011 return in the mailbox, it is time to be thinking about changes in store for 2012. Among some of the differences Strawn goes over are bonus deprecation on qualified investments, tax credits for hiring veterans, tax credits for homeowners who purchase geothermal heating and cooling systems, the tax treatment for building improvements, and changes to a payroll holiday Jennifer Strawn tax. This issue also continues the four-part feature article series “Knowing Appraisals.� The first article debuted in the January 2012 issue and author Michael Salvadore Jr., SPA, MPPA, continues with the second one this month focusing on various valuation models. In “Differences in Various Valuation Models� on page 29, Salvadore Jr. details the three approaches to value used by appraisers: the income approach, cost approach, and the market or sales approach. He then discusses the definitions of value that are used within the approaches, definitions such as fair market value and orderly liquidation value. Finally, the article concludes with how an appraiser puts it all together when assigned an appraisal. The latest installment of the People at Work column also covers a critical business topic that no one likes to think about—when the time comes to terminate an employee. Columnist Alexandra Walsh details the number of legal considerations that should be contemplated as well as steps that

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IN THIS should be taken to treat the employee with respect. In “Conducting Legal and Compassionate Terminations” on page 46, she points out that just because a state is an “at-will” employment state, it doesn’t mean a company isn’t vulnerable to a postemployment discrimination suit. With that in mind, making sure proper steps are followed is a must.

ISSUE

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Price also catches up with Lloyd Duplantis in the Water Well Journal Q & A. Duplantis is a pharmacist in Louisiana who is involved in drilling water wells in Haiti. In fact, Duplantis won an NGWA Honorary Member Award at the 2011 Ground Water Expo for his humanitarian efforts. In the interview on page 32, Duplantis explains that after visiting the nation in 2000 he formed Haiti Mission Inc. Its focus is to develop safe and sufficient water supplies and has begun initiatives in education, various forms of humanitarian aid, and animal husbandry. Since 2007, Haiti Mission has drilled 20 wells and has as a goal to bring potable water to within 500 feet of everyone Lloyd Duplantis within the region of Haiti in which it is working.

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INDUSTRY

NEWSLINE

U.S. EPA Proposed Rulemaking on Lead-Free Drinking Water Products Expected in May The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be incorporating the changes brought by the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act within its overall lead and copper rulemaking. The expected time frame for a notice of proposed rulemaking is May 2012, with final action in December 2013. The bipartisan bill was signed on January 4, 2011, providing a 36-month implementation period from approval, after which time compliance will be

EPA, USDA Detail Memorandum of Agreement Representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture hosted a Webinar on January 23 that detailed the two groups’ memorandum of agreement (MOA) that was signed on August 11, 2011. More than 400 connections were logged on to the Webinar where it was

required with the new standard. It uniformly reduces the lead standard for pipes, pipe fittings, and plumbing fittings used to convey drinking water to a weighted average of 0.25% of the wetted surface, which is consistent with the current state laws in California, Maryland, and Vermont. The current federal level of permissible lead content is 8%. The benchmark for solder and flux is 0.2%. Most of the issues revolve around

corrosion, or leaching, of lead—a metal found in natural deposits—in water system materials. The measure amends Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act by redefining “lead free.” To view the March 2011 Water Well Journal article, visit waterwell journal.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/ 01/March-2011-Lead-Article.pdf. For more information on the overall lead and copper rule, visit water.epa.gov/ lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/lcr/index.cfm.

stated that the MOA was signed to leverage in-house expertise and make the best use of limited federal resources. Speakers pointed out that rural water and wastewater systems face increasing challenges to sustainability such as aging infrastructure, regulatory requirements, workforce shortages, increased operating costs, decreased financial resources, and customer demands in a time where as many as 62 million

people call a rural community home. The four parts of the MOA were detailed. They are: ●

Sustainability of rural communities: The EPA and USDA working together to promote system-wide planning and sustainable management practices such as utility management and asset management planning.

NEWS/continues on page 12

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System partnership: Promoting systems working together to increase compliance and reduce costs. Water sector workforce: Working together to promote careers in the water sector. Compliance of small systems with regulations: Providing training and assistance to systems in rural areas. -By Thad Plumley

USDA Announces Potential Funding for Ground Source Heat Pumps

The installation of ground source heat pumps is a diversification opportunity for groundwater contractors.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the availability of funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. The available funding supports up to $12.5 million in grants and $48.5 million in guaranteed loans. Applications are due by March 30. Contact the USDA state offices listed in the Web link at www.gpo.gov/fdsys/ pkg/FR-2012-01-20/pdf/2012-755.pdf.

Construction Spending Hits 17-Month High

Get superior results on the job site with these best practices. Free for member s!

Prepared by a consensus of groundwater industry professionals from around the country, NGWA’s best suggested practices —or BSPs—are designed to aid you at industry job sites. They are not standards, but practices that have been demonstrated to show superior results. s Managing a Flowing Water Well s Reduce and Mitigate Problematic Concentrations of Stray Gases in Water Well Systems s Reducing Problematic Concentrations of Arsenic in Residential Well Systems s Reducing Problematic Concentrations of Boron in Residential Well Systems s Reducing Problematic Concentrations of Fluoride in Residential Well Systems

s Reducing Problematic Concentrations of Nitrates in Residential Well Systems s Reducing Problematic Concentrations of Radon in Residential Well Systems s Reducing Problematic Concentrations of Strontium in Residential Well Systems s Reducing Problematic Concentrations of Uranium in Residential Well Systems s Residential Well Cleaning

s Reducing Problematic Concentrations of Iron and Manganese in Residential Well Systems

s Water Well Systems for Fire Protection Services for Stand-Alone Housing Units of Four or Fewer

s Reducing Problematic Concentrations of Microorganisms in Residential Well Systems

s Water Well Systems Inspection

s NGWA members FREE s Nonmembers $75 12/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

NGWA Best Suggested Practice

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Approved by NGWA Board of Directors : 6/8/2010

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As a benefit to members of the National Ground Water Association, this document provides best suggested practices for water well drilling contractors on procedures to follow when managing a flowing artesian well. The best preparation is to understand geologic conditions in the area. If artesian conditions are known to exist, contractors need to be prepared for potential flow, plan Introduct ion for off-site water discharge, and follow best practices. As a benefit to members of the National Ground water well system Water Ass Association, this professional (WWSP) the document provides provides with basic knowledge Definitions during well drilling/cons tthe this document dge for gases that truction and Water Association, Because nd suggested practices may be encount Introduction Artesian Well: encountered fugitive) gas levels. practices. National Ground the of to reduce and suggested re members Because of varying and mitigate elevated arying geologic As a benefit to prescriptive with basic knowledge An artesian well is not necessarily a flowing well. Artesian implies there isdevelop a confining bed stray ((or conditions and a totally to develop a totally prescriptive guideline. professional (WWSP) other factors, it ot is not practical water well system is not practic and the water level (potentiometric surface) of the well rises above the top ofSubsurface the aquifergases practical to other factors, it conditions and may occur dissolved solved in groundwater of varying geologic (Figure 1). A flowing well means specifically that water flows out the top supply. of the well without in the United States; Sometimes or as a gas in the the concentratio health standards head space of a ns of select gases guideline. document to public careful site selection the use of a pump. wate water will prove throughout this ve to be unacceptably and references well are construction even There truction,, or after high even recommend cost-effectiv eve after standards. unacceptably high cleaning an eexisting Confined Aquifer: have different e options to mitigate will prove to be well. The WWSP WWSP other nations may sive for the consumer such problems. of select constituents can existing well. The A confined aquifer, also called an artesian aquifer, is one restricted by an impermeable layer to install For instance, concentrations ins it after cleaning an or an , it may appropriate Sometimes the instance, be For less of a gas than to construction watertight vented expen expenproblems. both on the top and bottom. The potentiometric surface in a well constructed in a confined ented well cap replace or deepen selection and well to mitigate such pen an existing to lower concentratio after careful site concentr ns technology to treatment options to well or to use a a new water treatment aquifer reflects the pressure exerted from being forced between two layers.emplace confin The upper confinwell. Such decisions m more cost-effective water ore expensive drilling well or to can recommend are site-specific to install an appropriate WWSP. technol technology and, thus, for the consumer or deepen an existing ing layer prevents the water from rising upward (confines the water) to the static water level hus, based on careful than to replace may be less expensive analysis by the hand, if a water For of a contaminant thethe purposes of the aquifer. When an aquifer is found between two impermeable layers, both aquiferof the best concentrations well. 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The Associated General Contractors of America reports construction spending in November 2011 reached a 17-month high of $807 billion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, up 1.2% from a downwardly revised October total and up 0.5% from the November 2010 level. All major segments rose for the month, but year-over-year results varied. Private residential spending rose 2.0% for the month and 3.4% year-over-year; private nonresidential spending ticked up by less than 0.05% for the month and 4.5% over 12 months; and public spending climbed 1.7% in November but dropped 5.3% compared with November 2010. All three residential segments increased over both periods: new singlefamily, 1.5% for the month and 2.5% over 12 months; new multifamily, 1.3% and 4.1%; and improvements, 7.4% and 4.1%. President Barack Obama signed the omnibus appropriations bill, covering spending by federal agencies that had not been covered by earlier bills, for the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2012, through September 30, on December 23, 2011. Of the federal construction accounts tracked by the Associated General Contractors of America, there was an overall decrease of nearly $7.5 billion (6%) from the final FY 2011 funding levels. Since 2010, these federal construction programs have been cut by approximately $35 billion from an all-time high. The cuts may continue for the rest of the decade. “Between 2011 and 2021, non-defense discretionary funding will shrink by 17%, after adjusting for inflation, while funding for defense will decline 15%,� the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimated January 3, as a result of “the combination of the discretionary spending caps set in the Budget Control Act and the failure of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (the ‘super-committee’).�

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CDC Scientist Says Tests Needed on Gas Drilling Impact The Associated Press reports that a scientist from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, is saying more research is needed to determine the possible impacts of shale gas drilling on human health and the environment. “Studies should include all the ways people can be exposed, such as through air, water, soil, plants and animals,” Dr. Christopher Portier wrote to The Associated Press in an e-mail. Portier is the director of the National Center for Environmental Health at the federal CDC. While other federal and state regulators are already studying the impacts of gas drilling on air and water, Portier says research should also include “livestock on farmed lands consuming potentially impacted surface waters; and recreational fish from potentially impacted surface waters.” Portier made clear that the science on the issue isn’t settled yet. “We do not have enough information to say with certainty whether shale gas drilling poses a threat to public health,” he wrote. “More research is needed for us to understand public health impacts from natural gas drilling and new gas drilling technologies.” He also suggests both pre- and posttesting of private drinking water wells near drilling sites.

NRC Report States Reuse of Treated Wastewater Could Augment Water Supplies With recent advances in technology and design, treating municipal wastewater and reusing it for drinking water, irrigation, industry, and other applications could significantly increase the nation’s total available water resources, particularly in coastal areas facing water shortages, says a new report from the National Research Council. It adds that the reuse of treated wastewater, also known as reclaimed water, to augment drinking water supplies has significant potential for helping meet future needs. Moreover, new analyses suggest that the possible health risks of exposure to chemical contaminants and disease-causing microbes Twitter @WaterWellJournl

from wastewater reuse do not exceed, and in some cases may be significantly lower than, the risks of existing water supplies. “Wastewater reuse is poised to become a legitimate part of the nation’s water supply portfolio, given recent improvements to treatment processes,” says R. Rhodes Trussell, chair of the committee that wrote the report and president of Trussell Technologies in Pasadena, California. “Although reuse is not a panacea, wastewater discharged to the environment is of such quantity that it could measurably complement water

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from other sources and management strategies.” The report examines a wide range of reuse applications including potable water, non-potable urban and industrial uses, irrigation, groundwater recharge, and ecological enhancement. The committee found that many communities have already implemented water reuse projects—such as irrigating golf courses and parks or providing industrial cooling water in locations near wastewater reclamation plants—that are well estab-

NEWS/continues on page 14

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NEWS/from page 13 lished and generally accepted. Potable water reuse projects account for only a small fraction of the volume of water currently being reused. However, many drinking water treatment plants draw water from a source that contains wastewater discharged by a community located upstream; this practice is not officially acknowledged as potable reuse. The report outlines wastewater treatment technologies for mitigating chemical and microbial contaminants, including both engineered and natural treatment systems. These processes can be used to tailor wastewater reclamation plants to meet the quality requirements of intended reuse applications. The concentrations of chemicals and microbial contaminants in reuse projects designed to augment drinking water supplies can be comparable to or lower than those commonly present in many drinking water supplies. The committee emphasized the need for process reliability and careful monitoring to ensure that all reclaimed water meets the appropriate quality objectives for its use.

EPA Lists Hydraulic Fracturing Concerns, Fears Data Limits May Slow Policy

Inside Washington Publishers reports a top adviser to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson is ranking the agency’s core environmental concerns related to hydraulic fracturing, with strains on water supply as a top issue. But the EPA’s senior policy counsel Robert Sussman is warning that a lack of strong scientific conclusions about actual impacts could hamper the agency’s ability to promulgate policies to protect against potential adverse impacts where state regulations fall short. “There’s a lot we need to know and don’t know about hydraulic fracturing’s impacts,” Sussman told the U.S. Conference of Mayors during its January 19 winter meeting in Washington, D.C. “We need a commitment to science, one that’s data-driven, not baseless, not conjecture, and not theoretical concerns —it’s important not to overstate or understate these concerns.” The agency needs to gather more data about the potential pathways for contamination and other environmental impacts to occur /," 1 Ê/ Ê 7 through hydraulic HYDRO INJECTION fracturing, he told the conference durSECURE SYSTEM ing a presentation, “Environmental Issues—Pros and Water Injection Kit makes the testing and installation Con—Regarding of Centennial Plastics Natural Gas ExtracGeothermal EarthLoops™ tion.” faster and easier! Sussman’s comUÊ iVÌÊ>Ê}>À`i Ê ÃiÊÌ ÊÊ v Õà ÊÜ>ÌiÀÊÌ À Õ} ÊÌ iÊ« «iÊÊ ments come as the Ì Ê `i Ì vÞÊ i> Ã]Ê> ÀÊ« V iÌÃ]ÊÊ agency is in the ÀÊV Ì> > ÌÃt midst of conducting UÊ7>ÌiÀÊ ÊÌ iÊ« «iÊÀi`ÕViÃÊ LÕ Þ> VÞÊ ÃÃÕiÃÊv ÀÊi>à iÀÊ a two-year, congresL ÀiÊ iÊ ÃiÀÌ t sionally directed UÊ" ViÊ ÃÌ> i`]ÊÌ iÊÌiÃÌÊV>«ÃÊ study into the potenÃÌ>ÞÊ ÊÌ iÊ >ÀÌ «ÃÒÊÌ ÊÊ ii«ÊÌ iÊ« «iÊÃi> i`Ê> `ÊvÀiiÊÊ tial impacts of hy vÊ`iLÀ ÃÊÕ Ì ÊV iVÌi`ÊÌ ÊÊ draulic fracturing on Ì iÊ i>`iÀÊ« «i° drinking water—an

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Sussman carefully qualified his remarks by saying that the agency recognizes the potential for shale gas and oil reserves, made accessible through recent advances in hydraulic fracturing technology, to help meet energy security and economic goals and provide a cleaner burning alternative to coal. “We want to see this industry succeed,” Sussman says, but added that the agency also believes there are serious environmental health concerns associated with the hydraulic fracturing process and that resolving those issues is “critical” to gain public confidence that development of shale resources can proceed safely. Sussman lists as his top concern the strain that heavy-volume surface water and groundwater withdrawals of freshwater used in the hydraulic fracturing process may be placing on water resources—an issue industry leaders say the agency has little authority to address—and potential contamination of drinking water through subsurface migration of hydraulic fracturing fluids.

House, Senate Lawmakers Highlight Concerns with EPA’s Authority in Potential Suit Settlements Republican leaders of the House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee have written to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson regarding their concerns with the agency’s recent pattern of choosing to settle activist lawsuits under terms that the EPA then uses to justify expanding its regulatory authority without the direction of Congress. Sent by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Florida), Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-Okahoma), House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio), and Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), the letter requests the EPA to answer a number of questions regarding the extent of its authority. The EPA is reportedly in negotiations to settle two lawsuits that allege the waterwelljournal.com

agency has greater regulatory authority than what the lawmakers feel Congress provided under the Clean Water Act. The Congressmen are concerned that in choosing not to defend these cases in court, the EPA is effectively refusing to honor the limits of its authority under the CWA and could subsequently use the settlements as a basis for an expansion of jurisdiction beyond the CWA’s parameters. The two lawsuits in question were brought by the Conservation Law Foundation and the Buzzards Bay Coalition. They allege the EPA has a nondiscretionary duty under the CWA to regulate pollution of groundwater and to mandate that states regulate nonpoint source pollution. However, the CWA provides no authority to the EPA to regulate nonpoint sources or groundwater or to force states to regulate activities that the EPA itself has no authority to regulate.

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West Virginia DEP Links Injection Well, Earthquake

The Associated Press reports state environmental regulators say a small earthquake during the first week in January in Braxton County in West Virginia suggests there could be a connection to a gas drilling company’s underground disposal of wastewater. Ten small quakes shook central West Virginia in 2010, ranging in magnitudes from 2.2 to 3.4. Three quakes occurred in one day. Media outlets say the Department of Environmental Protection then worked with Chesapeake Energy to reduce the amount of fluid it was putting into underground wells, and the quakes stopped. Chesapeake Energy recently began increasing the volume of its underground injections, said state DEP spokeswoman Kathy Cosco. The 2.8 magnitude quake January 10 about 10 miles from Gassaway suggests there is some kind of connection, she said, but without seismic monitors, it’s difficult to prove. The company’s injection well in Braxton County was used to dispose of more than 10.6 million gallons of wastewater from hydraulic fracturing.

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LOG

NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

Get Involved in 2012 National Groundwater Awareness Week In order to advance groundwater knowledge among the public and market NGWA members’ groundwater businesses, NGWA encourages water well system operators, contracting firms, groundwater consultants, academics, manufacturers, and suppliers to participate in National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 11-17. Promoting Groundwater Awareness Week is an excellent way to spotlight your company in a positive way to the public. Don’t miss this opportunity to leave a favorable impression with consumers. You can learn more about how to promote National Groundwater Awareness Week by visiting NGWA’s Web site at www.ngwa.org/Events-Education/ awareness.

NGWA to Host Conferences on Groundwater Issues in 2012 NGWA is hosting a pair of conferences focusing on groundwater issues specific to certain regions of the United States in 2012.

NGWA Contributes to Charitable Groups The National Ground Water Association made contributions to two charitable non-profit groups at the 2011 Ground Water Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, to show its support for the work being accomplished by the groups. NGWA donated $700 to the American Ground Water Trust and World Hope International. Both groups exhibited at the Expo, November 29-December 2, and the donations were made in the groups’ booths. Pictured are NGWA Chief Executive Officer Kevin McCray, CAE, and American Ground Water Trust Executive Director Andrew Stone.

16/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

The NGWA Focus Conference on Midwestern Groundwater Issues, June 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio, will concentrate on a host of topics: ● ● ● ● ●

major seasonal flooding events impacting groundwater and wells issues related to oil and shale gas production increased water use for irrigation biofuels development other energy alternatives.

The NGWA Focus Conference on Gulf Coast Groundwater Issues, October 16-17 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, will analyze what technologies, new tools, and technological advancements can be applied to meet this region’s challenges. To learn more about these conferences and to register, visit NGWA’s Web site at www.NGWA.org.

Checklist for Professionals Hiring Geothermal Heat Pump Drilling Contractors Developed by NGWA HVAC contractors, mechanical engineers, architects, developers, and others involved in geothermal heat pump installations should evaluate the qualifications of drilling contractors to protect groundwater and optimize heat pump system operation. NGWA has developed a list of pertinent questions professionals should ask drilling contractors. The list can be accessed at NGWA’s Wellowner.org Web site under the “Geothermal Heat Pumps” tab. Estimates by the HVAC industry suggest that as much as 50% of the total geothermal heat pump market involves the use of vertical borehole subsystems. There are several different configurations of geothermal heat pump system installations involving vertical Earth drilling: ● Open loop: Single well for water withdrawal, water returned to a surface source ● Open loop: Single well for water withdrawal, water returned to a second well

● ● ●

Standing column: Single well for water withdrawal and water return Closed loop: Vertical boreholes Direct exchange: Vertical boreholes using concentric pipe systems.

Experienced geothermal heat pump installers confirm that it is critical these systems 1. be installed with a properly constructed borehole 2. be equipped with a properly placed loop tube assembly 3. have properly grouted boreholes, not only for optimal heat transfer but also for groundwater protection. To find drilling contractors, including those who work on geothermal heat pump installations, use the "Contractor Lookup" link on NGWA’s Wellowner.org Web site. Also, check out NGWA’s Guidelines for the Construction of Vertical Closed Loop Heat Pump Systems in the bookstore at www.NGWA.org.

NGWA Offers CSP–Drilling Operations Exam NGWA is now offering a second component to the Certified Sales Professional (CSP) designation within its Voluntary Certification Program. This is the Certified Sales Professional–Drilling Exam. The CSP designation is specifically intended for suppliers and manufacturers. Earning the CSP designation is a remarkable way to demonstrate your commitment to enhancing industry professionalism and providing good customer service. Eligible individuals who wish to earn the designation will be required to take only one exam, but they can extend their designation to a CSP-II by passing both the drilling and pump installation exams. Exam appointments may be scheduled through NGWA’s third-party testing facility, PSI LaserGrade, by calling (800) 211-2754. If outside the United States, call (360) 896-9111. waterwelljournal.com

WEB

NOTES

FIND IT ON THE NGWA WEB SITE, NGWA.ORG

Create a Company Listing in 2012 Water Well Journal Buyers Guide Be sure your company is included in the 2012 Water Well Journal Buyers Guide. All listings will be published in the June 2012 issue of WWJ as well as posted immediately on NGWA.org and www.waterwelljournal.com in searchable format. Your products and/or services are important to the industry and to WWJ’s readers. Be sure your company is included in this most comprehensive guide in the groundwater community. If you were a display advertiser in 2011, you are eligible for a $275 discount on the package of your choice: ● ● ●

●

Basic listing for $275 (both print and online with live e-mail link) Basic listing plus logo for $375 (color logo in print and online) Basic listing plus logo and Web links for $475 (up to two live Web links on the online listing) Premium listing for $675 (basic listing, color logo in the print and online listing, up to two live Web links on the online listing, three product photos online and three product spec sheets online).

To create, review, and confirm a company listing in the 2012 WWJ Buyers Guide, visit info.ngwa.org/ wwjbg/maintain/new_company.cfm. The submission deadline is March 26. For more information, contact Shelby Fleck, advertising and exhibit sales manager, at sfleck@ngwa.org, or call (800) 551-5379, ext. 523.

New Journal Web Site Offers Advertising Opportunities Manufacturers and suppliers, supplement your print advertising in the leading industry resource, Water Well Journal, with a presence at its new online home which can be found at www.waterwelljournal.com. WWJ’s Web site includes all content from the print edition, buyers guides, and news updated daily. It is offering “homepage” banner ad opportunities: Twitter @WaterWellJournl

● ● ●

Masthead placement at $850 per month—one only (468 × 60 pixels) Skyscraper placement at $700 per month—one only (125 × 469 pixels) Side placement at $500 per month— limit of five (125 × 125 pixels)

For additional information, contact NGWA’s Shelby Fleck at sfleck@ngwa.org or call (800) 5517379, ext. 523 or Vickie Wiles at vwiles@ngwa.org who can be reached at ext. 593. If outside the United States, call (614) 898-7791.

NGWA’s First Phone App for iPhone Provides Valuable Terminology Information A glossary of groundwater and water well terms is available from NGWA as an iPhone application downloadable online in the App Store at www.apple .com/iphone/ apps-foriphone. The application for Apple’s iPhone is $4.99 and educational institutions can receive a discounted rate for multiple purchases. The Lexicon of Groundwater and Water Well System Terms contains more than 1900 terms and is useful to all professionals in the groundwater industry, other professionals, and students in the Earth sciences. “Here, in one place, the user can find reliable definitions for terms critical to professional work, research, and study dependent upon accuracy and precision,” NGWA Executive Director Kevin McCray, CAE, says. “This glossary

represents a comprehensive listing of groundwater and water well terms reviewed exhaustively.” NGWA’s Lexicon was selected by a task force of industry professionals and contains terms with the most relevancy to the various groundwater professions and to the use, protection, remediation, and management of groundwater. While there are often regional differences in the use of some terms, the document is certainly an ideal collection of the definitions that relate to groundwater and professionals who work with it. To learn more or to purchase this product, visit the NGWA Online Bookstore at www.NGWA.org, or call (800) 551-7379 or (614) 898-7791.

Share Your Knowledge on NGWA’s ‘The Well’ An information exchange forum, NGWA’s “The Well” is designed to improve communication among likeminded members. It offers an online means for exchanging ideas and allows you to benefit from the experience, knowledge, and wisdom of your peers. The Well is where you can post your latest groundwater industry challenge, problem, question, or experience, and learn from the responses shared by others who have also subscribed to The Well. Sign up to join The Well today at www.NGWA.org.

Stay Connected with NGWA Follow the National Ground Water Association on . . . Twitter www.Twitter.com/NGWAtweets Facebook www.Facebook.com/NGWAFB YouTube www.YouTube.com/user/NGWATUBE Water Well Journal March 2012 17/

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(COVER STORY)

Do Your Geothermal Homework Getting Down to Brass Tacks Part 2: The profit is in the details.

By Mike Price Photo courtesy Gregory Drilling Inc.

ike drilling a water well, completing a geothermal project takes planning—and lots of it. This is nothing new to the generations of water well contractors working in the groundwater industry, making them the ideal fit to diversify into the market. Preparation is in their genealogy. “Basically, everything comes down to how long it’s going to take you to do the job and how much money you want to make on top of it,” says Chris Gregory, CWD, supervisor for Gregory Drilling Inc., a diverse drilling company in Redmond, Washington. “Everything from your fuel to your wages to the wear and tear on your bit and rig is figured in. All that gets added up to a per foot and then you just decide how much percentage you want to put on top of it and hope you’re right on the calculations on how long it’s going to take you.”

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Mike Price is the associate editor of Water Well Journal. In addition to his WWJ responsibilities, Price produces NGWA’s newsletters and contributes to the Association’s quarterly scientific publication. He can be reached at mprice@ngwa.org.

Twitter @WaterWellJournl

“We’re extremely clean on job sites and take pride in it. People notice that kind of stuff. It does cost us more money, but a clean, safe work site is always more profitable and you look a lot better doing it.” With geothermal projects in the Pacific Northwest and West Coast becoming more common, success often comes down to bidding for a job, knowing the drilling conditions, and working with a general contractor. In concluding this two-part series on avoiding geothermal pitfalls—specifically bidding in the commercial market—contractors discuss these key factors.

“There are times on the commercial side you have to really dig to find the information that you’re looking for, so if that would be upfront and available it would be of great benefit,” says Tim Yoder, co-owner of Yoder Drilling & Geothermal, a third-generation family business in Sugarcreek, Ohio. A member of the National Ground Water Association Board of Directors, Jeffrey W. Williams, CWD/PI, CVCLD, shared his insights at a roundtable discussion on the importance of doing one’s homework at the 2011 NGWA Ground Water Expo. Williams, vice president of Spafford & Sons Water Wells in Jericho, Vermont, stressed these major points: ●

● ●

Preparing a Bid In today’s fast-paced and ultracompetitive world, it only takes two companies to create competition. That means a driller’s log on the drilling conditions is like gold to contractors during the bidding process.

●

Thoroughness in bidding based upon careful review of the bid documents and site requirements Diligent planning and execution of the work Maintaining a close working relationship with the general contractor and project engineer Being professional and not requiring daily guidance on issues such as safety, conduct, housecleaning, and documentation of both work performed and testing requirements met.

GEOTHERMAL/continues on page 20 Water Well Journal March 2012 19/

Takeaway Tips on Avoiding Geothermal Pitfalls Below are some tips and questions to keep in mind when preparing for a geothermal project, provided by Gary Shawver, MGWC, president of Shawver Well Co. Inc. in Fredericksburg, Iowa. Shawver, an NGWA Board of Directors member, installed a heat pump in his home in 1979, one of the first in northeast Iowa. Since that time Shawver Well has been involved in many geothermal water and injection wells. These tips and questions you should ask are primarily for vertical drilled loop fields as opposed to standing column wells or pump and re-inject systems. A. How familiar are you with the engineering firm and do the specs look adequate and reasonable or are they inadequate? If they are poorly written and if you have not worked for the firm before, you need to call and discuss with the engineer some points or issues that concern you and ask questions. If an engineering firm has poorly written specifications for the portion of the work you do and they do not seem open to either modifying them or “working with you,” then it may be best to forego the project. There are some engineers engineering these systems that really do not have a strong handle on the loop field portion of the project and if there are problems, you may be held responsible. It is sort of a buyer beware situation, or in this case, a “contractor beware.” Do not be afraid to call and discuss your questions or concerns with the engineer. If he does not take or return your calls, pass on bidding this project. There will be

GEOTHERMAL/from page 19 Since drilling is an expensive industry, Gregory Drilling has learned over the years that sometimes it’s necessary to pass on bidding for a project. “It’s just best to put in the numbers that you’re comfortable with to make money on the job,” says Gregory, “and if you don’t get it, you don’t get it. Let the other guys get it and then hopefully you have better success on the next one because your competitor is tied up on that previous job.” In pockets of the country where geothermal is relatively new, such as the Pacific Northwest, contractors who have just entered the market should heed this warning. “People see that there’s 20,000 feet of drilling and their eyes just want to pop out of their head and think about how much money they can make on a job,” says Gregory, who has witnessed this firsthand, “and they have no experience doing geothermal or they’re not set up correctly for it. 20/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

others that are better suited for you to do. You may wish to notify the owner that you would have liked to bid the project but the engineer would not take or return your calls on concerns you had and therefore you chose not to bid. Owners do not like to hear this. B. When can the project be done? Often these contracts may run a year or two and often the intent is not to let the drilling contractor into the site right away as other portions of the contract will be done first. This is often left to the general contractor to decide, and if you are bidding this to start it right away, you may find that it may not happen. If you are in the upper tier of states, you may find that it has to be drilled in the winter months at a lot higher cost to you, so you need to ask the general contractor what their intent is as to when the loop field is to be drilled. C. Have you visited the site and have you laid out a plan of how the field is going to be drilled? How are you going to deal with the drill cuttings or runoff or both? What do the specs require? Do you have to remove drill cuttings from the site? If so, this is no small expense. If you have to remove them, where can you take them to at a reasonable cost? Most landfills don’t want them. What about water discharge runoff? Is it going to affect neighbors? Are you responsible for the runoff from the site? (Most likely you will be.)

“Maybe they should start smaller with projects that have less overhead so if something does go sideways it doesn’t bury your company.” Naturally, there will be unexpected lessons learned on the job site. But unlike in other lines of work, drilling mistakes can cause, among others, safety and financial issues, so minimizing potential miscues is a must. “The tough part about it is that you realize everything on the first hole,” Gregory concludes. “So if you bid a job X amount of holes for X amount of days and that first hole isn’t at all what was expected based on the ground conditions, you’ve got a long job ahead of you.”

Know Your Drilling Conditions It may seem obvious, but not being aware of the drilling formation will cause the most financial harm. “First and foremost is always actual drilling conditions compared to what’s reported in the bid documents,” Gregory says.

For commercial projects, contractors can rely on well log information based on a thermal conductivity test hole that has been drilled. For residential projects, contractors will need to do their own research because seldom are conductivity holes drilled due to cost and practicality. “Along with preparing yourself for handling the cuttings, produced water, or dust,” Yoder says, “you just have to prepare yourself for the drilling conditions and what kind of waste material you’ll also have. “It’s a matter of just being aware of what you’re going to be dealing with, so a few hours or a day or two spent in research and gathering information will be well worth your time.” Dan Rau, PE, LEED AP, president, mechanical engineer of Colorado GeoTo read Part 1 of the series “Do Your Geothermal Homework,” visit Water Well Journal’s Web site at waterwell journal.org/2012/02/do-yourgeothermal-homework. waterwelljournal.com

Diversify Your Professional Experience, Become a Certified Vertical Closed Loop Driller Today

thermal Drilling, says water well contractors generally know what type of geology they’re drilling into, and so it’s a matter of learning what that geology means according to thermal conductivity. “What these guys need to understand is thermal conductivity of soil is— depending on how they bid it to HVAC contactors or builders—if it is a design build deal and they put 200 feet of loop in, sometimes that’ll be worth a ton and a half in granite; sometimes it’ll be worth three-quarters of a ton in some dry clay,” Rau says. “The biggest pitfalls are probably the design and then understanding the different soils and what the thermal conductivity means and how it’s going to make the heat pump perform with the building or house it’s on at the end of the day.” West of the Cascade Mountain Range in the Seattle area, Gregory Drilling encounters mostly overburden (glacial till and alluvial deposits). In one 200-foot geothermal well the company can drill through four or five different formations, ranging from clay to silts and gravels to alluvial sand and gravel. It can change four or five times throughout the length of a hole. “You’ve got to know what you’re doing and you’ve got to be pretty well Twitter @WaterWellJournl

By becoming a CVCLD, you will increase ABILITY your professional expertise and your EXPERIENCE company’s marketability over your KNOWLEDGE competition. Exams for the CVCLD designation national ground water association can be scheduled by calling PSI CERTIFIED VERTICAL CLOSED LOOP DRILLER LaserGrade at (800) 211-2754. If outside the United States, call (360) 896-9111. The 75-question exam encompasses the skills and competencies reflected on the Geothermal Vertical Closed Loop Drilling Operations DACUM. For more information about the CVCLD certification, visit NGWA’s Web site at www.NGWA.org, scroll to the “Professional Resources” tab and click on “Certifications and exams.”

CV CLD

Advances in ground source heat pump technology have emphasized the need for a voluntary certification designation for ground source heat pump drillers. That’s why NGWA is proud to offer the designation of the Certified Vertical Closed Loop Driller (CVCLD). “I think the NGWA certification gives you another level of true professionalism,” says Gary Henderson, CVCLD, the first to earn NGWA’s Certified Vertical Closed Loop Driller designation and owner of Premier Geothermal in Ankeny, Iowa. “It’s a difficult test to take. You have to have lots of experience under a lot of different conditions. The test covers the United States and different drilling conditions across the United States, taking in different regulations. It’s the credibility of a national organization like NGWA that puts together a very solid test that not everybody can pass, and I think it will strengthen the geothermal industry.” This new designation reflects an individual who has proven knowledge, skills, and experience in the construction of a closed loop well system for ground source heat pump applications.

To find drilling contractors, including those who work on geothermal heat pump installations, use the "Contractor Lookup" link on NGWA’s Wellowner.org Web site. Also, check out NGWA’s Geothermal Cost Calculator and Guidelines for the Construction of Vertical Closed Loop Heat Pump Systems in the bookstore at www.NGWA.org.

experienced,” Gregory says. “If you’re not making hole you’re not making money.” It’s that mind-set that has helped Chris and his older brother, Chad, CWD, along with their father, Larry, who started Gregory Drilling in 1975, succeed in geothermal. They employ a 12- to 14-man crew running six drill rigs. “Even though Larry, Chad, and I do the legwork to get projects, the real workers who make it happen are our crew,” Chris Gregory says. “We have the absolute best crew. Nobody works harder than they do. I would put them up against any drill crew out there.”

Working with a General Contractor Operating on a geothermal project, clear communication is vital with the general contractor. “Making sure you can explain to the general contractor what you’re actually going to be doing,” Yoder says, “what the job is going to entail, and then being flexible enough to help the general contractor. It’s basically not getting in the way of everybody, so working side by side.” If a general contractor is not familiar with the geothermal process, scheduling might be difficult. Some drillers are

forced to drill around other utilities in the ground or in small spaces due to working off a general contractor’s schedule. Again, remaining flexible is critical to maintaining an amicable relationship. “The schedule with general contractors is always a tough thing because generally schedules aren’t really available when you’re bidding a job,” Chris Gregory explains. “It’s always a new schedule when you get to the job and they want all the holes drilled in half the time frame. You have to convince them that it’s going to take longer and it is what it is, so then it basically comes down to progress reports every day and then they threaten you with liquidated damages.” Liquidated damages can get pricey, ranging anywhere from $500 to $1500 a day. This added expense can be prevented though. “When you sign contracts in this business, you’ve got to make sure that you read these contracts and liquidated damages,” Chris Gregory advises. “For the most part they’re always negotiable and you can get them changed, but sometimes you just can’t and you’re stuck with it.” Gregory Drilling, which completed one of the first major geothermal proj-

GEOTHERMAL/continues on page 22 Water Well Journal March 2012 21/

Speleologist’s View of High Yielding Wells in Ohio’s Newburg Zone: Geothermal Wells Beware The Water Management Association of Ohio and the Water Resources Center presented a luncheon seminar, “A Speleologist’s View of High Yielding Wells in Scott Bair, Ph.D. Ohio’s Newburg Zone: Geothermal Wells Beware,” on January 17 on the campus of The Ohio State University. Scott Bair, Ph.D., professor in the School of Earth Sciences at Ohio State and NGWA instructor, detailed the university’s struggles in constructing three geothermal wellfields to provide heating and cooling for six dormitories. The drillers or project engineers were unaware of two paleokarst zones underly-

ing the campus and much of western Ohio. During drilling of the wells in January 2011, pressurized air caused groundwater to rise more than 35 feet in the air in previously drilled wells. The karst processes that formed the shallow paleokarst zone in the Delaware and Columbus, Ohio, limestone differ markedly from the karst processes that formed the deeper paleokarst zone in the Salina and Lockport dolomites, which is locally known as the Newburg Zone. The case study revealed the importance of understanding the hydrogeologic character of the Newburg Zone, how engineers responded to the drilling problems, and implications for future geothermal well drilling in central and western Ohio.

GEOTHERMAL/from page 21

come well versed in making do with what the bid documents require. It finished a project in early January for the Bullitt Foundation’s Cascadia

ects in the state of Alaska at the Juneau International Airport in 2009, has be-

Center for Sustainable Design and Construction in Seattle’s central area, which called for 28 holes, 400 feet deep in 5to 10-foot spacing. The Center will be one of the nation’s first mid-rise commercial buildings to achieve “living building” status, a new benchmark for environmental sustainability. “We’re extremely clean on job sites and take pride in it. People notice that kind of stuff,” Chris Gregory says. “It does cost us more money, but a clean, safe work site is always more profitable and you look a lot better doing it.” In the end, water well drillers new to geothermal will do just fine by remembering to prepare for a job as they’ve always done, following proper safety precautions, and being mindful of their surroundings. “The reality is it’s really common sense, but for someone just coming into it, there are some things that you don’t take into consideration,” Yoder says. “You just have to remember you’re drilling a lot of holes in a small area and so that just multiplies the importance of taking all of these things into consideration.” WWJ Simple | Powerful | Reliable

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Here is what differs and what effect it might have on your business.

“Unfortunately, it would have been a bigger bang for your buck if you could have purchased equipment in 2011,” Van Benschoten says. “It’s still good, just not as good as it was for 2011.” Although the goal of bonus depreciation is to promote capital expenditures, many business owners say purchasing new equipment for their business just isn’t in the cards. “Business is so slow in the Upper Midwest that we’re not wearing out the equipment we have because we’re not using it,” says Roger Renner, MGWC, president of E.H. Renner & Sons Inc. in Elk River, Minnesota. “It’s hard to make payments on new equipment with sales you don’t have.” Chad Grignon, owner of Pine State Drilling Inc. in Athens, Maine, doesn’t believe bonus depreciation had an effect on many drilling businesses. “I don’t think anybody is going to make purchases just based on a tax credit because of how bad the economy is,” he says. Van Benschoten agrees that businesses shouldn’t purchase a piece of equipment just because you’re getting a deduction. If you need the equipment and it’s right for your business, then bonus depreciation might just make the purchase a little easier on your wallet. Daniel T. Meyer, MGWC, CVCLD, chief financial officer of Gregg Drilling in Signal Hill, California, adds that if you’re contemplating buying new equipment, then it’s certainly an incentive to get it done. It’s money that you can deduct instantly from your taxable income. “If you’re thinking about buying new equipment before your busy season starts, then I think it is an incentive to step forward and take a look at doing it,” he adds.

Bonus Depreciation

Work Opportunity Tax Credit

Under the Job Creation Act of 2010, businesses could receive 100% bonus depreciation in 2011 on qualified investments to help recover the costs of certain capital expenditures more quickly so that they would be encouraged to invest in more equipment. For 2012, businesses can receive 50% bonus depreciation on property placed in service before January 1, 2013.

During the past few years the U.S. Congress has passed tax incentives for

Tax Regulations and Your Business As you drop your 2011 returns in the mailbox, it’s time to think about 2012 changes. By Jennifer Strawn

s you’re putting the final touches on your 2011 tax returns, you might be wondering what 2012 will have in store for your business. The answer is more of the same—at least when it comes to taxes. “There are not a lot of new regulations for 2012 so far,” says Mark Van Benschoten, principal of Rea & Associates Inc. in Dublin, Ohio, an independent firm that does the annual audit for the National Ground Water Association. “Much of the tax credits and reductions are continued from 2011.”

A

Twitter @WaterWellJournl

TAX/continues on page 26 Jennifer Strawn was the associate editor of Water Well Journal from 2004 to 2007. She is currently in the internal communications department at Nationwide Insurance in Columbus, Ohio. She can be reached at strawnj2 @gmail.com.

Water Well Journal March 2012 25/

TAX/from page 25 hiring new employees. Although there’s nothing new for 2012, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama in November. The VOW to Hire Heroes Act expanded and amended the Work Opportunity Tax Credit given to employers who hire unemployed veterans. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is a tax credit incentive provided to businesses for hiring individuals from target groups who have consistently faced sig-

“When you tell the customer that they can take 30 percent of the total geothermal installation—that’s a nice substantial addition to the sale.” nificant barriers to employment. The goal of the tax incentive, according to

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the Internal Revenue Service, is to provide opportunities for people in these groups to move from economic dependency into self-sufficiency. As an incentive, employers benefit by reducing their income tax liability. Tax credits for hiring unemployed veterans were extended until December 31, 2012, while credits for all other target groups expired at the end of 2011. Renner of Renner & Sons in Minnesota says tax credits for hiring have little effect on his business. “We haven’t hired anybody in five years,” he says. “It’s due to a lack of business. Sales are down 40 percent of what it was.” Until about four years ago, the number of wells drilled per year in Minnesota topped 11,000, Renner says. As of the end of last November, there had been 1,763 wells drilled in 2011. “We’d love to expand, buy new equipment, and hire a lot of people, but unless someone hires us to do the work, there’s not much you can do,” Renner says.

Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 Grignon of Pine State Drilling in Maine says tax credits for homeowners, rather than tax credits for business owners, has had the most effect on his business. The Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 provides a onetime tax credit of 30% of the total investment for homeowners who install residential ground loop or groundwater geothermal systems. Geothermal helps keep Grignon busy and has helped his company survive in the down economy, so the tax credit has a major impact on sales. “The tax credit makes it even easier to sell geothermal. Geothermal in and of itself saves money, but when you tell the customer that they can take 30 percent of the total geothermal installation— that’s a nice substantial addition to the sale,” he says. Although not new for 2012, the tax credit is available to homeowners until December 31, 2016. “I’m not usually for the government subsidizing energy, but I have to say this is one of the best things I’ve seen the government do,” Grignon says. waterwelljournal.com

Tax Treatment for Tangible Property The IRS issued new rules to Section 263 of the Internal Revenue Code, which generally requires the capitalization of amounts paid to acquire, produce, or improve tangible property. The rules provide guidance on what expenses need to be capitalized and what can be deducted, Van Benschoten says. Under the new rules, building improvements—meaning anything that betters, restores, or adapts a property— require capitalization. Materials and supplies which are used or consumed can generally be deducted. Fuels, water, and the like which are expected to be used within 12 months fall under this definition. There is also a safe harbor from capitalization for routine maintenance for tangible property other than buildings. “These new rules could affect repairs made to their property, so business owners should be paying attention to them,” Van Benschoten says. “They’re brand new and pretty technical, so they’re something you should discuss with your tax preparer.”

“The general feeling is that people are going to be paying more taxes post 2012.” In Van Benschoten’s opinion, business owners should consider taking as much income as they can in 2012 and delaying expenses into 2013. “I’m not advocating people pay more taxes than they should, but if you can pay income tax in 2012 versus 2013, I’d rather pay it at the lower rate than a higher rate in 2013.” Meyer of Gregg Drilling in California says he doesn’t worry about the tax rates from one year to the next and

doesn’t usually take accelerated income. “A dollar in the hand is worth two in the bush or something of that nature,” he says. “We prefer to have the money in our hands now and worry about paying excess later.” Grignon from Maine agrees. “My feeling is that a lot of us won’t do anything big until after this next election to see what direction we’re going in,” he says. “I know I can speak for most of the drilling businesses when I say we’re just going to sit on our hands until things get better.” WWJ

Tax Benefits for Individuals The only new tax benefit for individuals in 2012 is the payroll tax holiday passed by Congress at the end of last year for January and February. During the payroll tax holiday, workers received a 2% decrease in Social Security taxes. Other benefits are a continuation of the Bush-era tax cuts, which were renewed for 2011 and 2012, Van Benschoten says. This includes continued relief of the marriage penalty, and the individual tax rates of 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, and 35% remain until the end of 2012.

What’s to Come It’s difficult to speculate what’s going to happen in the future, Van Benschoten says. But if legislators make no changes, tax rates will go up in 2013. “With the current economy, there’s a lot of speculation that something has to change going forward. The question is who’s going to bear that brunt? Is it going to be across the board, or is it just on the 1 percent?” Van Benschoten says. Twitter @WaterWellJournl

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Water Well Journal March 2012 27/

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Knowing Appraisals Part 2: Differences in various valuation models. e explored the various formats of appraisals, uses of appraisals, and underlying definitions of value and the concept of ownership as it relates to creating value in the first installment of this series published in the January issue of Water Well Journal. Central to the concept of value is ownership since ownership creates an environment of possession and value of possessing something. In this article, we will look at the converse relationship of value—the creation of value from the purchase side under specific conditions of the sale of assets. In the appraisal world, the development of value is structured under three distinct “approaches to value.” The income approach, the cost approach, and the market or sales approach to value constitute what appraisers make use of. The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice mandates that an appraiser must consider the three approaches

W

Michael A. Salvadore Jr. is an accredited senior professional appraiser and a master personal property appraiser specializing in appraisal and liquidation equipment of water well, subsurface, and investigatory drilling equipment. He can be contacted at valuation@kingfish capital.com.

Twitter @WaterWellJournl

By Michael A. Salvadore Jr., SPA, MPPA

Simply, fair market value is the price at which a willing buyer and a willing seller will agree to do business. to value in developing an opinion of value.

The Income Approach The income approach considers the future benefits of a piece of property, machinery, production line, or other productive asset. The income approach is not normally used in the valuation of machinery and equipment due to the difficulty of identifying the true income related to a specific asset. However, it can be a very powerful and applicable valuation tool when properly applied. Essential to the concept of the income approach is the time value of money. Before making a purchase, the buyer considers the return on his or her investment of money. Consciously or otherwise, the buyer makes a decision on the time value of the money invested or risked. What is to be determined is the future value of the income stream from that investment. For example, you decide to buy a new drill rig all dressed up to your spec-

ifications for $900,000. The question will be what would be your return on that investment as opposed to putting that money elsewhere and getting, let’s say, interest? (Unfortunately, interest these days is not gauged by a number but by the level of interest you have in opening your bank statement.) There are many ways of assessing the benefits of buying that capital asset. These would include any improvements in productivity, ability to take on work not presently available, increased profitability on jobs, and increased cash flow through depreciation. The income approach may be a useful tool in analyzing that investment. However, generally, the income approach is reserved for valuation of business entities and for valuation of real estate, particularly commercial real estate.

The Cost Approach The second of the three approaches to value, the cost approach is also known as “the principle of substitution.” The underlying logic and basis of this principle is that a prudent buyer will not pay more for a property (a piece of machinery or equipment) than the cost of acquiring a substitute property of equivalent value. Simply explained, the cost approach identifies the current replace-

APPRAISALS/continues on page 30 Water Well Journal March 2012 29/

APPRAISALS/from page 29 ment cost new and offsets all forms of depreciation that cause the asset to be less desirable to own than if it were a new piece of machinery. Depreciation in the application of valuation matters is considered to be the difference in value between an existing old property (machine) and a hypothetical new property (to be used as a point of comparison). There are three types of depreciation: 1. Physical deterioration (wear and tear) 2. Function obsolescence (loss of value through inefficiency or usefulness) 3. Economic obsolescence (loss of value through factors external to the property such as legislative, economics of a particular industry, or inability to obtain financing). The appraiser determines the impact of these forms of depreciation and arrives at a conclusion. The skill and experience of an appraiser in determining matters such as remaining useful life, effective age, normal life, condition, and

The author cites and calls attention to the following book: Valuing Machinery and Equipment: The Fundamentals of Appraising Machinery and Technical Assets. Second edition. American Society of Appraisers. remaining useful economic life will have a significant impact on the conclusion of value.

The Market or Sales Approach The market or sales approach to value conclusion analyzes recent sales of equipment that are similar to the equipment being appraised. When comparables are not exactly alike, adjustments are made to equalize the equipment and determine a comparable value. Similar to the cost approach, the sales approach assumes the prudent and informed buyer will not pay more for a piece of equipment than the cost of acquiring a comparable item. The sales approach focuses on the actions of buyers and sellers. It is not necessarily an accurate indicator of value in the instance of unique equip-

ment or when there is not an active market for used equipment. I stress the importance of “an active market� and “verifiable information.� Both of these elements need to be in play to arrive at an accurate valuation.

Using Distinctions of Value So now we have looked at the three fundamental approaches to value a qualified and knowledgeable appraiser will consider in developing an appraisal report conclusion. The appraiser will select in cooperation with the client one of these three approaches to value. Then the appraiser will further define and focus the process by using “definitions of value.� This is where it gets fun (well, at least to me). Definitions of value include some of the following: � � � � � � �

Fair market value Fair market value installed Fair market value in continued use Orderly liquidation value Forced liquidation value (auction) Insurable value Salvage value.

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Simply, fair market value is the price at which a willing buyer and a willing seller—both knowledgeable of all relevant facts—will agree to do business, expressed in terms of dollars. Orderly liquidation value adds “sold in an as is, where is” condition within a certain time frame, typically 90 to 120 days. A note on orderly liquidation value: This assumes the facility has failed and that the entire facility will be liquidated. Forced liquidation value goes a bit further and replaces “within a certain time frame” with “a sense of urgency,” which means right now. There are variants of fair market value and orderly liquidation value such as fair market value installed, fair market value in continued use, and orderly liquidation value in place. Fair market value installed considers the value of the equipment in place and includes an analysis of all costs to get it there. Fair market value in continued use has elements of the income approach and considers financial benefits of the equipment. These definitions take the appropriate approach to value and focus that

method on a specific situation. For instance, banks typically request orderly liquidation value of equipment for financing purposes. They take the position that if the business fails, the bank will be able to recover that amount in an “orderly” sale. The Internal Revenue Service requires fair market value for gifting and estate purposes. The “installed” and “in continued use” definitions have a variety of uses. For instance, as a part of your drilling operation you may have an active machine shop fixing collars, stems, drill bits, and equipment as well as making skids and frames. So perhaps you say to yourself, “Maybe I can sell the machine shop as a business and get that cost center removed from my operation (or capitalize on a profit center).” What you would want to know as a seller is the value of that equipment installed. You may also want to know the value of that department as a result of the business that you generate. Conversely, if you are thinking you have enough machine shop business to buy a machine shop, you may want to know the top end of value (installed/

in continued use) and the recoverable value (auction or orderly liquidation value) of the purchase target to assist in an offer to buy.

The Right Choices The appropriate selection of a definition of value and the proper approach to value should be made in consultation and discussion between the client, the client’s advisors, and the appraiser to produce a value conclusion that is useful, appropriate, accurate, and substantiated. Incorrect use of either will result in a misleading value conclusion, and ultimately, trouble down the road. The skill and experience of the appraiser in assessing the condition and depreciation of the equipment will directly impact the results of an appraisal. When you are contemplating a valuation of your business or equipment, be sure to hire the appraiser with the proper experience and skill. Finally, be sure that person fully discusses the project assignment so that they fully understand the uses of the valuation in order to use the proper approach to value and definition of value. WWJ

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Water Well Journal March 2012 31/

WATER WELL JOURNAL Q & A

Lloyd Duplantis, Haiti Mission Inc. ater well Journal typically interviews groundwater professionals throughout the year, but we decided to speak with Lloyd Duplantis, a pharmacist from Thibodaux, Louisiana, this month. Duplantis received the 2011 National Ground Water Association Honorary Member Award, which is presented to persons of eminence outside the groundwater industry who have contributed some special service to the industry or to the Association. Duplantis was recognized for his humanitarian work in constructing water wells for impoverished people in Haiti. He has created a sustainLloyd Duplantis able program by raising funds for drilling equipment to be sent to Haiti for full-time expansion of water well drilling. He also has raised money to hire a fulltime local person to oversee and maintain the well projects. After visiting Haiti in 2000, Duplantis and his wife, Faie, along with a core group from St. Bridget Parish in Schriever, Louisiana, formed Haiti Mission Inc. While its primary focus is to develop safe and sufficient water supplies, Haiti Mission also has begun initiatives in education, various forms of humanitarian aid, and animal husbandry. Since 2007, Haiti Mission has drilled 20 wells and has as a goal to bring potable water to within 500 feet of everyone within the region of Haiti in which it is working.

W

Mike Price is the associate editor of Water Well Journal. In addition to his WWJ responsibilities, Price produces NGWA’s newsletters and contributes to the Association’s quarterly scientific publication. He can be reached at mprice@ngwa.org.

32/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

Water Well Journal: First off, how does a pharmacist from Louisiana end up drilling water wells in Haiti? Lloyd Duplantis: My wife and I had been feeling an urging to do missionary work in some country but we weren’t sure where. While reading a pharmacy journal one day, I happened upon an ad for a pharmacist to go to Haiti to work in a dispensary. That caught my eye. I had never remembered seeing an ad for a pharmacist to work in a medical mission. It was always doctors, nurses, and dentists. During the same month, I got a call from a doctor friend of mine who asked if I would like to go to Mexico to help in a medical mission. Wow! All of a sudden I had two places to go. Not being sure where I should go, I decided to go to both places to discern what my wife and I should or could do. Both experiences were powerful, but it was clear that Haiti needed more help. The French Creole language in Haiti was similar to the language with which I grew up in South Louisiana. The kindred spirit kicked in very strong and I was hooked on Haiti. WWJ: How were you inspired to drill water wells in Haiti and what keeps it going? Lloyd: The first week I spent in Haiti was very moving. The mission group with whom I traveled had been working in Haiti for about 12 years at the time. The impact which they had on the community was striking. Besides bringing medical attention to the villages on a regular basis, they had helped rebuild the church and the school and had helped with several other projects, which had been a boon to the economy. But it was clear that water was still a problem. The main village had a few fountains that Doctors Without Borders had built, but the children in the surrounding area were continuously walking to fetch water. Although I was delighted to have been able to help in the dispensary, this

Lloyd Duplantis and his wife, Faie, in April 2010 in Haiti. incredible situation of water not being readily available to families perplexed me then as it does today. The question still haunts me: With water everywhere, why has the world been unable to tap into it, bring it to the surface, or deliver it to children and their families? Before I left Haiti that week, I visited with the Catholic bishop of the region and asked him where a group from our parish should work if we decided to come try to help. He directed me to Reverend Jomanas Eustache whom he had just appointed pastor of a very poor parish in the community of Numero Deux and Ravine Sable. We came to learn that besides being fluent in English as well as several other languages, he also was a civil and canon lawyer and the founder and director of the law school in Jeremie. These were invaluable assets in order to understand and work with Haitian law and customs. I spoke with Father Joe—as we have come to know him—and planned to come back with a group from St. Bridget parish in Schriever, Louisiana, to assess the situation. We returned the following year with a group of nine and began the adventure we now call Haiti Mission Inc. WWJ: What does the country need more than anything at this moment? Are they getting it? If not, what is the reason? Lloyd: I think everyone would agree that a stable government and potable water for everyone would change everywaterwelljournal.com

“I would hope that the proper value would be placed on water wells and water systems so that professionals could find it profitable to come to Haiti to install proper systems.” thing about Haiti. Are they getting it? A lot of people are trying. I don’t know about how to get the stable government, but I would like to see NGWA receive funding to direct the water development in Haiti. It’s kind of crazy that a pharmacist from South Louisiana has to go to Haiti with a cable tool rig that he knew very little about and drill water wells as United Nations trucks and other government agencies located in the area pass by. Every article worth anything states that potable water is the greatest need in Haiti, yet the world governments can’t seem to figure out that water well drills and PVC pipe will fix that problem and fix it permanently. WWJ: How has this impacted you and your family? How has it impacted your job as a pharmacist? Lloyd: My wife and I usually travel as a team to Haiti. One of my daughters has been with us on a mission trip and one day we hope to have more come with us. Our family has been blessed abundantly because of this experience. How has it impacted my job as a pharmacist? I opened my pharmacy business the same year I visited Haiti in 2000. When I opened the store, my wife and I committed ourselves to tithing a part of the profits to a mission. We have followed through with that commitment to this day. My pharmacy—Lloyd’s Remedies—still absorbs almost all of the operating expenses of the mission by furnishing an office, computers, a secretary, and paying most of the mailing and clerical costs. WWJ: Has this experience made you want to volunteer not only in Haiti but elsewhere in the world? Lloyd: I am happy to offer any insights I may have to those wanting to work in Haiti or elsewhere, but I have several lifetimes of work to do in and around Jeremie, Haiti, so I haven’t had a chance to look up to see where else to go yet. Twitter @WaterWellJournl

WWJ: How did you learn to drill and who helped Duplantis receiving the 2011 National Ground Water Assoyou? ciation Honorary Member Award from NGWA Past President Alan Eades, CWD/PI, CVCLD. Lloyd: I was introduced to Porky Cutter—a familiar name to every- to the world’s water problems lies in harnessing the knowledge and power conone in the drilling industry, and I’m tained within the rank and file of NGWA. proud to say that he is my good friend to this day. Porky directed me towards WWJ: Two years since the tragic cable tool rigs, and with the help of earthquake that was the worst natuBuckeye Drill Company we got a 20-W ral disaster in a generation (magnibuilt and put on a trailer and shipped to tude 7.0 earthquake that was made Haiti. We drilled our first well in June worse by political crisis and cholera 2007 and have been drilling ever since. epidemic), reports are progress is Because the trailer-mounted rig slowly being made. What are your couldn’t get to some of the areas in thoughts? which we needed to drill, Humanitarian Lloyd: There is much for which to be Mobility International sold the original hopeful. The Haitian people are resource20-W to another group interested in a ful and perpetually optimistic. Given good cable tool rig to drill in another area of water and proper tools, they can take care Haiti. We had Buckeye outfit another of the recovery themselves. Everywhere rig on a six-wheel-drive truck and have one can see scrap and rubble being turned been drilling with it since 2010. into art and building materials. John Minnix was also a great adviIt’s clear that there are huge aquifers sor, instructor, and hands-on helper. throughout Haiti, so potable water is there John’s cable tool operator, Jamie Orr, for the asking. It’s also clear that where has been the real nuts-and-bolts guy. He there is potable water, there is very little has been to Haiti numerous times, train- cholera. Potable water is also the greatest ing the four-member Haitian drill team of all economic stimuli. Everyone seems how to operate and maintain the 20-W, to want to build schools, churches, and as well as all the other details you guys hospitals with little consideration for know are necessary to be a successful water sources and for no money in their well driller. budgets for water wells. I would hope that WWJ: You received the National the proper value would be placed on water Ground Water Association Honorary wells and water systems so that profesMember Award at the 2011 NGWA sionals could find it profitable to come to Ground Water Expo and Annual Haiti to install proper systems. Meeting. What was your experience WWJ: This slow economy has affected like at the Expo and what do you everyone in the groundwater industry. think of the groundwater industry? What kind of advice would you give Lloyd: From the first day I heard of someone to survive these tough times? NGWA, I recognized an organization with Kevin: It’s sad to see the huge housing which I needed to become more involved. slowdown across the nation and no rising I was really blown away by the Expo. sun in the near future. Rural water is exEveryone my wife and I met from the staff panding more and more for the residential to participants was so willing to help and water usage. If your only income is offer encouragement. It reinforced my already strong convictions that the solution DUPLANTIS/continues on page 34 Water Well Journal March 2012 33/

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drilling and servicing water wells, it’s time to consider drilling geothermal holes. Across the nation it is becoming harder and harder to make a living just in the water well business, while geoexchange is booming. WWJ: What will need to change in order for Haiti to recover from the earthquake’s aftermath and successfully rebuild the country’s infrastructure? Lloyd: A better understanding on the part of people and governments of the statement, “I am my brother’s keeper.” WWJ: What has the response been like in your local community in helping Haiti Mission Inc.? Lloyd: I’m so proud of our South Louisiana folks. The support has been incredible, especially from schoolchildren. Almost every elementary school in the area has had fundraisers where the schoolchildren have brought in nickels and dimes, sometimes giving up their lunch money to help. Numerous Rotary and Civitan clubs have worked hard and donated large sums of money to help. WWJ: Going forward, what are your hopes for Haiti Mission Inc.? Lloyd: From a very practical standpoint, I hope we can keep all the wells we have drilled pumping. To date, all are doing so. I am very proud of that accomplishment. Going forward, I hope that our story can encourage others to help those in need anywhere they are found, whether that is here or abroad. I also would hope that the crazy story of a druggist from South Louisiana drilling water wells in Haiti can shake up the powers that be to realize that this is not rocket science. Every member of NGWA knows that drilling water wells is the answer to most of the world’s ills. I hope and pray that people, organizations, and governments will come to recognize the true value of water rather than take it for granted and fund water development first before all else. I also hope that most of the pledges promised by our government and others to help in the rebuilding of Haiti will address the necessity of providing potable water. A thirsty world is waiting. WWJ

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34/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

DUPLANTIS/from page 33

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By Ed Butts, PE, CPI

Groundwater Treatment Part 5(a). Secondary Contaminants Overview

n last month’s installment, we continued the series on groundwater treatment with an outline of the regulated contaminants. Those are the contaminants known to possess a definite potential for harm to human health and therefore regulated not to exceed a maximum level in potable drinking water set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This month we will delve into a review of the secondary group of contaminants that are usually much more commonly observed and have a greater day-to-day impact to those of us working in the water well industry. First, some background information is necessary. In 1979, as an element of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA, upon passage by the U.S. Congress, implemented the National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations. These regulations, although not enforceable at the federal level, established the recommended maximum level for 15 contaminants known to potentially impact the taste, smell, or appearance of drinking water (Table I). They are primarily used to provide guidance to state regulatory agencies and public water systems to help determine at what level treatment or removal of a contaminant may become feasible or necessary.

I

Ed Butts, PE, CPI, is the chief engineer at 4B Engineering & Consulting, Salem, Oregon. He has more than 35 years experience in the water well business, specializing in engineering and business management. He can be reached at epbpe@juno.com.

36/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

The potential impacts from the presence of secondary contaminants in a water system are numerous. Potential Impacts from Secondary Contaminants in Water Systems The potential impacts from the presence of secondary contaminants in a water system are numerous. The following lists represent just a few. To the water customer: 1. Metallic or bitter taste and odors 2. Staining of porcelain household fixtures, appliances, and clothing, especially those exposed to air, such as toilets and bathtubs 3. Fouling of water softener resins or filter medias 4. Fouling of cooling water systems and the formation and deposition of scale in water heaters and boilers 5. Industrial process water contamination such as food and beverage, textile processing, and silicon chip manufacturing. To the water purveyor: 1. Deposits or scaling in pipelines, service laterals, and reservoirs 2. Clogging and reduced performance of service meters 3. Frequent flushing of water mains required 4. Reductions in pipe diameter resulting in lower flows and higher energy costs from pumping

5. Varying velocities and changes in the flow direction in pipelines causing high concentrations of iron and manganese scale to break free from pipes to customers 6. Responding to numerous consumer complaints regarding tastes, odor, and color 7. Ferrous iron providing a food supply that can assist the growth of heterotrophic, coliform, or iron bacteria in the distribution system or reservoirs 8. Reduction in revenue due to a reluctance to consume water by customers 9. Interference with water treatment or disinfection processes.

Categories of Secondary Contaminants Essentially, there are three categories of secondary contaminants, grouped based on their impact on the acceptability of a drinking water.

Aesthetic Effects This group includes the contaminants that may impact taste and odor, color, or foaming of a drinking water supply. Although highly subjective, taste, odor, or color problems in a potable water supply is often the first indicator to water consumers that something is “amiss” or otherwise not proper with the water supply, even though the water may actually be perfectly potable and acceptable to consume. In some cases, aesthetic issues are an indicator that a treatment process is not functioning correctly or that a raw water quality has changed, such as during a transition from summer to fall months, resulting in a color change to surface waterwelljournal.com

Table 1. Secondary maximum contaminant levels. Contaminant

1 2

Secondary MCL1

Noticeable Effects Above the Secondary MCL

Aluminum

0.05 to 0.2 mg/L2

Colored water

Chloride

250 mg/L

Salty taste

Color

15 color units

Visible tint

Copper

1 mg/L

Metallic taste; blue-green staining

Corrosivity

Non-corrosive

Metallic taste; corroded pipes; fixtures staining

Fluoride

2 mg/L

Tooth discoloration/pitting/mottling

Foaming Agents

0.5 mg/L

Frothy; cloudy; bitter taste; odor

Iron

0.3 mg/L

Rusty color; sediment; metallic taste; reddish or orange staining

Manganese

0.05 mg/L

Black to brown color; black staining; bitter metallic taste

Odor

3 TON (threshold odor number)

“Rotten egg”; musty or chemical smell

pH

Range: 6.5–8.5

Bitter metallic taste; corrosion (low pH ) Slippery feel; soda taste; deposits (high pH )

Silver

0.1 mg/L

Skin discoloration; graying of the white part of the eye

Sulfate

250 mg/L

Salty taste

Total Dissolved Solids

500 mg/L

Hardness; deposits; colored water; staining; salty taste

Zinc

5 mg/L

Metallic taste

Maximum contaminant level Milligrams of substance per liter of water

water supplies due to the impact from leaves or other vegetation. The secondary contaminants included in the aesthetic group include chloride, copper, foaming agents, iron, manganese, pH, sulfate, threshold odor number, and total dissolved solids.

Cosmetic Effects Cosmetic effects are those that may result in noticeable and undesirable changes to the visual appearance of a water consumer but do not necessarily represent a health hazard. The two primary contaminants that fall into this group are silver and fluoride. Excessive consumption of silver can result in a condition known as “argyria” which can cause skin discoloration. Excessive consumption of fluoride can result in the discoloration or pitting of the tooth enamel, and with continued ingestion, followed by damage to the tooth itself, particularly in children and young adults. This can be an especially troublesome condition where elevated Twitter @WaterWellJournl

levels of naturally occurring fluoride is over 2 mg/L or supplemental fluoridation is added to the drinking water system.

Technical Effects The technical impacts from excess levels of secondary contaminants primarily include the problems related to corrosion or staining from corrosion, generally from low pH or alkalinity issues. This situation can not only cause staining of fixtures or disintegration of piping but can lead to taste and odor issues as well, including objectionable metallic tastes and blue-green staining of fixtures due to copper corrosion. Conversely, scaling (encrustation) or sedimentation can result from waters with excessive levels of pH. Scaling can be especially bothersome in hot water systems where the elevated temperature can cause an extreme level of precipitation of minerals, resulting in failures of water heaters, boilers, and hot water piping.

Either situation can create a severe economic impact to the homeowner as well as interfere with water treatment processes for the water system if not abated. The secondary contaminants related to corrosion and staining include chloride, copper, corrosivity, iron, manganese, pH, total dissolved solids, and zinc. Those most commonly causing scaling and sediment problems include iron, pH, manganese, total dissolved solids, and aluminum.

Common Types of Secondary Contaminants Water Hardness Although not specifically included within the earlier group of secondary contaminants, the presence of elevated combined levels of calcium and magnesium in a water supply can result in a condition known as “water hardness”—

YOUR BUSINESS/continues on page 40 Water Well Journal March 2012 37/

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Table 2. Water hardness levels Level of CaCO 3 Water Definition

Milligrams per liter

Grains per gallon

Soft water

< 50 mg/L

< 3 gpg

Moderately hard water

50-100 mg/L

3-6 gpg

Hard water

100-175 mg/L

6-10 gpg

Very hard water

> 175 mg/L

> 10 gpg

YOUR BUSINESS/from page 37 or more simply stated, “hard water.” This is a common water quality condition throughout the United States that often causes an excessive consumption of soap and laundry detergent as well as many of the scaling problems earlier cited. Calcium, or total hardness, is usually expressed as calcium carbonate or as CaCO 3 equivalent, shown in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or as grains per gallon (gpg). The terms are interchangeable since 1 gpg = 17.1 mg/L. Although there is no established standard and often controversy as to what the proper level of “soft water” should be or what “hard water” is for drinking water, the defined levels of hardness are often considered to fall within the ranges shown in Table 2. Just as excessively hard water can be inconvenient and troublesome, so can water that is excessively soft. Water delivered to households with a hardness level below 50 to 75 mg/L, depending on the pH and concentration of other elements, can lead to anything from mild to severe corrosion of piping and fixtures. For this reason, the ultimate goal should be to find a proper “balance” of the water chemistry, where the water is not prone to lead to excessive corrosion or scaling. This is often a challenging task and requires full consideration of all relevant water quality parameters and water chemistry.

Iron and Manganese Two of the most common and challenging contaminants in groundwater supplies are iron and manganese, two elements that are commonly found in the earth’s crust and in groundwater supplies. The occurrence of iron and manganese is common in well water and impounded surface water supplies 40/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

where anaerobic (lack of oxygen) conditions exist. Biological activity can be a strong factor in dissolving iron and manganese by producing carbon dioxide gas, which lowers or depresses the pH. Therefore, it is not unusual to find high levels of carbon dioxide along with iron and manganese present in groundwater supplies. This means that during an evaluation for the treatment of iron and manganese, the corrosive tendencies of the water should also be determined to assure the treated water will not be aggressive and result in corrosion of the water system and customer piping/fixtures.

Iron When delivered from a well or when found in water without any appreciable levels of dissolved oxygen, iron is almost always present in the divalent ferrous form (Fe 2+), which is the condition that produces the metallic taste in water and is often referred to as “clear water iron.” However, upon adequate (time) exposure to an oxidant, such as chlorine, ozone, or even from the effects of the atmosphere, iron is oxidized further to the trivalent ferric form (Fe 3+). The ferric iron state in water is so strongly capable of attracting hydroxide ions that it will extract them from water if the pH is above a level of around 5.0 to 5.2. This reaction will then produce ferric hydroxide (red water iron), an iron floc or precipitate which is usually seen as a gelatinous, rust-colored mass. Since the oxidation reaction is so strong, the chemical process will essentially run to completion. Therefore, virtually every single atom of ferric iron (Fe 3+ in solution) will undergo precipitation. This chemical change of state often results in the predominant cause of consumer complaints of red water or yellow, orange, or “rusty” stains occur-

ring on laundry, porcelain fixtures, or dishes and dishwashers. A condition of actual rust, however, is a combination of the oxides from both ferrous and ferric iron. Iron in well water (usually from shallow wells) with high levels of organic content, such as decaying vegetation, is sometimes combined with organic acids, such as tannin and lignin molecules, and can form an even more stubborn product called “heme iron” which can be very difficult to remove. Since some tannin molecules are large enough to be called colloidal, it is often possible to remove most of the heme iron through the use of fine filtration within the submicron range. But if the molecular weight of the colloid is too low, heme iron must then be removed through another and more elaborate filtration process—ultrafiltration or nanofiltration, or by using chemical coagulation in order to chemically and physically create a larger and filterable floc followed by standard filtration. Finally, the application of an oxidant, such as 1 to 2 mg/L of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) to oxidize the heme iron and organic acids, followed by an adequate period of contact time (around 30 minutes for a pH range between 6.5 to 7.5), ending with filtration through a media filter, usually represents the best available technology for removal of heme iron.

Iron Bacteria Iron bacteria can occur naturally in the soil, shallow and deep groundwater aquifers, and in cool surface waters. Iron bacteria are typically seen as nuisances and are particularly common in water systems using wells as the water source. They produce thick slime layers which can cause blockage in a plumbing system, cause stains, discolor, and change water into rusty-colored slimes (“red water”) that has the potential to plug fixtures and water system devices, or cause odors and odd-tasting water. In general, iron bacteria grow by producing enzymes that promote, or catalyze, chemical reactions involving the ferrous iron present within the groundwater aquifer. A byproduct of the chemical reaction is the release of a small amount of energy that the bacteria then use to grow and multiply. The chemical reaction involves the oxidation of ferwaterwelljournal.com

rous iron (Fe 2+) that is in solution to a ferric iron (Fe 3+). The iron bacteria convert ferrous iron to ferric iron. The ferric iron then reacts with water to form (reduce) an insoluble iron (ferric) hydroxide precipitant and hydrogen gas is released during the process. Similar reactions can also occur with manganese, forming insoluble precipitants. In general, the environmental conditions that are necessary for iron or manganese bacteria to grow are: ●

● ●

A source of ferrous iron or manganous ions (dissolved iron or manganese) An adequate source and supply of oxygen The proper pH and water temperature range.

Most iron bacteria prefer a pH range between 6 to 10 to multiply and their tolerance range for dissolved iron is generally between 0.01 to 4 mg/L. They are aerobic bacteria and require oxygen in the range of 0.5 to 4 mg/L and water within the 40°F to 60°F temperature range to grow. Ferrous iron is generally available in an anaerobic (lack of oxy-

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gen) environment that occurs in finegrained material or aquifers. When a water well is drilled and then used, the region around the well screen and pump that consists of an aerobic environment (with higher concentrations of oxygen) is surrounded by the lower oxygenated (anaerobic) aquifer environment. This condition provides a perfect environment for aerobic iron-oxidizing bacteria to form and exist. The anaerobic areas adjacent to the well produce and supply the ferrous iron that acts as an energy source for the bacteria to thrive. The oxygenated environment within the well screen and pumping area allows for the enzymatically catalyzed oxidation of the ferrous iron that the bacteria use to grow and reproduce. The bacteria then plug the pump intakes, screen openings, and pore spaces in the aquifer adjacent to the well through three main mechanisms: 1. Bacterial mass 2. Formation of insoluble iron and/or manganese hydroxides 3. Fine-grained sediment adhering to the “sticky” gelatinous covering of the bacteria.

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Although iron bacteria do not directly corrode steel well casing or pipe, they aid in the processes that do. They contribute to galvanic corrosion and provide an environment for the growth of other bacteria that generate highly corrosive sulfuric acid and hydrogen sulfide gas. Effective treatment of iron bacteria consists of complete disinfection of all materials that could potentially come into contact with the well or pumping equipment. This includes all well casings, screens, liners, tools, circulating fluids, gravel pack, pumps, and all other related equipment. Chlorine is the most commonly used disinfectant for control of iron bacteria. However, chlorine cannot usually penetrate a thick layer of encrustation, and other chemicals such as acids or proprietary chemicals, or physical means such as agitation or swabbing of the wellbore, may be required for a full and proper treatment.

Manganese Manganese usually exists in water supplies in one of the following oxidation states:

YOUR BUSINESS/continues on page 42

Water Well Journal March 2012 41/

YOUR BUSINESS/from page 41 ● ● ●

In any oxidation state from Mn to Mn 4+ Soluble manganous oxide, Mn 2+ Manganic oxide, Mn 4+, the stable form of manganese that is insoluble in drinking water supplies.

Just as with iron, when manganese is found in water that has no dissolved oxygen, it exists in the reduced soluble form known as manganous oxide (Mn 2+). Manganese usually occurs in combination with iron in well waters and it results in much darker (dark brown or black color) and more stubborn and difficult to remove stains on laundry and fixtures. Just as with iron, effective removal of manganese is highly dependent on the water’s pH value and time afforded for the interaction (oxidation) between the water and oxidant. When soluble manganese is oxidized by an oxidant such as dissolved oxygen, ozone, or chlorine, the final result is manganese dioxide, which is dark brown or black in color.

Hydrogen Sulfide Hydrogen sulfide gas is often found in groundwater that also contains iron and manganese and is easily identified by its distinct “rotten egg” odor, even at low concentrations. In addition to causing serious taste and odor problems, sulfide also promotes the growth of sulfur bacteria. Since it is an acid, hydrogen sulfide can also cause corrosion problems with iron and concrete pipes and reservoirs, especially when allowed to act freely upon the material in open air. Sulfides are formed by the anaerobic reduction of sulfates and organic matter into sulfides and bisulfides. This reaction is pH dependent, which results in the following different compounds: ● ● ●

Hydrogen sulfide predominates at a pH of less than 7. Hydrogen bisulfide predominates in a pH range between 7 and 9.5. Sulfide is predominant at a pH above 9.5.

Due to the hazard present, it is always important to treat water that contains sulfur, even if people become used to the smell. Sulfur, iron, and the bacte-

ria that oxidize or reduce them often occur together. When they do, laundry and plumbing stains become black due to the formation of a black-colored compound called ferrous sulfide. Such bacterial mixtures can often produce peculiar and strong “septic” types of odors that are similar to that of hydrogen sulfide. Analysis of water samples for determining the presence of hydrogen sulfide is possible, but since it is a volatile gas, atmospheric release can quickly occur. So a special preservative and sampling technique must be used at the time of sampling. But given that the nose is a superior detector of odors and since the odor threshold is so low that even the smallest concentrations can be detected and must therefore be removed, an accurate lab analysis and result is usually not needed. This concludes the first part of a twopart section on secondary contaminants in groundwater supplies. We will continue the series on groundwater treatment next month with a discussion of the many treatment and removal methods used for secondary contaminants. Until then, work safe and smart. WWJ

National Groundwater Awareness Week Promote the resource that provides your livelihood. Educate your customers about the importance of annual water testing and well maintenance during National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 11-17, 2012. You will be helping them, yourself, your business, your industry, and the resource. NGWA is here to help you spread the word! From sample letters to the editor and radio spots to print ads, posters, and fliers, NGWA has materials for you to use. To access these resources—and more—visit www.NGWA.org or call NGWA’s public awareness department at 800 551.7379 or 614 898.7791.

March 11-17, 2012 42/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

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By Don Gregory and Jeremiah Thomas

Indiana Considers Some Aquifers Subject to Local Regulation Decision could create questions for landowners and contractors.

he Indiana Supreme Court announced back in late November its decision in a case pitting several of the state’s own political subdivisions against one another in a fight over groundwater regulation. In Town of Avon v. West Central Conservancy District, the high court ruled that a city ordinance limiting the use of water from an aquifer within the city’s boundaries was enforceable against a local township and conservation authority. The court found that, in certain circumstances, an aquifer could be considered a watercourse and would be subject to regulation by a local governmental unit. At first blush, the case appeared to be a political struggle among local governments of central Indiana. But the court’s holding has the potential to greatly impact the water rights of private landowners within the state. Washington Township and the West Central Conservancy District filed suit against the town of Avon, Indiana, when Avon passed an ordinance that prohibited the taking of water from a watercourse for “retail, wholesale, or other mass distribution.”

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Don Gregory and Jeremiah Thomas practice law at Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter in Columbus, Ohio, and can be reached at www.keglerbrown .com. Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter serves as general counsel to the National Ground Water Association.

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Time will tell whether local governments will exercise sound judgment and mitigate the potential harm caused by the Avon decision. Both Washington Township and the Conservancy District own property in Avon that overlays an underground aquifer. At the time Avon passed its ordinance, Washington Township and the Conservancy District were in the process of evaluating plans to drill wells in order to withdraw water and sell it to third parties. In their suit, the two claimed that Avon’s ordinance exceeded the town’s authority under Indiana’s Home Rule Act, and both the trial court and the Indiana Court of Appeals agreed. But the Indiana Supreme Court overturned the decision of the Court of Appeals, holding that the aquifer at issue “is a watercourse under Indiana law” and that “the General Assembly has granted municipalities, like Avon, the statutory authority to enact regulations concerning the withdrawal of water from a watercourse.” In the past, the Indiana Supreme Court has referred to many aquifers as “lost water” that resides in the ground “below the surface of the earth, in hidden recesses, without a known channel or course.” The court has consistently

held that “lost water is considered at any given time to be part of the land with which it mingles.” As a practical matter, the lost water doctrine has provided landowners with a great deal of certainty regarding the permitted use of the lost water aquifers underlying their property. Prior to the court’s decision, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources had the statutory authority to “designate certain areas of Indiana as restricted use areas” for groundwater, but even within those areas, special permits have only been required to use a quantity of groundwater “in excess of 100,000 gallons per day in addition to the quantity the person is using at the time the order designating the area as a restricted use area becomes effective.” Only where further withdrawals were deemed significantly harmful to the water resource could the Department of Natural Resources “determine and establish the minimum level of groundwater in aquifers.” Under the ruling, it is difficult to predict which aquifers may be subject to additional regulation, or the extent to which municipalities may choose to exercise this new-found authority to regulate. The court’s decision was founded upon its holding that the aquifer at issue in the case was a “watercourse” of similar nature to the “lakes, rivers, and streams” of Indiana. The court specifically declined to hold that all aquifers are watercourses. The court in fact endorsed its earlier opinion that certain NGWA.org

aquifers contain “lost water” and that “lost water” is not a watercourse. Landowners in Indiana are now left to wonder whether the aquifer underlying their property is a watercourse “with well-defined banks and bottom through which water flows, and has flowed immemorially, not necessarily all the time, but ordinarily, and permanently for substantial periods of each year.” Or is the aquifer lost water “below the earth, in hidden recesses, without a known channel or course”? If the aquifer contains lost water, the landowner would presumably retain broad rights to its use, subject only to regulation by the Department of Natural Resources relating to groundwater. If the aquifer is a watercourse, the landowner’s use would suddenly be subject to local regulation. One doesn’t need a powerful imagination to predict numerous future disagreements over whether a particular aquifer has a “known channel or course.” The Avon decision highlights an issue that has been getting some national attention recently, though it seldom displays itself so starkly in states that are as

water-rich as Indiana. While courts often make decisions in water-related controversies based upon narrow procedural or definitional issues, the ultimate outcome of those cases have broad impacts on water policy as a whole. The Indiana high court, by example, decided a case among infighting governmental bodies based upon an interpretation of a single word— “watercourse.” As a result of that decision, the landowners and the entire groundwater industry in the state began the day with a single regulator, and ended the day potentially subject to regulation by each and every overlapping local authority. Perhaps the most troublesome aspect of the Avon decision is the court’s lack of consideration of its impact on the state’s broader water policy. Groundwater decisions in Indiana have now been, in part, taken out of the hands of a presumed expert, the Department of Natural Resources, and placed in the hands of local governments that may or may not have access to the latest and greatest advances in hydrology. Instead of moving toward a more rea-

soned, scientific approach to water regulation, the state has opened the door for politically motivated, local regulations to further muddy the water in the state’s aquifers. Time will tell whether local governments will exercise sound judgment and mitigate the potential harm caused by the Avon decision. In the meantime, landowners, and the contractors they hire to drill water wells, must patiently hope local political subdivisions will respect their longstanding water rights and use judicious restraint when exercising this newfound authority. WWJ

Check Out WWJ ’s Web Site Be sure to visit Water Well Journal ’s new home online to read this article and others at www.waterwelljournal.com. The Web site features award-winning articles from the current and past issues of Water Well Journal, a newsline updated daily with breaking stories in the groundwater industry, WWJ’s searchable buyers guide, classified advertising, and more. Let us know what you think by commenting on the story online.

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Visit www.NGWA.org/state-law-matrix to learn more.

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By Alexandra Walsh

Conducting Legal and Compassionate Terminations Make sure you follow these steps when you have to remove someone from your workforce.

here is probably no more stressful and unwelcome function for anyone to perform than firing an employee. And with the difficulty in finding work in today’s job market, you might also be feeling a whole lot of guilt about having to let a worker go. Terminating an employee should be a last resort. Having well-written job descriptions, good interviewing and hiring procedures, providing meaningful coaching to employees during employment, and giving routine performance evaluations can help prevent the need to terminate employees. However, if you must do so, there are a number of legal considerations that should be contemplated. And just as important, there are a number of steps that can be taken to treat the employee with compassion and respect. These should be considered not just because it’s professional or classy, but also because a messy firing can lower morale for remaining employees, especially at a small company.

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The Legal Considerations Determine what your rights are in your state to fire employees and if you’re not sure, contact an employment Alexandra Walsh is the vice president of Association Vision, a Washington, D.C.–area communications company. She has extensive experience in management positions with a range of organizations.

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an employment attorney. Employees have up to 21 days under federal statutes to consider the separation agreement.

Consider a separation agreement that exchanges severance pay for the employee agreeing not to bring legal action.

The Compassionate Considerations

lawyer. Employment law differs state by state and is also governed by a host of federal anti-discrimination laws. Many states are “at-will” employment states, meaning that an employee can be fired at the will of the employer at any time, for any legal nondiscriminatory reason. However, that does not mean an employee can be fired without reason and without substantial documentation of that reason. If the employee’s performance reviews or personnel file do not contain evidence of poor performance, the company may be vulnerable to a postemployment discrimination suit. If the employee is in a protected class—age, gender, race, disability—consult an employment attorney prior to the termination. You might also want to consider a separation agreement that exchanges severance pay for the employee agreeing not to bring legal action. These agreements must integrate provisions of multiple federal discrimination statutes—which change frequently through legislation, agency regulation, or court interpretation. So again, consult

The termination should happen early in the week and early in the day and avoid firing immediately before or after holidays. News of firings should not be in the company grapevine. Only essential senior staff and direct supervisors should be aware of the impending firing. All formal company policies and procedures should be explicitly followed to the letter. The firing should take place in an office, conference room, or other private space and a witness, such as the person responsible for human resources or a manager, should be present. The employee should be told directly why they are being terminated and briefly given the reason. Tell the truth, but don’t give a lot of details and be as polite, respectful, calm, and unemotional as possible. Be prepared to explain several times why the employee is being terminated and make it clear that it is a termination, not a disciplinary proceeding. Allow the employee to clarify their position, express how they feel, and ask any questions about the end of employment. Answer the employee’s questions as briefly as possible and limit discussions or debates as much as possible. waterwelljournal.com

Following the Termination After the termination, review the employee’s job description as well as all policies on warnings and dismissals.

Perhaps a different job description may have led to someone better suited for the job or the job may have changed over time and the original description may no longer be accurate. This type of reflection may eliminate the need to terminate someone in the future. Always keep details about the employee’s termination confidential to maintain their privacy. However, it is also important to reassure remaining employees that their jobs are not in jeopardy. Let them know immediately that the employee has left the company and get the terminated employee’s work reassigned or a job opening posted as quickly as possible. There is no pleasant way to terminate an employee. Many managers never learn the right approach, but it doesn’t have to be something nerve-racking for the supervisor or the employee. A successful termination should protect the company legally from any possibility of a lawsuit. But the termination should also be done with compassion for the employee and allow them to walk out of the company with their dignity and ego intact. WWJ

JOURNAL

Explain what pay and benefits the employee is entitled to after termination. If the employee has money due, have a check ready at the meeting. The best practice is to have the employee leave the premises immediately. It limits any damage the employee can cause and is easier on the remaining staff. After the meeting, change the employee’s passwords and collect keys, company credit cards, phones, computers, disks, manuals, documents, uniforms, tools, and any other company materials. However, let the employee pack their personal belongings themselves and have a box or two ready to provide them. Whether or not a company representative or a security guard accompanies the terminated employee through this process is your choice. However, don’t discriminate—if one employee is monitored and escorted during their termination, all employees should be.

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

Coming Soon Don’t miss the April issue of Water Well Journal as it contains articles on the important topic of well rehabilitation. There will be feature articles on how diagnostics can lead to better well life and another designed to clear up misconceptions on chlorine use in wells. There will also be WWJ ’s regular columns from industry experts and its monthly departments. One column, Engineering Your Business, will continue its series on groundwater treatment by looking further at secondary contaminants. It all adds up to an issue packed with information you don’t want to miss. Look for the April issue of WWJ soon!

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By Jack Glass, CIH, CSP, QEP, CHMM

Cell Phone Use Behind the Wheel You need to focus on the road, not your phone, when behind the wheel. he National Transportation Safety Board issued a recommendation last year to all 50 states, calling for a nationwide ban on the use of electronic handheld devices while driving. This seems to be a noncontroversial and universally accepted idea at first glance. However, there appear to be many barriers when faced with actually implementing these guidelines.

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Barriers to a Ban At this time, no state completely bans all cell phone use while driving, but nine states prohibit all drivers from using hand-held phones. At the federal level, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration bans the use of hand-held cell phones by drivers of commercial motor vehicles traveling in interstate commerce and drivers who operate a vehicle transporting a quantity of hazardous materials requiring placarding under 49 CFR Part 172 or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73. Commercial motor vehicles are defined as a self-propelled or towed vehicle used on the highways to transport persons or property in interstate commerce, and that either: (1) has a gross vehicle weight/gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds or greater; (2) is designed or used to transport more than eight passengers (including the driver) for compensation; (3) is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, not for compensation; or (4) is Jack Glass is the principal consultant for J Tyler Scientific Co. and has more than 20 years of experience as an environmental health consultant. He has consulted on toxic exposures, risk management, and indoor air quality. He is the past president of the New Jersey Industrial Hygiene Association and past chair of the American Industrial Hygiene Association Construction Committee.

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transporting any hazardous materials requiring placards to be displayed. Some people are quick to interject stories of cell phone horrors on the road. Advocates for the ban put forth statistics that describe lack of attention by cell phone users. From hearing this, it would be easy to conclude that the use of electronic devices should be restricted to when the vehicle is not in motion. So why then hasn’t every state eagerly accepted this guideline? To begin with, we need only look to recent models of cars and trucks to observe a plethora of electronic gadgets and attachments built right into the dashboard and integrated into the full operation of the vehicle. These include onboard Bluetooth cell phones, dedicated cell phones (such as OnStar), integrated directional navigational systems, iPod docks, and laptop attachments. The economics and logistics involved in banning the use of all those devices is certainly something that needs to be considered. When looking at raw data, we see that the number and rate of traffic fatalities has plummeted. In 2010, those numbers fell to their lowest point since 1949, despite significant increases in the number of miles Americans drove during that year and the exponential growth in the use of cell phones. In fact, during 2005 to 2009 driving fatalities dropped 25%. These decreases were matched with an increase of nearly 21 billion miles driven by Americans. Faced with these numbers, one may suddenly question whether using today’s technology behind the wheel is really an issue of true significance. I realize this statement will go against the tide of public opinion—or will it?

The Value of Safety Numerous public service announcements, government guidelines, and

endless driver safety training courses continue to tell us that using cell phones while driving is dangerous and no one should do it. However, multiple nationwide polls consistently reveal the majority of the population continues to use cell phones while driving and would be against an outright ban. So then, how do we justify a safety regulation that would go against the predominant public opinion? Since safety regulations were first enacted, they have been written and designed to reduce the potential for accidents. Our initial efforts at driving rules included the requirement of driver’s licenses and the posting of speed limits—regulations that were equally debated back in their day. More recently, the surge in attention towards intoxicated driving has altered society’s acceptance of this practice. And now, faced with a new hazard, we are merely taking control of the distractions that are controllable. Arguments proclaim that every state has laws in place against careless and reckless driving and these should be adequate to address not only the use of electronic devices while driving, but all other distractions as well. While this is true and many drivers have already received careless or reckless driving citations for use of a cell phone while driving, this did not create the public awareness and social push to decrease this practice. And when it comes down to it, isn’t that the purpose of virtually every regulation? To encourage every person in society to be safer?

Safe Cell Phone Use What can a business do to take an active role in controlling the use of electronic devices in their vehicles? First and foremost is training. The company must actively and consistently educate

SAFETY/continues on page 50 waterwelljournal.com

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SAFETY/from page 48 and enforce safe driving practices among their workers. At a minimum, these should include:

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Investing in a Bluetooth earpiece or dashboard-mountable microphone device. Both of these devices will allow for hands-free communication on the cell phone and additionally eliminate the need for any wiring and thus ensures hands-free activity so the driver can concentrate on properly and safely navigating the vehicle. Learning how to operate a cell phone’s speed dial, voice activation, and speakerphone functions. The vast majority of recent cell phones and BlackBerry devices come standard with these features. Avoiding adjusting GPS navigational coordinates while driving.

Recently, electronic blocking devices have been developed that can be integrated into the vehicle itself. For instance, Cellcontrol provides a device that blocks all electronic information from entering or leaving a vehicle when it is in motion. As soon as the vehicle comes to a complete stop, both text and cell service are automatically available. As soon as the vehicle moves again, they are again disabled. It is apparently only a matter of time before the states completely ban the use of electronic devices in vehicles. And that must make you wonder . . . What’s the next safety issue going to be? WWJ This article is intended for information only and not legal advice. Consult local, state, and federal law for particular details and application to your firm.

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By Ron Slee

The Supply Chain and You International disruptions in the supply chain reverberate worldwide.

long with all of the challenges you faced in your business in 2011, there were significant happenings internationally that truly highlight how interrelated we all are in the global economy. The earthquake and tragic tsunami in Japan and then the flooding in Thailand showed how vulnerable we’ve become with JIT (just-in-time) production and inventory approaches everywhere. These natural disasters led to shortages of all types of products. And this reflects how significant the management of your prime product and parts inventories really is. Several months ago I wrote about the inventory valuation and how inventory turnover was critical in managing your inventory asset investments. On the other side of the inventory situation is the competing view of availability of prime product and parts. This continues to be the challenge in inventory management—balancing the investments required with the availability necessary.

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Being Exposed The world has been exposed over the past year to how thin our true supply chain has become. This can be said more clearly by suggesting that we have cut the safety stock—that inventory to Ron Slee is the founder of R.J. Slee & Associates in Rancho Mirage, California, a consulting firm that specializes in dealership operations. He also operates Quest Learning Centers, which provides training services specializing in product support, and Insight (M&R) Institute, which operates “Dealer Twenty” Groups. He can be reached at ron@rjslee.com.

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protect us from disruptions in the supply chain—to such a low level that we have become exposed. This exposure makes you and your business vulnerable to competitors who might have a product available on the shelf in their inventory. It has become quite clear that the evolving rules we have used need to be adjusted. One of the most exciting developments in supply software has been the arrival of a lead time for each and every part number within a vendor. Many manufacturers have been using this approach for decades and it’s finally starting to show up within dealer business systems. Not all of the software is there yet, but I am sure it won’t be long before all software providers get there. What this does is allow the system to calculate the lead time for each part automatically. A company chooses the history time frame and the number of orders. The system then puts a date mark on each order for each part and a date mark for each part on those orders when it is received to the system. This date of order and date of receipt is then applied to the parts record for use on the stock order determination.

The Lead Time Now let’s review what all is covered by the lead time. Each of the following items takes time in the process, which together create the lead time. Order process lag time • This is the time between stock orders divided by two. For example, if the stock order frequency is weekly, that is 7 days between

stock orders, meaning the lag time is 3½ days. If you place the stock order today, a part sold tomorrow will not be up for order for 7 days, the day after will be 6 days, and so on. Order review time • Sometimes people want to review each suggested stock order and put their opinions in place of the computer statistical review. The problem with this is you never know if it’s the statistical review or the people that caused the results achieved—good or bad. I suggest the order is placed directly from the computer without any review. Placing the order • In today’s technological world the stock orders should be transmitted to the supplier, so this time increment is not overly important. Supplier processing time • A company typically doesn’t have control over this aspect of the lead time, but it can influence the thinking of the suppliers. Ideally, the suppliers process stock orders every day. This will mean smaller quantities per part number and less part numbers on each stock order. This means lower labor costs for the supplier and that is critically important in the competitive world in which we live. Shipping/transportation time • The transportation aspect with onhighway truck efficiencies should have the surface transportation coast to coast being within a 48hour time period. waterwelljournal.com

Physical receiving time • One of my critical performance areas in the parts department is to have each stock order put away the same day it is received, with the exception of afternoon deliveries. This should be no more than 24 hours ever. Record updating • Again, with today’s technology the time gap between placement of the part in a location in the warehouse should be within minutes of when the computer on hand is updated. Those are the components of the lead time, and as can be seen, there are a few variables that come into play for each part.

Dealing with Variables If there is a disruption in the supply chain using the traditional approach of one lead time for each supplier part that is taking longer to supply, two results can happen. Either you will be forever in a back-order condition or all parts within that supplier will have to have an increase in their inventory level. Neither approach is particularly practical, which is why I am so excited about this change for companies of having the system calculate the lead time and do it for each part number. Check out your software and if you don’t have this ability, then approach your software supplier and indicate that this is something you want to have included in the dealer business system. You will be happy when it is available to you. More importantly, so will your customers. WWJ

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By Michelle Nichols

Salesperson, Know Thyself Customers are more inclined to buy from people they like. That means polishing your connection skills by learning about yourself.

hen I was just starting my sales career many years ago, I had a potential customer who needed to buy a lot of equipment, and due to his requirements, his situation could only be solved by my product line. The problem was he didn’t like me. Guess what? He decided not to buy anything at all, and I lost the entire sale. Life is hard. The test comes first, the lesson follows. I later heard this wisdom stated this way: “If two people want to do business, the details won’t hold them apart. But if they don’t want to do business together, the details won’t hold the deal together.” The real issue here is likability—a critical one for salespeople since your very livelihood depends on people liking you. If I knew then what I know now, I would have brought another salesperson into the deal and I could have worked quietly behind the scenes. A percentage of something would have been better than 100% of nothing. I not only lost this sale, I’ll never find out how much additional business I could have received from this customer or his referrals.

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Customers want to do business with salespeople who make them feel good—or at least make them feel understood. sive press releases, snazzy Web sites, and amazing PowerPoint presentations, in the end people do business with people. That means prospective customers have to know, like, and trust you from the get-go. Every time you meet a new customer, it’s like meeting your date’s parents for the first time. So what’s a salesperson to do? First, know yourself. No, don’t ask your mother. Take a reputable standardized test or two and find out your personality type. There are many available on the Internet—just type “personality tests” into your favorite search engine. There are ones you can take for free, others that cost hundreds of dollars, and some more that are best ignored. I found one, for example, that claimed it could describe my personality based on my favorite fruit! Hmm.

The Platinum Rule Getting Personal “All business is personal” is another sales maxim. Despite all the time that marketing departments put into persuaMichelle Nichols is a professional sales speaker, trainer, and consultant based in Reno, Nevada. Her Savvy Selling Success Pack is available through NGWA. She can be reached at (775) 303-8201 or at michelle.nichols@savvyselling.com.

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If you took such a test a long time ago, take it again. Your results should be the same, but it will serve as a reminder that we all learn and process information in our own different ways. The second step, though just as necessary, is learning about the other basic personality types, how to identify them, and the way to succeed with each particular category.

Don’t worry, you won’t have to remake your personality. There are ways to connect and communicate with people of each type. Customers don’t expect you to be an ever-changing chameleon, and wouldn’t approve if you were. But they do want to do business with salespeople who make them feel good—or at least make them feel understood. Most of us were raised with the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Personality tests remind us that this has been updated to the Platinum Rule, “Do unto others as they would have done unto themselves.” Two different outlooks produce two different outcomes.

Game, Set, Match The issue of compatible personalities doesn’t stop at the relationship between salesperson and customer. For large orders or ongoing business relationships, customers will probably want to meet your manager or other representatives of your company. Do everyone a favor, brief colleagues in advance, and let your team know how to best approach your customer. Another way to increase your likability is to look for mutual interests, and to do so with every potential customer you meet. It’s possible to find something in common with everyone, be it hobbies, civic associations, family situations, geography—even big feet if that’s what you have in common. You may need to be creative, but I promise you that finding where interests and passions overlap will pay off. waterwelljournal.com

Many salespeople take their clients to football games and other events to get to know each other on a personal basis. The trick is to avoid talking about business. Rather, let your guest connect with the complete you. Including spouses in the outing can make the invitation all the more powerful.

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The Human Factor Having a strong relationship with your customers won’t let you take their business for granted. But if the day comes when your customer must choose between several vendors competing on more or less equal terms, they will likely go with the person they like the most. After all, it’s hard to tell someone you really like, “Sorry, you didn’t get the big order.” Try as you might, there are going to be some people you will never get along with, no matter how hard you try. Accept it and move on. If possible, refer them to another person in your company—as I should have done with that long-ago prospective customer. To succeed in sales, it’s important to polish your likability. By learning who you are and how to get along with the widest variety of personality types, you can sell more successfully— and do so with less frustration and more fun! Happy selling. WWJ

Get more sales information online! Go to www.waterwelljournal.com and see other complete Water Well Journal articles that will help you with your sales skills. WWJ’s online home features current and past articles, daily news posts, buyers guides, and links to other valuable information. Bookmark the page today!

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COMING

EVENTS

March 1–2/ Kentucky Ground Water Association Annual Convention/ Louisville, Kentucky. PH: (270) 2513004, E-mail: kygwa@bellsouth.net March 4–7/ North Dakota Well Drillers Association and South Dakota Well Drillers Association Convention/ Bismarck, North Dakota. Web: www .ndwda.com March 7/ West Virginia Well Drillers Association Conference & Trade Show/ Sutton, West Virginia. PH: (540) 7403329, E-mail: jcain@well-drillers.com March 8–9/ Alaska Water Well Association Annual Convention/ Wasilla, Alaska. PH: (907) 522-8324, E-mail: khenderson @alaskawaterwellassoc.org March 9/ Vermont Ground Water Association Annual Meeting/ Rutland, Vermont. PH: (800) 248-4082, E-mail: chevalier drilling@comcast.net March 11–17/ National Groundwater Awareness Week/ PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customer service@ngwa.org, Web: www.NGWA .org March 12–13/ Michigan Ground Water Association 84th Annual Convention/ Battle Creek, Michigan. Web: www .michigangroundwater.com March 12–18/ Fix a Leak Week/ Web: www.epa.gov/watersense March 16–17/ Oregon Ground Water Association Spring Technical Seminar/

Wilsonville, Oregon. PH: (503) 390-7080, Fax: (503) 390-7088, E-mail: nancy@ ogwa.org March 18–21/ 2012 Sustainable Water Management Conference and Exposition/ Portland, Oregon. Web: www.awwa.org/ Conferences/SpecConf.cfm?ItemNumber =56511 March 22/ World Water Day/ Web: www .unwater.org/worldwaterday March 26–28/ Geohazards and the Role of Groundwater and Surface Water Short Course/ Columbus, Ohio. PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customerservice@ngwa.org, Web: www.NGWA.org March 30–31/ New England Water Well Association Expo/ Fitchburg, Massachusetts. PH: (978) 342-7100 March 30–31/ Tennessee Water Well Association Annual Meeting and Trade Show/ Gatlinburg, Tennessee. PH: (615) 597-1475 April 22/ Earth Day/ Web: www.earthday .org/earth-day-2012 April 27/ Wisconsin Ground Water Association Recognition and Technical Symposium/ Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Web: www.wgwa.org/events April 30–May 4/ NWQMC’s 8th National Monitoring Conference: Water—One Resource—Shared Effort—Common Future/ Portland, Oregon. Web: acwi.gov/ monitoring/conference/2012

May 3–5/ 2012 Florida Ground Water Association Convention & Trade Show/ Orlando, Florida. Web: www.fgwa.org/ events.cfm May 6–10/ 2012 NGWA Ground Water Summit: Innovate and Integrate— Succeeding as a Groundwater Professional in a Water-Short World/ Garden Grove, California. PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customer service@ngwa.org, Web: www.NGWA .org June 4–6/ Hydrogeology Field Methods Course: What You Didn’t Learn in School Short Course/ Andover, Minnesota. PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customerservice@ngwa.org, Web: www.NGWA.org June 5–6/ Underground Infrastructure Research (UIR) International Conference and Trenchless Technology Road Show 2012/ Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Web: www.civil.uwaterloo.ca/catt/ TrenchlessRoadshow2012/roadshow.htm June 26–27/ NGWA Focus Conference on Midwestern Groundwater Issues/ Columbus, Ohio. PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customer service@ngwa.org, Web: www.NGWA.org July 21–23/ 2012 South Atlantic Well Drillers Jubilee/ Virginia Beach, Virginia. PH: (540) 740-3329, E-mail: info@well-drillers.com, Web: www.jubilee watershow.com September 11/ Protect Your Groundwater Day/ PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 8987786, E-mail: customerservice@ngwa.org, Web: www.NGWA.org September 16–21/ 39th IAH Congress: Confronting Global Change/ Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Web: www.34igc.org September 27–29/ Washington State Ground Water Association Convention/ Pasco, Washington. Web: www .wsgwa.org/Calendar.asp?Section= Calendar *Dates shown in red are National Ground Water Association events. *Dates shown with are events where the National Ground Water Research and Educational Foundation’s McEllhiney Lecture will be presented. Lecture schedules are subject to change. Check www.NGWA.org for the latest information.

56/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

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SEMCO INC. P.O. Box 1216

●

7595 U.S. Hwy 50

●

Lamar, Colorado 81052

800-541-1562 719-336-9006

●

Fax 719-336-2402 ● semcopumphoist@yahoo.com www.SEMCOoflamar.com

S8,000H Basic SEMCO Pump Hoist, 46⬘ Derrick Extension, 1,500⬘ Capacity Sandreel, Remote Control, Breakout Cylinder w/Valve, 2- Pipe Racks w/Straps, 1-Auxiliary Hydro Valve, HD Bumper w/Receiver Hitch, 16' Steel Flatbed w/Headache Rack, 2-78⬙ Toolboxes, Factory Mounting w/Hydraulic Oil, Mounted on Customer’s Truck Texas Waterwell Service 295 Sawdust Road #2120 The Woodlands, TX 77380

SEMCO HYDRORENCH

Excellent for breaking pipe, shaft, and tubing on turbine pumps. Adjustable Torque, 4-Serrated Rollers w/Clean Out Slots, Hydraulic Operated w/High Torque Charlynn Motors Model#

Pipe Size

Description

S110H

1-10⬙

Hydraulic

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See Our Classified Ads on Pages 64, 67, and 73.

NEWSMAKERS PROMOTIONS John Wolfe has been appointed to technical support manager for Atlas Copco’s Geotechnical Drilling and Exploration business line. In his new role, Wolfe will provide training, technical, and product support for all Atlas Copco store branches John Wolfe in the United States. Wolfe’s Atlas Copco career began in 2003 when he joined the Atlas Copco GDE product company in North Bay, Ontario. Flowserve Corp., a provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, has announced a new operational leadership structure, resulting in senior leadership changes. Thomas L. Pajonas was promoted to chief operating officer, while Thomas E. Ferguson will retire from the company at the end of 2012.

BUSINESS GROWTH An agreement has been signed under which Salsnes Filter AS of Namsos, Norway, will join the Trojan Technologies group of businesses. Salsnes Filter’s patented filter technology removes particles from municipal and industrial process water. Founded in 1991, Salsnes Filter will continue to operate out of Namsos with production facilities in Salsnes, Norway. Bell & Gossett announced the addition of a comprehensive update to its ESP-Plus online pump selection program. The program updates were created after extensive feedback from the program users. Upgrades were made to improve visuals and streamline performance of selection tools to ensure that the site would remain familiar for users and provide an ease of use. Badger Meter Inc. announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Racine Federated Inc. of Racine, Wisconsin, and its subsidiary located in Thetford, England. Racine Federated manufactures and markets flowmeters

for the water industry, as well as a variety of industrial metering and specialty products. Connecticut Water Service Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of Aqua Maine Inc., a subsidiary of Aqua America Inc. Aqua Maine, which will be renamed The Maine Water Co., serves more than 16,000 customers, or a population of 48,000 people in 20 communities in the state of Maine. SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES Through an organized approach to sustainability at its more than 60 manufacturing facilities in North America, CertainTeed Corp. has reduced energy consumption by 15% and water usage by 24% over the past four years. It also has decreased the amount of waste going to landfills from its facilities by 33%. CertainTeed, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, builds exterior and interior building products. Atlas Copco has received international acclaim for its sustainable business practices. It was honored in

FISH-i 360 Geothermal Supply Company 106 Cherry Street Horse Cave, Ky 42749 270-786-3010

GSC is the one stop shop for all Geothermal Supplies. We have a huge inventory of Pipe, Fittings, and Accessories for Geothermal Applications. We stock pipe and fittings from ¾⬙ through 12⬙. GSC is a distributor of Driscoplex Geothermal Pipe from Performance Pipe. We carry a full line of McElroy and GSC Fusion Equipment. GSC offers design assistance and custom fabrication. Please call for all your Geothermal needs. 58/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

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Side View and Down View at one time! No more stop and rotate

Standard Down View 406-436-2078 www.wellvu.com 406-436-2087 Circle card no. 53

waterwelljournal.com

Newsweek’s Green Rankings and Thomson Reuters’ Top 100 Global Innovators. Newsweek’s Green Rankings identify companies as global leaders who “cut through the green chatter” and incorporate policies, practices, and programs that foster environmental well-being. Thomson Reuters’ Top 100 Global Innovators is a new list of the world’s 100 most innovative companies and is based on an examination of the intellectual property of all companies or organizations that have had 100 patents or more approved in the past three years. NEWS ON THE WEB

IN

MEMORIAM/

Theodore Ray “Shorty” Hamacher, 83, of Simla, Colorado, passed away in January. Hamacher taught his children and grandchildren how to drill and owned and operated Hamacher Well Works in Simla for more than 60 years. He was a member of the National Ground Water Association, the Colorado Division of Water Resources, and the Colorado Water Well Association. Jim Kirchdorfer Sr., founder and chairman of ISCO Industries, a Louisville, Kentucky-based pipe supplier and custom manufacturer of

high-density polyethylene piping products, passed away in February. Fifty years ago, Kirchdorfer Sr. founded what today is ISCO Industries. He started the comJim Kirchdorfer Sr. pany in the same location as his father’s hardware store in Louisville. The company has grown over the years to include more than 25 locations with more than 300 employees worldwide.

found at www.sjerhombus.com, features a new look and site structure to complement the organization’s mission of providing innovative control products and wastewater treatment solutions for a wide variety of applications. SJE-Rhombus, a manufacturer of quality control solutions for water and wastewater applications, unveiled its redesigned corporate Web site. The site,

Reed Manufacturing Co., producing tools for worldwide professional trades since its founding in 1896, revamped its Web site product family pages. The Web site changes allow for easier navigation to a product page to find operator’s

manuals, parts, accessories, and related products. Additionally, the photo library was overhauled. To view the Web site, visit www.reedmfgco.com.

wheels & deals Higgins Rig Ships to Greensburg Oil

N.E. The drill rig is equipped with 50,000 pounds of pullback and a 1000/350 air and hydraulics driven 5 × 6¼-foot mud pump.Pictured left to right are Rocky Milano of GEFCO N.E. and Joe Bertrand, Dave Folsom, and Bill Laprade of Bertrand Well Drilling.

Steve Burchfield of Greensburg Oil in Campbellsville, Kentucky, bought this 1980 Ingersoll Rand T4 from Higgins Rig Co. This unit is equipped with a 900/350 compressor and is mounted on a 1980 CCC with a Detroit Diesel engine. Higgins Rig Co. is located in Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Bertrand Well Receives Third GEFCO Tophead

Chicot Irrigation Takes Delivery from SEMCO

Chicot Irrigation of Lake Village, Arkansas, is pictured picking up its new SEMCO S6000 Pump Hoist. ust made a deal that you’d like to see in print? Mail photos and a brief description to Water Well Journal, Mike Price, 601 Dempsey Rd., Westerville, OH 43081, or e-mail mprice@ngwa.org.

J

Bertrand Well Drilling, located in Middleboro, Massachusetts, accepted its GEFCO 50K delivered by GEFCO Ci l

Twitter @WaterWellJournl

d

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Water Well Journal March 2012 59/

FEATURED

PRODUCTS

McElroy Unveils Guided Side-Bend Tester

McElroy has introduced the Guided Side-Bend Tester. The quality assurance device performs a qualitative test for ductility in a fusion joint. The Guided

Side-Bend Tester is a quick, safe replacement for “bend back” tests that have been performed in the field for many years. With the new equipment, an operator can perform a bend-back test on polyethylene pipes with 1 inch to 7 inches of wall thickness. This testing method places the entire wall thickness into tension and gives assurance of the ductility of joints. The test unit is compact and requires just a few common tools to conduct the process. Circle card no. 60

884,000,000

Reasons.

Levelogger Edge Water Level Datalogger from Solinst Delivers Reliable Measurements

The Solinst Levelogger Edge is a precision instrument that provides reliable datalogging of water level and temperature measurements. It uses a Hastelloy pressure sensor that performs well in high-stress environments, with excellent temperature compensation and response time, providing an overall accuracy of 0.05% FS with 24 bit resolution. The Levelogger Edge consists of the pressure sensor, temperature thermistor, datalogger, and 10-year lithium battery in a factory-sealed housing, with a titanium based PVD coating for extra protection in corrosive or marine environments. Circle card no. 61

Ergodyne Produces New CORE Performance Thermal Bibs

1 Drilling Solution. There are a lot of reasons you’ve made village well drilling a priority. 884,000,000 to be exact. The number of people who go without clean drinking water each day is staggering. But the solution is simple. From the shipping crate to the drill pipe, Lone Star drills are designed and packaged exclusively for shallow well drilling in areas with minimal resources for transportation and operation. Rugged steel frames paired with robust winches and hydraulics provide years of worry-free drilling power in the most demanding drilling environments.

+YPSSPUN +LW[O! MLL[ [V MLL[ c )VYLOVSL >PK[O! PUJOLZ For more on our drilling solutions and training programs visit lonestardrills.com.

Ergodyne announced an expansion to the CORE Performance Work Wear line, with the addition of the new 6470 Thermal Bibs. Providing superior durability, weather protection, and quality, the new bibs are the definition of tenacity, working hand in hand with Ergodyne's CORE base-layers and midlayers to provide the ultimate 3-layer system. Flexible and functional, the bibs offer everything needed to stay warm, dry, and comfortable in the most extreme range of working conditions— with the added convenience of built-in removable knee pads, glove-friendly zipper pulls, and full-length zippers on each leg for easy on and off. Circle card no. 62

A product of: Little Beaver, Inc. 800.227.7515

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FEATURED Duramast-100 Meets Variety of Drilling Needs

The Duramast 100 can meet a variety of drilling demands with up to 500 feet capabilities. The Duramast 100 has a 1500 gearbox, automatic breakout unit, floor plate with bowl and slip, and trunion assembly. The mounting equipment includes stabling cylinders, frontend mounting bracket, and upright locking bracket. Its hydraulic equipment and controls include hoses and gauges, additional reservoir with pump, and control panel with plumbing. The pullback capacity is 7000 pounds on hydraulic cylinder, 5300 pounds on 1500 gearbox at 100 rpm.

PRODUCTS

Solinst Coaxial Cable Water Level Meter Works in Narrow Applications

The Solinst Model 102 Coaxial Cable Water Level Indicator uses narrow cable and probes for measuring water levels in tight spaces. This option offers greater flexibility in angled piezometers and assists in bypassing downhole restrictions or pumps. The cable has a tough polyethylene jacket with laser markings each 1/100 feet or millimeter. The braided copper outer

conductor provides flexibility and the stainless steel central conductor reduces stretch and resists corrosion. It is available in lengths to 1000 feet. For greater

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Big Foot Manufacturing Slotted PVC Screen Offers Strength and Versatility

Big Foot Manufacturing Co. slotted screens can be fabricated from the lightest class PVC to the heaviest. Big Foot Manufacturing can slot pipe from ½-inch diameter through 18-inch diameter and up to 20 feet lengths. Slot sizes .008 and wider are available with a variety of configurations possible depending on slot size, spacing, and number of rows of slots. A row consists of slots, normally spaced at â…›-inch intervals, cut perpendicular to the axis of the pipe and running from one end of the pipe to the other. Most pipe can take up to two rows more than the stated diameter of the pipe without significant structural weakening. Circle card no. 64

Twitter @WaterWellJournl

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Water Well Journal March 2012 61/

FEATURED

PRODUCTS

depths, the heavier ⅜-inch P2 brass probe includes 10 segmented weights. For the narrowest applications, the ¼-inch P1 stainless steel probe is the choice, with 12 segmented weights for easy handling. Circle card no. 65

Design Water Technologies Introduces Chlor-“Oust”

Design Water Technologies announces Chlor-“Oust”—a product that neutralizes or dechlorinates Sterilene

VOSS

once it is pumped out of the well or a pipeline for proper disposal. “Oust” dissolves fast as fine granule, neutralizes 100 ppm chlorine (Sterilene) to zero within four minutes of recirculation, has simple directions for usage on-site, and easy and safe disposal to sanitary sewers or land disposal. Design Water Technologies has

TECHNOLOGIES BAILERS. FILTERS. LOW PRICES.

SINCE 1988. The Original Disposable Bailer. A bailer is not just a bailer....Ask for the VOSS brand.

The Original Bailer Rewards Program.

been marketing Sterilene for three years. Sterilene is more effective than regular chlorine, has no shelf life issues, is NSF 60 certified, and easy mixing. Circle card no. 66

Little Beaver’s Lone Star Drills Provide Viable, Economical Water Well Drilling Solution

Little Beaver introduces the Lone Star LS T1 line of water well drills. Featuring powerful hydraulic operation, the LS T1 units handle tough drilling projects and can operate in a variety of soil conditions including sand, clay, and hard rock formations. In addition to missionary water well drilling work, the LS T1 units are ideal for soil sampling, geotechnical testing, and auger drilling, and are offered in four configurations to better suit specific applications. Primarily intended for remote water well drilling in developing countries, the LS T1 drills have been designed for use in areas with minimal resources for transportation and operation. The compact configuration allows them to be shipped fully assembled or broken down and palletized for air freight or ocean transport. With a drill pipe weighing 28 pounds, the LS TI drills include added features that are designed to enhance drilling force, providing the capabilities of larger units a lighter weight, more convenient package. Circle card no. 67

Hach Hydromet Launches New Remote Groundwater Level Monitor

SAVE YOUR POINTS AND REDEEM THEM FOR GIFT CARDS!

vosstec@aol.com

800-247-6294

©2011 VTI. SingleSample is a registered trademark of VTI. The Voss BailerPoints Gift Card Program is a signature mark of VTI. American Express, American Express Box Logo, and Amex are registered trademarks of the American Express Company. Applebees and the Applebees logo are registered trademarks of Applebees. Best Buy and the Best Buy logo are registered trademarks of Best Buy. Red Lobster, the Red Lobster logo, Olive Garden, and the Olive Garden logo, Bahama Breeze and the Bahama Breeze logo, and Seasons 52 Fresh Grill and the Seasons 52 Fresh Grill logo are registered trademarks of Darden Concepts, Inc. Foot Locker and the Foot Locker logos are registered trademarks of Foot Locker, Inc. Home Depot and the Home Depot logo are registered trademarks of Homer TLC, Inc. Shell and the Shell logo are registered trademarks of Shell International Limited. Starbucks Coffee and the Starbucks logo are registered trademarks of the Starbucks Corporation. Subway and the Subway logo are registered trademarks of Doctor’s Associates Inc. Target and the Bullseye Design are registered trademarks of Target Brands, Inc. Walmart and the Walmart logo are registered trademarks of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The background on the front cover of this brochure is copyrighted by Tom VanSant/GeoSphere™/Planetary Visions, Santa Monica, CA. For more information, please call 1-800-247-6294 or visit www.vosstech.com.

62/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

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Hach Hydromet announced the launch of the OTT ecoLog 500, a complete in-well groundwater level and temperature instrument offering flexible remote data transmission options via SMS, HTTP, FTP, and e-mail. The OTT ecoLog 500 reduces the overall cost of monitoring by transmitting all data and status messages to the office, and elimiwaterwelljournal.com

FEATURED Groundwater Sampler and Pump from Solinst Produces Consistent VOC Samples

nating regular field visits for data download and troubleshooting. Long-term durability was a key concept in the engineering process. The in-well design protects the instrument from vandalism and weather elements over time. A robust ceramic pressure cell, Kevlar-reinforced cable, and saltwater-resistant 904 L stainless steel housing ensure years of use in the field. Additionally, an infrared interface at the end of the instruments allows simple on-site communication with a laptop or PDA and also eliminates the possibility of interface corrosion traditionally encountered by groundwater professionals. The instrument can be deployed up to 10 years with lithium batteries, and alkaline options are also available. Circle card no. 68

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well contamination. The pump is also portable, making it excellent for use in remote locations. When used with a narrow sampling tube inserted into the upper end, it produces excellent VOC samples. The Model 404 also is a well development tool when used with a surge block. Surge blocks create strong agitation, which helps to remove silt and fine sand during well development. Circle card no. 70

The Model 404 Inertial Pump from Solinst is a simple, reliable pump that provides a cost-effective sampling option for groundwater monitoring. Available in a range of sizes, the pump consists of a riser tube fitted with a one-way foot valve. It can be operated manually for shallow depths or using a surface pumping mechanism for higher flow rates and greater volumes. The low cost of a foot valve and length of polyethylene tubing makes the inertial pump ideal for dedicated use, avoiding cross-

Baker Monitor Pitless Unit Eliminates Need for Well House and Well Pit

Monitor, a division of Baker Manufacturing Co., developed the first solution to eliminate the “well house” and “well pit”—the Pitless Unit. The Pitless Unit allows the water to be discharged below the frost line to the water treatment facility, thus preventing any form of surface contamination. The Pitless Unit is designed so you can remove the submersible pump without disturbing any of the external piping in the well system. It forms a watertight extension of the well casing. From the connection point, it extends upward, finishing 12 or more inches above grade.

PRODUCTS

If you have a product that you would like considered, send a release to Mike Price, Water Well Journal, 601 Dempsey Rd., Westerville, OH 43081. E-mail: mprice@ngwa.org.

New England Water Well Association

Spring Expo March 30–31, 2012 Central Massachusetts Expo Center Marriott Courtyard 多 Fitchburg, MA

REGISTER ONLINE! www.NEWWASSOCIATION.org New England Water Well Association c/o CC Meeting & Event Management Services 7 Bailey Lane, Brewster, NY 10509 Phone: 845-278-0437 Fax: 845-278-1899

NEWWEXPO@gmail.com Twitter @WaterWellJournl

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Water Well Journal March 2012 63/

Classified Advertising/Marketplace 15 Bits Bits, subs, stabilizers, hole openers, etc. Over 10,000 bits in stock.

R L C Bit Service Inc. 8643 Bennett Rd. P.O. Box 714 Benton, IL 62812 www.rlcbit.com Ph: (618) 435-5000 Cell: (618) 927-2676 Cell: (618) 927-5586 Fax: (618) 438-0026

Jason Corn E-mail: rlcbit373@frontier.com Rick Corn E-mail: rlcbit77@frontier.com

3 Appraisals

18 Breakout Tools

Equipment Appraisals

BREAKOUT TOOLS

Nationally recognized and accredited equipment appraisals for water well drill rigs and well drilling equipment for banks, lenders, mergers, accountants, estate planning, IRS, and auctions. Experienced, knowledgeable, and recognized worldwide in the water well drilling industry. Accurate and confidential appraisal reports.

SALVADORE AUCTIONS & APPRAISALS 401.792.4300 www.siaai.com

19 Bucket Drill Rigs E Q U I P M E N T WA N T E D Gus Pech bucket/boring rigs, any condition. Support equipment, buckets, etc. Other brand considered. (816) 517-4532 / Jared Sisk

64/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

SEMCO Inc. All Hydraulic Hydrorench S110H In Stock 1-10 Four Rollers Breaks Pipe Make Pipe to Torque Specs 800-541-1562

Palmer Bit Company has been recognized worldwide for providing the highest quality bits to the drilling industry for over 50 years. We manufacture bits for drilling everything from clays to limestone. With our experience we can help lower your bit cost, with the proper bit selection for your drilling conditions. We are available 24/7 to assist you with any questions you may have. Call 800-421-2487 Satisfaction Guaranteed www.palmerbit.com MC/VISA accepted

FOR SALE: 30 to 40 roller bits (mostly new), 55⁄8 to 57⁄8 , air to bearing. Call (603) 942-5581.

57 Direct Push Supplies

Manufacturer of Pre-Pack Screens ♦ 4" ID Pre-Pack NOW AVAILABLE ♦ Standard Pre-Pack When You Would Set A Traditional Well ♦ Economy Pre-Pack When Cost Is A Factor

♦ 20% Open Area High Yield Pre-Pack For Use In Low Yield Wells

♦ All Stainless Steel Pre-Pack

22 Business Opportunities BUSINESS FOR SALE: 80 year old northwest pump company looking to liquidate years of accumulated test bowls, column, shaft, heads, and engine. Call for details and inventory list (509) 534-2671. BUSINESS FOR SALE: Water well drilling and pump service in southern New Mexico. Two commercial acres, 2700 sq. ft. building, all drilling and pumping equipment. Annual sales average one million dollars. Price negotiable. Call (575) 649-2019.

For Aggressive Groundwater Environments

♦ Non-Metal Pre-Pack When Metal Components Are Not Compatible

♦ Annular Seals Foam Bridges, Bentonite & Quick-Sleeves

♦ CUSTOM Pre-Packs and

Bentonite Packs *** A Johnson Screens Distributor*** **We Stock Geoprobe® Compatible Supplies & Tooling** *Proactive® Pumps Master Distributor*

Toll Free 1-888-240-4328 Phone: 1-609-631-8939

♦

Fax: 1-609-631-0993

ectmfg.com ♦ proactivepumps.com ♦ torquerplug.com

waterwelljournal.com

71 Drilling Equipment

60 Down Hole Inspection Waterwell Camera Inspection Systems • Portable, Truck or Trailer mounted. • Retrofit compatible with Laval and most geophysical logging winches. • Full repair service and spare parts for CCV, Boretech, Wellcam and Laval cameras and controllers. • Forward and 360 degree side wall viewing color cameras. • Depths to 5,000 feet.

CCV Engineering & Manufacturing An Aries Industries Company

800-671-0383 • 559-291-0383 Fax: 559-291-0463 E-mail: jim.lozano@ariesccv.com On the web at www.ariesccv.com

FOR SALE: 1975 Cyclone 36R combination drilling machine. Sputter and rotary combination, partially rebuilt. All parts included, some new, some used. $8000. Call Bill Bowen (740) 622-2770.

75 Electric Motors EQUIPMENT WANTED: Electric motors wanted. Vertical hollow shaft pump motors. 20 to 500 hp good or bad, will pick up. PH: (800) 541-1562.

76 Elevators J & K To o l C o m p a n y I n c .

Kwik Klamps 1 & 2 (adjustable 1 –2 or 21⁄2 – 4 ) NEW – Kwik Klamp 3 (for 6 PVC) Elevators for PVC well casing (sizes 1 –16 ) Heavy Duty PVC Elevators (sizes 4 –8 ) Flush Joint PVC Pipe Clamps (sizes 4 –24 ) www.jktool.com sales@jktool.com Tel 320-563-4967 Fax 320-563-8051

1 – 16 Elevators All steel with safety latch.

Standard Manufacturing

Largest water well pipe elevator manufacturing company in the United States.

Phone:

SEMCO of Lamar 800-541-1562 Fax 719-336-2402

Credit Cards Accepted

(936) 336-6200 (800) 337-0163 Fax: (936) 336-6212 E-Mail: StandardManufacturing @yahoo.com Web site: www.standardmfg.com

Dealers Wanted

SkyRex Water Well Elevators 2 thru 36 Also lightweight PVC elevators Now Available!

“Complete Reverse Circulation Drill Strings”

Rex McFadden 7931 19th Lubbock, TX 70407

Ph (806) 791-3731 Fax (806) 791-3755 www.rexmcfadden.com

Twitter @WaterWellJournl

Water Well Journal March 2012 65/

80 Employment EXPERIENCED WATER WELL DRILLER WANTED Established western Nebraska based company seeking experienced driller. Successful candidate should have 5+ years experience with mud rotary and air rotary drilling. Geothermal drilling, pump installation, and repair experience a plus. Valid Class A CDL and clean driving record required. Pay based on experience. Newer equipment. Resume to: (308) 262-9989 (fax) or scottspump@gmail.com (e-mail).

101 Grouters

HELP WANTED: Drilling manager desired for a well-established midwestern water well company. Several crews and rigs to manage. Scheduling of jobs, job site visits to assess conditions, work with sales with estimating. Air/mud rotary and reverse circulation drilling. Geothermal experience desired. Salary and benefits commensurate with experience. Forward resume to sfleck@ngwa.org or fax to (614) 360-2492 Attention: Shelby.

105 Injection Pumps

82 Engines

2009 Armstrong Grouter. Built by Rose-Wall Manufacturing Inc. Double hopper, 63 gallon stainless tanks, 26HP, Kubota diesel. Asking $16,950. For more information call Frank (574) 699-6773 or (765) 438-8500.

106 Installation Accessories Heat Shrink from B&B Wholesale

3 #; + ;

/ 8 7

BUCKEYE DRILL COMPANY

, / 0 1 . 0 1 ,,

— Cat Ž ENGINES — Ž * Cat 51HP ENGINES TO

RE-POWER BUCYRUS-ERIE 20W WELL DRILLS ÂŽ * Cat 61HP TURBO ENGINES TO RE-POWER BUCYRUS-ERIE 22W WELL DRILLS * COMPLETE WITH ENCLOSURE, TWIN-DISC PTO + 2 YEAR FACTORY WARRANTY

2 #"" 1 " 3 4

, 5 1 6 . , /% 1% / . 7

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PH. 800-767-3745

!!"#$ %&'!!"( #) #! * +&'!!"( #) !$)# *, -* ,.

www.buckeyedrill.com

"We are the heat shrink people"

- Heat shrink kits for #14 to 4/0 wire - Volume pricing - Custom kits made to order - Private labeling available - Quick shipping - Four types of heat shrink tubing in stock - Large selection of installation accessories including pressure gauges, tapes, valves and tank ďŹ ttings packages Supplying "Made in USA" heat shrink tubing to pump and well installers since 1994. 800-593-9403

90 Equipment

112 Miscellaneous New Low Prices

Low yield well? Get more water without overpumping. www.wellmanager.com ✔ Use on wells yielding as little as 0.10 gpm. ✔ Turn-key collection and delivery system. ✔ Fits through 24â€? doors. ✔ Good money from bad wells. For more information, log-on or call 800-211-8070. Š Reid Plumbing Products, LLC

66/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

Logos To Go Custom Embroidery Bloomfield, IN 47424 PH: 812-345-5752 www.logostogo.net waterwelljournal.com

115 Mud Pumps Hydraulic drive mud pumps —small and lightweight—

71/2 10 duplex pump • Fits in the place of a 5 6 • Pumps 300 GPM at up to 800 PSI • Weighs 1000 lbs. less than a 5 6 • Single and three cylinder models also available

Centerline Manufacturing U.S Pat. #6,769,884 and others pending

903-725-6978

www.centerlinemanufacturing.com

116 Mud Systems DESANDER

Mini-Desander

MUD MIXER CM Consulting & Equipment Jerry Mason Specialist in your drilling and grouting problems.

125 Pump Hoists 2012 Models

S4,000 Pump Hoist, 8,000# cap., 35 telescoping mast, 30 gal. oil tank, hydro pump, 5T safety hook, hydro controls and variable speed engine control . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,245

S6,000 Pump Hoist, 16,000# 3L cap., 35 telescoping mast, 30 gal. oil tank, hydro pump, 5T safety hook, hydro controls and variable speed engine control . . . . . $16,445

S8,000 Pump Hoist, 22,000# 3L cap., 36 telescoping mast, 30 gal. oil tank, hydro pump, 7T safety hook, hydro controls and variable speed engine control . . . . . $20,845

S10,000 Pump Hoist, 30,000# 3L cap., 40 telescoping mast, 30 gal. oil tank, hydro pump, 9T safety hook, hydro controls and variable speed engine control . . . . . $28,545

S12,000 Pump Hoist, 48,000# 4L cap., 44 telescoping mast, 6000# tail out line, 72 gal. oil tank, hydro pump, 11T safety hook, hydro controls and variable speed engine control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $32,945 S15,000 Pump Hoist, 60,000# 4L cap, 48 telescoping mast, 6000# tail out line, 72 gal. oil tank, hydro pump, 13T safety hook, hydro controls and variable speed engine control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,645 S20,000 Pump Hoist, 80,000# 4L cap, 40 telescoping mast, 6000# tail out line, 72 gal. oil tank, hydro pump, 13T safety hook, hydro controls and variable speed engine control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$53,845 S25,000 Pump Hoist, 100,000# 4L cap, 40 telescoping mast, 6000# tail out line, 100 gal. oil tank, hydro pump, 15T safety hook, hydro control and variable speed engine control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$61,545

S30,000 Pump Hoist, 120,000# 4L cap, 40 telescoping mast, 6000# tail out line, 100 gal. oil tank, hydro pump, 15T safety hook, hydro control and variable speed engine control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$76,945

New Equipment in Stock

S6,000 SEMCO, 35 , PTO, RC, PR, 2 spd., aux., 11 bed, toolboxes, 2011 Dodge 5500, 6.7L diesel, 6 spd., automatic, 4 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $77,598

S6,000 SEMCO, 44 , PTO, 2 spd., 16,000# cap., RC, PR, aux., light kit, service body, mini bed, 2012 Dodge 5500, 6.7L D, stand. transmission, 4 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . $81,580

Used Equipment in Stock

M33 Jessen/Monitor, 1-PR, SB, 1995 Ford F-350, gas, 5 spd., 4 2 . . . . . . . . . $17,900

M34 Jessen/Monitor, RC, PR, SB w/1992 GMC Top Kick, 3116 Cat, 5 spd. . . $19,500 5T Smeal, PR, bed, toolboxes, 2004 Ford F650, Cummins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$34,950

Walker-Neer 20T rated, double cathead, sandreel, 3rd leg, 1976 Chevy . . . . $19,500

S6,000 SEMCO, 44 , HS PTO, 2 spd., RC, oil cooler, sandreel, 2-PR, light kit, 11 bed, 2008 Dodge 5500, 6.7L diesel, 6 spd. auto. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$62,070 S12,000H SEMCO, 44 , HS PTO, SR, oil cooler, 2 spd., 2-aux., PR, BC outriggers, light kit, 16 bed, toolbox, 2006 Intl. 4300, DT466, auto. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $87,039

S15,000H SEMCO, 48 , AS PTO, 2000 SR, 2 spd., PR, BC outriggers, oil cooler, 2-aux., power arm, power tong hookup, light kit, 18 bed, toolbox, blue and white, 2006 Frt., 6.4L, 6 spd., white. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $91,897

S25,000 SEMCO, 50 , BO cylinder, BC outrigger, 2 spd., SR, PT hookup, aux., oil cooler, light kit, power arm, 18 bed, toolbox, 2007 Frt. M2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $127,207

SEMCO Inc.

P.O. Box 1216 7595 U.S. Highway 50 Lamar, CO 81052 (719) 336-9006 / (800) 541-1562 Fax (719) 336-2402 semcopumphoist@yahoo.com www.SEMCOoflamar.com See our ad on page 57.

1640 Oppenheimer Rd., Bedford, PA 15522

(814) 623-1675

(814) 623-7285 FAX

Add a color to your display classified ad for only $49. Please call Shelby to make arrangements 1-800-551-7379 ext. 523 Twitter @WaterWellJournl

Water Well Journal March 2012 67/

128 Pump Pullers

860-651-3141

135 Rigs

129 Pumps

1988 Speedstar model 30-KD. Caterpillar 3408 diesel engine. Sullair model 900 screw compressor, 900 CFM @350 PSI. Complete tophead rotary assembly, 1988 Navistar F-2674 Cummins L-10 diesel engine.

fax 860-658-4288

TRACTION MOBILITY PERFORMANCE AND PREFERRED

132 Rig Equipment 2001 International 9200/TC built by Rose-Wall Mfg. Inc. 2000 gallon water tank, LiftMoore model 2530X-30 crane, rod slide and bit box, Ramsey 20,000 lb. winch, hydraulic system for crane, Bowie 2300 water pump, 100 gallon auxiliary fuel tank.

PUL-A-PUMP DO THE WORK

LET

Call (505) 250-9477 for more information.

973-697-2008 P.O. Box 155, Stockholm, NJ 07460 www.pulapump.com

PUL-A-PUMP CORPORATION

# $ ) **& +

%

!"

&' ( ,& - . / #%

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Try NGWA’s Career Center at www.careers.ngwa.org for more opportunities. Whether you are looking for the right job or the right employee, the NGWA Career Center can provide you with an industry-specific listing to hone your search. Questions? Call Rachel at 800 551.7379, ext 504, or e-mail at rjones@ngwa.org.

* . * 0 1 2 0 &3! 0 0 - . 1 , !0 + . 4 " & 0 ,3 3 0 . 0 ! 04 05 1 -.

&.

: : 68/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

0 670 &80 3

0 ,890

04 . 07 6 5 ( 0 . 0 ; !0 24 , < 0 ,

FOR SALE: 2000 T25 DRILTECH, serial no. 732476, CAT C15, 526 HP, 1000 CFM air, 10,000 hours. 420 4½ drill rod, 3½ regular. Mounted on Sterling 9501, powered by CAT C12 400 HP, Miller Bobcat 225 AMP welder, Meyers Fracturing Pump. $195,000. Call (603) 942-5581. Failing Jed-A. Detroit 3-53 engine on the draw works and rotary table. 5.9L Cummins engine on the mud pump. 380 of 8 flanged drill pipe. 260 of 5 flanged drill pipe. 24 , 30 , and 36 drag and roller bits. Also rock trap, stabilizers, heavy drill collar, and kelley hose. Asking $150,000 for rig, spare parts, extra tooling. Call (765) 459-4125. Ask Mark for more information if interested.

waterwelljournal.com

135 Rigs BUCKEYE DRILL COMPANY

Weber Group LC

Successor to Bucyrus Erie Well Drill Division

Contact Kelly 480-229-0748

Cable Tools Well Drills Parts + Service New * Remanufactured * Used

PH. 800-767-3745 www.buckeyedrill.com 1998 Ford F-800 diesel. 88,333 miles. Bucyrus Erie 20W cable tool rig with a 353 Detroit Diesel deck engine. Truck and rig in excellent working order. The unit was rebuilt including the main shafts and clutches. Asking $30,000. Tooling available at extra cost.

'5,//7(&+ 7 . RQ )25' / PLOHV 8VHG 'ULOO 5RG +RXUV $95,000. KWWS ZZZ DTXDVFLHQFH QHW ULJ $TXD6FLHQFH

MHUU\#DTXDVFLHQFH QHW

Drill Faster, Cheaper, Smarter. www.sonic-drill.com

2002 Schramm T300M mud rotary rig mounted on a 2002 International 4900 6 6. 3 4 mud pump and 400/200 air. 47,000 miles and 7,700 hours. Nice unit and everything works great. Asking $210,000. For more information please call Mark (765) 459-4125.

1985 Ford F-800 diesel. 193,000 miles. Bucyrus Erie 22W cable tool rig with 353 Detroit Diesel deck engine. Truck and rig in working order. Rig rebuilt including main clutches and shafts. $30,000.

SONIC DRILL CORPORATION Suite 190, 119 N. Commercial St, Bellingham, WA 98225 1.604.792.2000 (ext 104) or 1.604.306.3135

Enid Drill Systems Inc www.eniddrill.com 580-234-5971 Fax 580-234-5980

4510 E Market, Enid, OK 73701 USA

x

New rigs—custom designs

x

Quality rig repair service

x

New and used equipment needs

x

“Transfer of Technology� - the must have book for all drillers!

Twitter @WaterWellJournl

Water Well Journal March 2012 69/

176 Water Level Measurement

Only $995

Place probe in well Ground Water Monitoring Instrumentation

Turn unit ON

Geokon, Inc. manufactures high quality hydrological instrumentation suitable for a variety of ground water monitoring applications. Geokon instruments utilize vibrating wire technology providing measurable advantages and proven long-term stability. The World Leader in Vibrating Wire Technology Geokon, Incorporated 48 Spencer Street Lebanon, New Hampshire 03766 | USA

TM

1 • 603 • 448 • 1562 1 • 603 • 448 • 3216 info@geokon.com www.geokon.com

Read level

• • • •

Measures to 2000 ft Built-in data logger Nothing to lower in the well NO Contamination!

For more information, ask your local distributor or contact us at: Phone: (910) 778-2660 Toll Free (888) 803-3796

www.wellprobe.com

www.enoscientific.com

Sonic Water Level Meters Since 1978 Time Tested & Customer Approved 303-443-9609

Waterline Envirotech Water level indicators made in the USA for over 30 years.

360-676-9635 www.waterlineusa.com

Put your company’s message here! Classified advertising is a great way to reach the water well industry. Call Shelby to make arrangements at 1-800-551-7379 ext 523.

Phone: 760-384-1085

Fax: 760-384-0044

Did you know? Water Well Journal classified advertisements appear online (at no additional cost) each month at www.waterwelljournal.com/category/ineveryissue/classifieds

Check it out! 70/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

waterwelljournal.com

180 Water Trucks

185 Well Rehab

Specializing in quality custom built epoxy coated Flattanks any gallon or tank length sizes with or without material handling IMT cranes. All tanks are sandblasted and painted with polyurethane paint. Many options available.

get rid of

Iron bacteria! One time treatment! Works every time! When others fail, we don"t! Real technical services.

Engineered for convenience and durability, allows the user to operate at any type of drilling operation. Our drill site rig tenders are built with simplicity and functionality. Call us for our used truck – new tank inventory list.

NORTHWEST FLATTANKS Steve Wipf (406) 466-2146 E-mail: steve@northwestflattanks.com

Who else?

Check out our new Web site

Cell (406) 544-5914 www.northwestflattanks.com

get rid of

Coliform too!

178 Water Treatment

AER-MAXsystems for sulfur and iron problems

EASY AS 1,2,3! ■ ■ ■ ■

Naturally Clean Water

Maximizes Air Injection No Caustic Chemicals

Call for a FREE Catalog

The new chlorine

185 Well Rehab • 200 times more effective than regular chlorine for coliform. • no pre-blending to control pH • competitive price to regular chlorine • NSF approved • free technical service, if 3 failures • distributor map is on the web site

Now for De-chlorinating Sterilene

Chlor

“Oust” ppm Air Pump Water Solutions, Inc.

10983-E Guilford Road • Annapolis Junction, MD 20701

e-mail: sales@air-pump.com

Who else?

1-877-4-AER-MAX 1-877-423-7629 Toll free 888-437-6426 Email info@designwater.com web site: designwater.com

Twitter @WaterWellJournl

Water Well Journal March 2012 71/

184 Well Packers

186 Well Screens

Serving Your Complete Packer Needs i INFLATABLE PACKERS - Pressure Grout, Wireline, Water Well,

ENVIRONMENTAL SERIES

Environmental, Bridge Plugs. Custom Sizes and Fabrication available i MECHANICAL PACKERS - Freeze Plugs, Custom Applications 3/4-inch 1-inch 1.25-inch 1.5-inch 2-inch

Call or email us with all your Packer questions!! Toll-Free: 1-888-572-2537 Email: info@QSPPackers.com Fax #: 253-770-0327 Web: www.QSPPackers.com Prompt Shipping in the US & Internationally—Usually in just One Day!!

• CUSTOM BUILT PACKERS

FOR ANY APPLICATION

PRODUCTS

• COMPETITIVE PRICES

INFLATABLE WELL PACKERS

Advantages of Surge Block Method Most effective way to develop any well Produces more water, less color and turbidity Only the surge block method “back washes� the well screen, removing clay bridge, sands and silts Flexible wiper creates suction and pulls water into the screen (not available with other methods) Constructed of inert long-lasting materials Capable of lifting water over 50 feet Removable ball valve prevents water from flowing back into well and will not clog with sediments Fast, effective and saves time and money

PRODUCTION SERIES

1-800-452-4902 • www.lansas.com

4�,5�

6��

Manufactured by Vanderlans & Sons 1320 S. Sacramento St. • Lodi, CA 95240 • 209-334-4115 • Fax 209-339-8260 For more information visit: www.welldeveloper.com 850.727.4427

Applications Include: +\GURORJLFDO 7HVWLQJ ‡ ,QMHFWLRQ :LWKGUDZDO ‡ 6WDQGDUG &XVWRP 6L]HV 0DWHULDOV :DWHU 0LQLQJ (QYLURQPHQWDO ‡ *URXWLQJ 6DPSOLQJ *HRWHFKQLFDO +\GURIUDFWXULQJ ‡ 5HFLUFXODWLRQ :HOOV ‡ 6WHDP ,QMHFWLRQ ‡ 5HOLQH &DVLQJ To discuss your questions and applications, call

Same Day Shipping

1-866-314-9139

‡ )D[ ZZZ WDPLQWO K\GURORJLFDO

Same Day Shipping

Well screen manufacturer: stainless steel, galvanized and carbon steel. Sizes: 0.75" to 24.0" OD. Rod base, pre-pack and pipe base screens. Environmental flush joint monitor pipe, T&C stainless drop pipe, drive points, etc. Contact: Jan or Steve 18102 E. Hardy Rd., Houston, TX 77073 Ph: (281) 233-0214; Fax: (281) 233-0487 Toll free: (800) 577-5068 www.alloyscreenworks.com

FIBERGLASS REINFORCED EPOXY MONITOR WELL CASING AND SCREENS x x x x

2� 3� 4� 6� Flush Joint Casing and Screens High temperature material available Low cost 100% inert Sensitive PPB Monitor wells Fiberglasswellsystems.com (512) 358-7388 Austin, TX

72/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

waterwelljournal.com

184 Well Packers

195 Wire Rope BUCKEYE DRILL COMPANY BETHLEHEM WIRE ROPE FOR ALL YOUR DRILLING NEEDS MADE IN THE USA

PH. 800-767-3745 www.buckeyedrill.com

Ph. 303 789-1200 or 800 552-2754 Fx. 303 789-0900

137 Services

186 Well Screens

REPAIRS: Eastman deviation survey clocks (mechanical drift indicators) repaired. We also have three, six, and twelve degree angle units, charts, and other accessories in stock. Call Downhole Clock Repair, (325) 660-2184.

139 Slotting Machines J & K To o l C o m p a n y

PVC Screen Slotting Machines

PVC Threading Machines

Perforating Machines Affordable, easy to operate automated machines with touch screen programming.

www.jktool.com sales@jktool.com Tel 320-563-4967 Fax 320-563-8051

160 Trucks 速

Twitter @WaterWellJournl

30-Freightliner Trucks 6 6, 60 Series Detroit, HT740, Allison Trans., Rockwell Axle, 68KGVW, 315/80 R22.5 Michelin, Low Miles SEMCO, Inc. Phone (800) 541-1562 Water Well Journal March 2012 73/

Ask About Ou r Quick Ship on New Pump Assemblies

Delivering More.

REBOWL SERVICES FOR VERTICAL TURBINE PUMPS IMPROVE PUMP... `Efficiency `Peformance

`Reliability

...while reducing power consumption and cost of operation

REBOWL SERVICES INCLUDE: ` Complete Up-Front Inspection Of All Pump Components ` Recommendations On Options To Enhance Pump Performance ` Refurbishment Or Replacement Of Deteriorated Components ` Guaranteed Fit And Interchangeability

COMPLETE PUMP UPGRADES: ` Packing To Mechanical Seal Conversions

REBOWL OPTIONS:

` Open Or Enclosed Lineshaft Construction

` Enclosed, Open Or Semi-Open Impellers, Keyed Or Collet Mounted

` Product, Oil Or Water Injection Bearing Lubrication

` Upgrade Impeller And Bowl Materials

` Flanged Or Threaded Column Pipe

` Wear Rings For Enclosed Impellers And Bowls

` Cast Iron, Ductile Iron Or Fabricated Steel Discharge Heads

` Bronze, Rubber, Carbon Or Synthetic Bearings

` Above Or Below Ground Discharges

performance

|

` Multiple Drivers - Electric Motors, Diesel Engines With Right Angle Gears

quality

|

service

|

trust

Circle card no. 55

INDEX OF Card No./ Page 1 5

A.Y. McDonald Mfg. (800) 292-2737 www.aymcdonald.com AMISTCO (281) 331-5956 www.amistco.com AMS/Art’s Mfg. (800) 635-7330 www.ams-samplers.com Baker Mfg., Water Systems Division (800) 523-0224 www.bakermfg.com Boshart Industries (800) 561-3164 www.boshart.com CCV Engineering & Mfg. (800) 671-0383 www.ariesccv.com Centennial Plastics (402) 462-2227 www.centennialplastics.com Cotey Chemical (806) 747-2096 www.coteychemical.com Flomatic (800) 833-2040 www.flomatic.com Foremost Industries (800) 661-9190 (403) 295-5834 (fax) GEFCO/King Oil Tools (800) 759-7441 www.gefco.com Geo-Hydro Supply (800) 820-1005 www.geohydrosupply.com GeoPro (877) 580-9348 www.geoproinc.com Geoprobe ® Systems (800) 436-7762 www.geoprobe.com

2

18

3

1

4

15

5

41

6

50

7

14

8

56

9

10

10

IBC

11

8

12 13

9 53

14 38-39

Card No./ Page 15 58

Geothermal Supply (270) 786-3010 www.geothermalsupply.com Grundfos Pumps (913) 227-3400 www.us.grundfos.com Gus Pech Mfg. (800) 383-7324 www.guspech.com Heron Instruments (800) 331-2032 www.heroninstruments.com Hoeptner Perfected Products (408) 847-7615 www.freezeflow.com Indar Pumps (954) 563-8437 www.indarpump.com In-Situ (800) 446-7488 www.in-situ.com Jet-Lube (800) 538-5823 (713) 678-4604 (fax) Johnson Screens (651) 636-3900 www.johnsonscreen.com Laibe/Versa-Drill (317) 231-2250 www.laibecorp.com Laval Underground Surveys (800) 344-7205 www.lavalunderground.com Little Beaver (800) 227-7515 www.littlebeaver.com Lorentz Solar Water Pumps (888) 535-4788 (866) 593-0777 www.lorentz.de Marks Products/ Allegheny Instruments (800) 255-1353 www.geovision.org

16

IFC

17

15

18

9

19

59

20

26

21

22

22

7

23 24

28 23

25

43

26

60

27

OBC

28

55

Card No./ Page 29 47

MARL Technologies (800) 404-4463 www.marltechnologies.com Merrill Mfg. 30 (712) 732-2760 www.merrillmfg.com Mount Sopris Instruments 31 (303) 279-3211 www.mountsopris.com NGWA/Best Suggested Practices 32 (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org NGWA/Construction State Law 33 (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org NGWA/Ground Water Summit 34 (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org NGWA/Groundwater Awareness Week 35 (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org NGWA/Membership 36 (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org NGWA/NGWREF 37 (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org NGWA/Water Well Journal Web Site 38 (800) 551-7379 www.waterwelljournal.com National Pump 55 (800) 966-5240 www.nationalpumpcompany.com New England Water Well Exposition 39 (860) 286-4238 (401) 364-6285 (fax) North Houston Machine 40 (800) 364-6973 nhmi2@earthlink.net

13 34

12

45

53

42 35 75

30 74

63

ADVERTISERS Pullmaster Winch (604)594-4444 www.pullmaster.com Robbco Pumps (806) 749-7475 www.robbcopumps.com Rockmore International (503) 682-1001 www.rockmore-intl.com Schramm (610) 696-2500 www.schramm.com SEMCO (719) 336-9006 www.semcooflamar.com Sonic Drill (604) 888-1388 www.sonic-drill.com Southwire (770) 832-4590 www.southwire.com Star Iron Works (814) 427-2555 www.starironworks.com Tibban Mfg. (760) 954-5655 www.tibban.com Unitra (281) 240-1500 www.unitrainc.com Voss Technologies (800) 247 6294 Water-Right (920) 739-9401 www.water-right.com Well-Vu Camera (800) WELLVU1 www.wellvu.com Wyo-Ben (800) 548-7055 www.wyoben.com

Card No./ Page 41 35 42

61

43

50

44

27

45

57

46

31

47

24

48

49

49

2

50

51

51

62

52

11

53

58

54

55

59

Make a difference

where it’s needed most by making a contribution today. . .

The National Ground Water Research and Educational Foundation relies upon contributions to support its mission of educating future groundwater professionals . . . furthering groundwater science . . . supporting advancement where the availability and quality of water represents a daily struggle. Donate to one of NGWREF’s funds today: s s s s s s

McEllhiney Lecture Series in Water Well Technology Darcy Lecture Series in Ground Water Science Len Assante Scholarship Fund Groundwater Research Fund Developing Nations Fund 21st Century General Fund.

To find out more about NGWREF as well as make a contribution, visit www.NGWA.org or call 800 551.7379 (614 898.7791). Operated by NGWA, NGWREF is a 501(c)(3) publication foundation focused on conducting educational, research, and other charitable activities related to a broader public understanding of groundwater.

Twitter @WaterWellJournl

Circle card no. 37

Water Well Journal March 2012 75/

CLOSING

TIME

“Closing Time” is the page of Water Well Journal that showcases—you! It will always feature a few pictures of people at work at job sites around the world. Please send in photos and brief descriptions and you just

may be the subject on the last page of an issue of WWJ. And remember, if your photo is selected as the cover image of WWJ, you receive $250. If your photos are selected, you will be

A portable pan is set up to settle the cuttings at a massive rehabilitation job in which an existing 10-inch steel public water supply well was removed by Water Well Solutions LC of Mechanicsville, Virginia.

Water Well Solutions drilled a series of holes around the casing and through neat cement grout and gravel pack. A custom 12-inch overreamer was made to cut the remainder of the cement grout before the well was removed from the hole. Pictured on the ground is the overreamer, while the casing is being removed.

76/ March 2012 Water Well Journal

asked to fill out a photo disclaimer form that grants the National Ground Water Association the royalty-free right to display the photos. Please send high-resolution digital photos to tplumley@ngwa.org.

The screen assembly is being lifted. The well had a 11⁄2-inch outside water level measuring tube that was also removed.

The project was a team effort between Water Well Solutions and Magette Well & Pump Co. Inc. of Ahoskie, North Carolina. Pictured is the capped 10-inch well in the center and drilling mud rotary around the annulus. Photos submitted by Richard O’Dell, Water Well Solutions LC

waterwelljournal.com

Dual Rotary Drives.

Stay Straight.

Circle card no. 10

Discharge Control.

We Have The Answer 3/,!2 0/7%2%$ s -/$5,!2 s %&&)#)%.4

Agricultural Irrigation Systems

A Winning Partnership

s 2EDUCE %NERGY #OST 5P TO

s 5P 4O 'AL -IN OF &LOW s 5P 4O &EET OF ,IFT s 3OLAR !# 0OWER &LEXIBILITY s (IGH %FlCIENCY

LORENTZ™ designs and manufactures the widest range of solar water pumps in the industry. Our market leading products are available through our value added premier distribution partners in the USA. Together we offer contractors the most knowledgeable customer service and protect healthy margins by only selling to professional contractors and distributors.

American West Windmill&Solar

888.535.4788 WWW.AWWASC.COM

866.593.0777 WWW.GENPRO.US

Power From Above, Water From Below.

Circle card no. 27 *Varies depending on system design. American West Windmill & Solar Š 2012. All Rights Reserved. 230SSC013112

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