January 2011

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Make your 2011 NGWA Washington Fly-in plans today, page 11

JOURNAL

January 2011

The 21st Century Contractor

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

As the industry has evolved, so too has today’s contractor, page 13 Also inside: Haiti: One Year Later, page 17 Aquifer storage and recovery, page 22

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JOURNAL

Vol. 65, No. 1 January 2011 www.ngwa.org

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

FEATURED ARTICLES 13 The 21st Century Contractor By Mike Price

As the groundwater industry continues to evolve, so too has today’s water well contractor. 17 WATER WELL JOURNAL Q & A By Mike Price

Haiti: One Year Later 22 Reclaimed Water: A Growing Player in U.S. Water Management By Jill Ross

Page 17

As acceptance of aquifer storage and recovery systems grow in the United States, waterthirsty regions are looking to systems both large and small to add to their water supplies.

IN EVERY ISSUE 6 Editor’s Note Working in an Ever-Changing World 19 WellGuard Protecting Your Vision

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

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Januar

About the cover Water Development Corp. (WDC) drills a 20-inch-diameter test well located near Cooper Canyon in Spring Valley, Nevada. WDC, headquartered in Woodland, California, operates more than 65 drilling rigs throughout the United States and has become the largest privately owned drilling company in the country. As of fall 2010, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) had installed eight monitoring wells and six test wells within Spring Valley. WDC has drilled more than 20 wells for SNWA. The depth of this test well is 1350 feet below ground surface (bgs), with groundwater at about 500 feet bgs. Photo courtesy SNWA.

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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.

NGWA.org

Water Well Journal January 2011 3/

JOURNAL A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

Advancing the expertise of groundwater professionals and furthering groundwater awareness. Executive Director Kevin McCray, CAE NGWA President Art Becker, MGWC

kmccray@ngwa.org

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

mprice@ngwa.org

Copyeditor Wayne Beatty

wbeatty@ngwa.org

Page 36

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

sfleck@ngwa.org vwiles@ngwa.org

Circulation Coordinator Sharren Diller sdiller@ngwa.org Contributing Writers Ed Butts, PE, CPI; Donald W. Gregory; David T. Hanson; Joe Hogan; William J. Lynott; Michelle Nichols; Christine Reimer; Al Rickard, CAE; Jill Ross; Ron Slee; Stuart A. Smith, CGWP; and Lana Straub Publishing Oversight Committee Chairman Theodorosi Toskos Patricia Bobeck Richard Clarke Paul C. Johnson, Ph.D. David Larson Karen Madsen Brent Murray Deborah Post Michael Salvadore Frank Schwartz, Ph.D. 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 2010 by the National Ground Water Association. All rights reserved. Our circulation is audited, ask for a statement today.

An APEX award winner eight consecutive years with 19 total awards, most in the groundwater industry.

FEATURED COLUMNISTS 25 Engineering Your Business by Ed Butts, PE, CPI Reservoir Systems—Part 2 Each class has its own considerations that you must factor.

28 Safety Matters by Gary Ganson Safety Procedures for Decontamination You must have a safety plan when you may encounter contaminants at a job site.

30 The Water Works by Ed Butts, PE, CPI Engineering of Water Systems Part 7—Regulatory Aspects: Water Rights

34 People at Work by Alexandra Walsh Fighting Negativity in the Workplace A staff that is not happy is one that is costing its company money.

36 Transfer of Technology — Expanded Series by John L’Espoir Power Transmission Follow the power transfer from truck engine to the driving axles or drilling components. Chain drives and belt drives, drivelines, transmissions, and more.

46 The After Market by Ron Slee Welcome to a New Year. How About a New Outlook? Have you had enough of negativity yet?

48 Savvy Selling by Michelle Nichols The Pitch for Speed If “time is the new money,” consider time-saving benefits you can offer customers on your next sales call. The views expressed in the columns are the authors’ opinions based on their professional experience.

4/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

NGWA.org

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Let NGWA help you get your name in front of your customers with handy “tools� such as: s Advertising materials — including radio spots and NGWA member logos that demonstrate your commitment to professionalism s “Clip & Copy� articles — keep your customers informed about what they need to know and they will keep coming back to you as their trusted source s What to Consider When Selecting Your Water Supply — a brochure for you to distribute to potential customers so they will understand the value of using groundwater as their water source. NGWA’s Tools of the Trade also provides a wealth of other resources to help you make the everyday business of doing business that much easier. From business management articles and standard employment applications to NGWA-developed cost calculators, it’s all just a click away at www.ngwa.org.

800 551.7379 s www.ngwa.org s 614 898.7791 Circle card no. 21

EDITOR’S

NOTE

Working in an Ever-Changing World here is an adage about the weather in some parts of our country that if you don’t like it, you simply need to wait another few minutes because it will then be completely different. That’s certainly true in some areas I have been to, and I’m also sure the pharmaceutical giants of the world are quite happy about that. It seems to me, though, that a lot of other aspects in our world are moving at the same rapid speed. The groundwater industry has certainly not been immune. Technologies change. Rules and regulations change. Procedures change. Worker and customer habits change. It seems that every day there is some change affecting you and your occupation. For decades, Water Well Journal has arrived monthly at offices around the country providing updates on the latest news in the industry. However, being your source of critical information has become a job that can’t simply be handled by providing this to you once a month. And it certainly can’t be done with weeks-in-advance deadlines of printed and mailed publications anymore. That’s why I am excited to tell you about a new tool offered by the National Ground Water Association. It is a collection of key industry news stories delivered right to your e-mail account’s inbox twice a month. And if you are a member of NGWA, it will come to you free as a benefit of membership.

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We all receive countless e-mails, many from news services filled with the latest stories, gossip, or scores. But this new tool will be the only e-news publication designed to provide contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers working in the groundwater industry the news they need to serve their customers. NGWA has been the professional association serving the groundwater industry for 62 years, which makes it the perfect source to provide this information for you. I definitely think the newsletter will be filled with content that will help make you a better professional. This isn’t NGWA’s only foray into providing you information on a regular basis. Along with this newsletter, make sure you access the Association’s Facebook page, the NGWA blog (http:// info.ngwa.org/blog), and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/ngwatweets). All of these are updated regularly with new content as it becomes available to me and my colleagues at NGWA. Make sure to look for postings from me and Associate Editor Mike Price from time to time on the blog. It’s not a cliché . . . things really do change as often as the weather in some parts of the country. Living in the 21st century is doing so in a blink-and-youmissed-it world. With NGWA, you and your business won’t get left behind.

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.

Advertise your products and services to the groundwater industry’s most influential readership. Call 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/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

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.

NGWA.org

IN THIS

A

s a new year begins, Water Well Journal’s first issue of 2011 contains feature stories, columns, and information on new markets emerging in the groundwater industry, as well as how to work in the industry as it evolves with new technology.

Associate Editor Mike Price covers working in a changing industry in the feature cover story titled “The 21st Century Contractor” on page 13. Price interviews a handful of water well contractors—both young and old—to gain new insights into how one must operate and thrive in today’s business world. It’s not enough for a contactor to do things “the old way” and “expect to stay afloat,” says one contractor. Clearly it’s the dawn of a new era for the water well contractor, and this article looks Mike Price at everything from staying on top of new laws, regulations, and drilling techniques to running a trimmeddown workforce, using modern ways to market a business, and keeping up on price changes and accounts receivable, all the while working more efficiently than in the past. The market of storing water when it is available for use in times of need has been growing for years and is now more common than ever. Freelance writer Jill Ross covers the subject in “Reclaimed Water: A Growing Player in Water Management” on page 22. Projects commonly known as aquifer storage and recovery, or ASR, are seemingly being

ISSUE

completed or started every day. A current best estimate is that there are now more than 500 operating ASR wells in at least 95 wellfields in 20 states, while there were only about 20 operating ASR wellfields nationwide in 1995. Ross details the practice as well as a way being explored to do it for individual well owners. Price also takes a look back at the rebuilding efforts in Haiti one year after an earthquake devastated the nation in this month’s Water Well Journal Q&A. He interviews individuals who were featured in a March 2010 WWJ article, “Helping Heal Haiti,” following the earthquake that took place on January 12, 2010. In the Q&A on page 17, a water well contractor, a water well pump repairman, and a hydrogeologist give their insights into the progress being made, as well as what lies ahead for that country. The monthly Safety Matters column is titled “Safety Procedures for Decontamination.” On page 28, columnist Gary Ganson points out that OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) regulations require businesses to develop, communicate, and implement decontamination procedures for employees before they go to any job site that might have contaminants. He then explains that proper procedures to remove contaminants from the job site, those working at the site, and all equipment there must be covered in company health and safety plans to protect the employees and decrease the chance for cross contamination.

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Circle card no. 10

Water Well Journal January 2011 7/

INDUSTRY

NEWSLINE

EPA Issues Reminder of Energy Star Upcoming Geothermal Heat Pump Performance Levels The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a reminder late last year of the upcoming Energy Star Geothermal Heat Pumps Version 3.1 Tier 2 performance levels that took effect on January 1, 2011, for water-to-air and DGX models. Version 3.1 represents a minor change from Version 3.0, incorporating formatting changes and clarifications to facilitate the implementation of thirdparty testing. Performance levels and effective dates were not affected. As of January 1, only those waterto-air and DGX models that have been third-party certified as meeting the Version 3.1 Tier 2 levels will appear on the Energy Star Qualified Product List. Partners are encouraged to take steps now to seek third-party certification for products that currently meet the Version 3.1 Tier 2 requirements. These certified results will be the source of the new QP list. A list of EPA-recognized organizations can be found at www.energystar .gov/testingandverification. In addition, starting January 1, all water-to-water products seeking initial Energy Star qualification are now required to be tested in an EPArecognized laboratory and certified through an EPA-recognized third-party certification body. Questions or concerns can be directed to Abigail Daken, EPA, at daken.abigail @epa.gov, or Sarah Medepalli, ICF International, at smedepalli@icfi.com.

Construction Unemployment Rate Climbs to 17% Even as the number of people working in construction increased by 5000 between September and October 2010, the industry’s unemployment rate rose to 17.3%, according to an analysis of federal employment figures released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Temporary government investments boosted commercial construction employment, offsetting further job losses in residential construction, association officials note. 8/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

“Despite significant help from programs like the Base Realignment and Closure and the stimulus, construction employment continues to lag behind much of the private sector,” says Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO. “It is yet another indicator that the economy has a long way to grow before demand for new office buildings, retail centers, and manufacturing facilities returns.” Association officials note that construction employment lagged behind other sectors of the economy. For example, while total private employment rose by 1.1 million during the past 12 months, the construction industry lost 122,000 jobs. Meanwhile, the industry’s unemployment rate is nearly double the unadjusted national rate of 9.5%. Nonresidential construction fared relatively well in October compared to residential construction, association officials say. Nonresidential construction employment added 10,300 jobs since September, while residential construction lost 5800 jobs. Nonresidential specialty construction added 7300 jobs and heavy and civil engineering added 4800 jobs. However, nonresidential building construction employment declined by 1800 jobs between September and October.

NGWA Voices Support for Rural Star and Geothermal Heat Pumps The National Ground Water Association sent a letter of congratulations and thanks to U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina) on the September 20 passage of H.R. 4785, the Rural Energy Savings Program Act. Additionally, NGWA used the opportunity to raise the profile of geothermal heat pump systems as a tool to reduce energy costs, energy consumption, and carbon emissions as well as to create and to save jobs—all goals of the legislation. Rural Star would establish a loan program through rural electric cooperatives. It would allow customers to borrow at low interest rates with loan payback through the monthly electric bill.

NGWA Geothermal Heat Pump Subcommittee chair David Henrich, CWD/PI, department manager of Bergerson-Caswell Inc. in Maple Plain, Minnesota, checked with his local rural electric cooperative about a geothermal heat pump role. Initial feedback is that they would see a role for geothermal heat pump technology within such a loan program. While popular with Congress, the bill awaits Senate action.

Small Business Lending Act Signed Into Law U.S. Congress left for campaigning this past fall after passing a continuing resolution to keep the federal government going. Small business legislation made it to President Barack Obama’s desk before time ran out. The Small Business Jobs and Credit Act, signed into law on September 27, establishes a $30 billion fund for community banks to increase lending to small companies, allows sole proprietors to write off health insurance premiums as business expenses in 2010, eliminates fees for Small Business Administration loans, and increases the SBA loan guarantee to 90%, as well as SBA loan amounts increased, among other provisions.

New Water Appropriation Rule Deemed Okay by Montana DNRC, Ranchers The Missoulian in Missoula, Montana, reports that the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation will amend a rule that has allowed large land developers to avoid the state water use law permitting process by creating subdivisions with unconnected water wells. A state judge signed an agreement this past fall that requires the state to amend the current rule addressing exempt wells within 15 months. The current exempt well rule allows land developers to drill multiple wells in a subdivision and appropriate an unlimited amount of water without oversight or permit. Under the current rule, only wells that are physically joined together are subject to the permitting process. NGWA.org

The exemption of small wells was originally created in 1973 with the passage of the Montana Water Use Act.

Bill Aims to Lower Acceptable Level of Lead in Drinking Water Components Legislation to reduce the permissible amount of lead in drinking water components to a weighted average of 0.25% of the wetted surface was introduced in the U.S. Senate on September 29. S. 3874, sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California), mirrors provisions in H.R. 5320, which passed the House on July 30. NGWA members held meetings at the 2010 Fly-in and throughout the process shared memberdeveloped positions on compliance testing, the effective date, and their interest in greater uniformity across the country.

Diesel to Average $3.19 in 2011, DOE Says Transport Topics reports that diesel fuel will continue to rise, averaging $3.19 at the pump in 2011, the Department of Energy says. Trucking’s main fuel will average $3.09 this winter—

29 cents higher than a year ago. Diesel averaged $2.97 a gallon in 2010 after averaging $2.46 in 2009, the report said. Gasoline also will rise, to an average $2.84 this winter—19 cents over a year ago—and will average $2.97 in 2011. Gas averaged $2.77 in 2010, after averaging $2.35 in 2009, according to the DOE. The increases follow higher crude oil prices, which DOE says will average about $83 a barrel this winter, up $5.50 from a year ago.

NGWA Supports Federal Program to Assist Firms Reducing Air Emissions NGWA joined with other organizations in supporting reauthorization of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act. This federal program provides funding to replace or retrofit existing equipment to achieve air emission reductions. Federal regulations do not now require mandatory retrofitting of existing diesel engines. The program has the potential to aid individuals who voluntarily want to take action or need to take action because of contract or state requirements.

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At the state level, the California Air Resources Board is scaling back its offroad diesel emission regulations in the wake of revelations that it overestimated air quality impacts by 340%. CARB is proposing delaying implementation until 2014 and exempting additional vehicles from the rule.

Schramm Inc. Recognized in National Consumer Magazine The December 2010 issue of Esquire magazine, which highlighted “The Best and Brightest in 2010,� featured Schramm Inc., a West Chester, Pennsylvania, manufacturer and global supplier to the hydraulic drill industry, for its contribution in the Chilean miners rescue. The Schramm T130XD drill rig was used to bore through 2200 feet of solid rock to reach the 33 Chilean miners who became trapped on August 5, 2010, in the San Jose mine in Copiapo, Chile. If you have a news brief that you would like considered for this department, send a release to Mike Price, Water Well Journal, 601 Dempsey Rd., Westerville, OH 43081. E-mail: mprice@ ngwa.org. Deadline: 15th of two months preceding publication (January 15 for March issue).

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Circle card no. 6

Water Well Journal January 2011 9/

THE

LOG NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

Diversify Your Professional Experience, Become a Certified Vertical Closed Loop Driller NGWA is proud to offer its newest designation, the Certified Vertical Closed Loop Driller (CVCLD). Advances in ground source heat pump technology have emphasized the need for a voluntary certification designation for ground source heat pump drillers. This 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. By becoming a CVCLD, you will increase your company’s marketability over your competition. Exams for the CVCLD designation can be scheduled by calling PSI LaserGrade at (800) 211-2754 or at (360) 896-9111 outside the United States. The 75-question exam encompasses the skills and competencies reflected on the Geothermal Vertical Closed Loop Drilling Operations DACUM.

NGWA Endorses ConsensusDOCS, Offers 20% Discount on Any Purchase

NGWA Offers CSP–Drilling Operations Exam the only standard contract documents endorsed by 28 leading construction industry associations. ConsensusDOCS are currently used by more than 4300 firms, which represents about a 35% increase from 2009. Since its initial release in September 2007, ConsensusDOCS has experienced steady growth in usership despite the tough economic times. Among other organizations endorsing ConsensusDOCS are the Construction Specifications Institute; Women Construction Owners & Executives, USA; and the American Society of Professional Estimators. ConsensusDOCS contracts are regularly updated to keep pace with changes in the law and in the industry. The comprehensive catalog addresses all major project delivery methods and provides coordinated administrative forms. ConsensusDOCS standard contracts provide an invaluable reference to accepted industry practices and customs. NGWA members can receive a 20% discount on any purchase at ConsensusDOCS by visiting NGWA’s Web site at www.ngwa.org.

NGWA has been approved as an endorsing association of ConsensusDOCS,

l Heat Geotherma e k a m able than ever! edits Tax cr more afford Pumps

NGWA is now offering a second component to the Certified Sales Professional (CSP) designation within its Voluntary Certification Program, 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 or (360) 896-9111 outside the United States.

Share Your Input to Help Develop NGWA Best Suggested Practices NGWA has an ongoing need for volunteers to participate in the formation of new industry “best suggested practices.” Participation includes limited review of documents and participation in bimonthly online Live Meetings. NGWA is currently looking for professionals with expertise in these following areas: ● ● ● ●

Centennial Plastic’s Geothermal pipe is used in environmentally friendly heating and cooling systems that are 40% to 75% more efficient than conventional systems. Expanded tax credits make it more affordable than ever, with up to 30% savings on residential, and up to 10% savings on commercial installations. Many local utilities offer rate reductions and rebates on qualifying geothermal systems, too.

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Perchlorate Groundwater sampling Groundwater systems inspection Well and pump system operation and maintenance Aquifer storage and recovery.

Anyone interested in participating in these areas may contact NGWA Industry Practices Administrator Jonathan Jenkins at jjenkins@ngwa.org, or by phoning (800) 551-7379, ext. 511. Upon completion of the best suggested practice, it will be submitted to the NGWA Board of Directors for adoption after which it will be made available for use in the industry.

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WEB

NOTES

FIND IT ON THE NGWA WEB SITE, NGWA.ORG

Mark Your Calendars for the 2011 NGWA Washington Fly-in

Join with your fellow industry professionals in advocating groundwater issues on Capitol Hill during the 2011 NGWA Washington Fly-in, which will take place February 28–March 1 in Washington, D.C. The NGWA Washington Fly-in puts groundwater professionals in touch with the men and women who set the nation’s groundwater policy. NGWA will set up your congressional meetings, provide you with briefings on the hot topics of the day, and give you tips for maximizing your visit. The one missing piece is you bringing your knowledge of groundwater and your business to Washington. Past attendees rave about the benefits of attendance: “Excellent—the briefing and our on-Hill success gets better every year,” comments Lee Orton of the Nebraska Well Drillers Association. “We are better, but our congressional members also know us better and therefore are more responsive. They know us and know we will follow up and be back again.” Dan Stephens of Daniel B. Stephens & Associates Inc. says, “I had no idea that NGWA is so active in influencing legislation in Washington! NGWA staff is really on top of the key bills in front of Congress and, through the very well organized Fly-in, put the members in a position to influence decisions. I will always remember the opportunity afforded me to personally meet our state's senators, congressmen, and their staff to discuss groundwater issues which could benefit our industry. It was a most worthwhile experience for me.” Registration closes on January 26. For more information about the 2011 NGWA Washington Fly-in, visit www.ngwa.org/govaffairs/Fly-in_11/ index.aspx.

NGWA to Host Air Rotary Drilling 101 Webinar on January 18

visit www.ngwa.org/development/webcasts/wc_details/11-01-18-833.aspx.

NGWA Career Center Works to

On January 18, NGWA will host Connect Those in Groundwater an Air Rotary Drilling 101 Webinar, Industry presented by Richard Thron, MGWC, Start your year off right by visiting president of Mantyla Well Drilling Inc. the NGWA Career Center at http:// and member of the NGWA Contractors careers.ngwa.org, where job seekers can Division Board of Directors. post their resume, view jobs, create a This Webinar will personal job alert, and set up a job address the general seeker account and access it. operation of air The NGWA Career Center has been rotary drills and enhanced with new features to help conselecting the equipnect members with new employment ment needed for safe opportunities. operation. It will also Employers and recruiters now have cover what condiaccess to your specialized niche. Among tions are best suited other things, employers and recruiters Richard Thron, for air rotary drilling MGWC, president of can view resumes, post jobs, and create and procedures to Mantyla Well an employer account and access it. consider if you Drilling Inc., will Make use of the NGWA Career Cenencounter soft or present NGWA’s Air ter to meet all of your needs in today’s crevassed zones. Rotary Drilling 101 job market. You will learn Webinar. how to safely set up and tear down an air rotary rig; how air rotary drilling equipment works and how it differs from other methods; to select proper support equipment and accessories; to Then you need the latest edition Guidelines for the Construction of Wells for Vertical Closed Loop select a bit for maxof Guidelines for the Construction Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Systems imum production; of Loop Wells for Vertical Closed and to properly Loop Ground Source Heat Pump maintain hammers. Systems. A stand-alone Those who will document not intended to benefit from attendsupersede regulations and ing this Webinar instandards, it was created to clude business provide updated information owners, contractors, scientists, and about issues encountered in this engineers involved technology, as well as insights into practical resolutions. in the groundwater Catalog #T1074 industry. This Webinar will also help NGWA member price $25 you prepare for the Nonmember price $175 NGWA Voluntary To order this item—or any of the other many titles available Certification Exam. through the NGWA bookstore—visit www.ngwa.org or call Save by registercustomer service at 800 551.7379 (614 898.7791 outside ing on or before the United States). January 10. For more information,

Working in geothermal?

Third Edition

Edited by Jonathan T. Jenkins

NGWA Press

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257 Caroline St. 257 Caroline St.

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The 21st Century Contractor

As the groundwater industry continues to evolve, so too has today’s water well contractor. By Mike Price

any have seen the writing on the wall for some time. To not only survive but thrive in the groundwater industry today, water well contractors cannot operate like they’ve done in the past. You might have heard this statement before: “The driller of yesteryear is a thing of the past.” Never is this truer. The regulatory climate alone is far more complex for today’s contractor than it was during their father or even Mike Price is the associate editor of Water Well Journal. He can be reached at mprice@ngwa.org.

NGWA.org

grandfather’s time. Yet it’s not only the regulation of well construction and pump installation. Just think of all the regulations involved before one leaves the shop and while on the road to the job site. “That’s where today’s contractor can trust that their interests are continuously being advocated by the National Ground Water Association,” says NGWA Executive Director Kevin McCray, CAE. “We’re the ones who took up the industry’s concerns with hours of service, vehicle weights and measures, load securement, crane definitions, and workers’ compensation classifications. We’ll continue to take up industry concerns in the future.” At the heart of it all is a consumer

who is more educated today and expects to know more about their water and its safety. Consumer demands have undoubtedly risen over the years, and water well contractors have stepped up and answered the call. The groundwater industry—despite its ups and downs due to factors largely beyond its control—continues to move forward and works to remain well positioned to meet the needs of today’s rapidly changing society. As we begin a new decade, here are but a few 21st century contractors who make up the fabric of your industry, working day in and day out to provide what is essential to human life. Clean drinking water.

CONTRACTOR/continues on page 14 Water Well Journal January 2011 13/

CONTRACTOR/from page 13

Joseph “Augie” Guardino Guardino is the general manager of Guardino Well Drilling Inc. in Morgan Hill, California, a company which has been in business since 1929 and is built on four generations of well drilling experience. Guardino is an NGWA Contractors Board Director and serves on a variety of the Association’s committees. In no particular order, Guardino offers some suggestions for contractors: ● Your Web site is crucial. We were the first drilling contractor in California to have one, mainly because all of the guys I went to school with work in Silicon Valley. I believe the site should be like a PowerPoint presentation—simple and to the point. I envision a potential customer sitting in his or her living room or cubicle, clicking on the site, seeing pictures and getting an understanding of what the drilling looks like. The site eliminates the need for me to meet with people who are not candidates to drill a well. Therefore, the site saves me time. The site also closes the deal for me on about two wells a year and another few wells a year just because people found us online. I intentionally keep the stuff on my Web site different than our sales brochures. ● Adobe Writer: Pay the $400-plus and purchase the program. For me, it paid for itself in the first year alone in postage saved. I now e-mail 95 percent of our proposals, contracts, etc. to start the job. ● Smartphone: Enough said. I switched last year to an iPhone 4. ● Social media: I have more interaction with fellow driller Alan Eades, CWD/PI, and others through Face14/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

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book than I do at any other time. We also have our Web page for the company on Facebook. This is a free way to promote your business and the industry. On Facebook, we post current projects we are on, events coming up, and although most of our (Facebook) friends are relatives and family members, it gives people insight into what we do. Also, having the photo/video on the Smartphone lets our company post stuff in real time, which is awesome for our employees and their families. I also send pictures or video to my customers while we are in the field. Just yesterday, we were airlifting for a customer who is in India on business. I sent him video and it made his day! Global Positioning System (GPS): I have a degree in geography and have been using GPS for our wells for 13 years. It’s easy to tell a potential client “we drilled your neighbor’s well,” but if you can show them a map with a blue dot and an approximate footage, it drives the point home. Also, it helps our guys in the field, as in “we drilled that well a few hundred feet away and we got XX gallons per minute,” we can look at the map, plot it, and realize we are half a mile away. Dropbox: I have all my files synced on Dropbox and can look at them on my phone, or I can work on them from home or any computer. E-mail: I don’t give my cell phone number out to my customers, but we are in constant communication.

Guardino concedes these tips might seem basic, but he is adamant they have a place in the drilling industry. “Small businesses are stressed,” he says. “We’re not making as much money. The key to our business was to always be efficient: no extra trips in and out of the borehole or to the job site, having materials on hand, etc. We had found that since we have less work, we were stretching out jobs because we had nothing else to do. This was done by salary staff and hourly guys. This is wrong. You are better off getting the work done and sending people home.”

The silver lining in this down economy is that Guardino gets to spend more time with his family. He certainly has made the most of it. “During the winter, I volunteer in my son’s classroom (who is in first grade). Last year, I went from reading Dr. Seuss in his kindergarten class to building them an edible aquifer to doing a class project at their school’s well. “Other parents see this and not only does it inspire other fathers to help out, but it helps our business because people know they have a ‘water guy’ at the school. This has led to a few pump and well jobs.”

David Henrich, CWD/PI David is the son of 2010 NGWA President Jack Henrich, MGWC, who is president of Bergerson-Caswell Inc. in Maple Plain, Minnesota. David heads the company’s geothermal division and is a member of NGWA’s Government Affairs Committee and Geothermal Heat Pump Subcommittee. For David, it all boils down to a contractor exploring new revenue streams if they wish to remain viable, particularly in the current market conditions. “Contractors should look into other business opportunities they had previously passed up due to a full workload. It could also be quite lucrative to look back on work they have completed and solicit maintenance agreements to repair or monitor the performance of the systems that have been installed.” Since David’s job involves geothermal systems, he cites an example from that field to help show the need for monitoring. “Propylene glycol and other circulating chemicals break down over time. If the fluid quality deteriorates NGWA.org

too much, there could be bacterial growth or pumps and other mechanical components may corrode. The same is true with water systems—water testing should be a yearly maintenance routine for every water well.” David argues that in reality one shouldn’t just pick one item and make a run at it. Rather, contractors must be willing to extend in several directions at once and then select which revenue stream will prove to work best for their business. “Business opportunities still exist,” David says, “contractors just need to be willing to go and find them.”

the job if the customer is looking for quality rather than price.” In addition, Fowler lists some characteristics befitting today’s contractor. ● ●

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Scott Fowler, CWD/PI Fowler, who served as NGWA president in 2008, is president of Dahlman Pump and Well Drilling Inc. in Burlington, Washington. The firm was established in 1950 by his greatuncle’s father-in-law and has remained in the family since its inception. He and his brother, Bruce, purchased the company from their father in 1995. According to Fowler, the 21st century contractor needs to be: “Very business-focused. One cannot do things the old way and expect to stay afloat. One must stay on top of all the new laws and stay educated on new techniques. One must keep up on all price changes and must use modern ways to market their firm. One must run a trimmed-down workforce, work more efficient, and stay on top of his accounts receivable. We cannot expect lots of volume of work to cover our errors and old work habits. “I always tell people what our costs are and try and be as transparent as possible. If people say I’m too expensive, I tell them, ‘I charge what my services are worth and so do my competitors.’ That one generally gives us NGWA.org

Needs to be very personal and take care of his customer base. Needs to look at other forms of income with his present equipment and personnel. If one is to move into a new market, then he or she needs to know all the ins and outs before they invest heavily. There is no reason to buy new equipment if there is no market or return on investment. One must watch their cash flow. Needs to look at the political environment that they are working in and get involved in trying to make it work for them and their clients. Needs to be involved in his or her local and national industry trade associations. Needs an exit strategy. Someday you will retire and you need to sell your business for top value. A company with a great name, reputation, and profit statement makes it easier.

“Most of all,” Fowler concludes, “our industry is not like Walmart. We cannot live off selling our services cheap and make up the net in volume. I see it all the time. Things get slow or people move into a new market and people lower the price. All that does is hurt our industry.”

Chad Grignon Grignon is the lead driller of Pine State Drilling Inc., which has been in business since 1969 and is located in Athens, Maine. Grignon’s father, Barry Sandford, owns the firm along with his wife, Rebecca. Pine State Drilling has worked in the geothermal market since the early 2000s. Today, the company has one rig

drilling geothermal wells full-time at Fort Knox, a U.S. Army post in Kentucky, south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown. Pine State Drilling’s other rig operates in Maine, with at least half of its work in geothermal drilling. “Doing geothermal alone is not enough for a well driller,” Grignon admits. “We’re finding that I’m getting into energy auditing buildings and working with some partnerships on energy auditing. There are many aspects to it and I find myself getting deeper and deeper into this. To stay alive in this climate, you must educate yourself.” Education can’t be mentioned enough for Grignon, especially if one is working in the geothermal market. “You almost have to be a geologist, a geophysicist, a mechanic, a mechanical engineer, a mechanical installer, plus a driller.” Pine State Drilling has partnered with an energy auditor to help secure geothermal projects, along with any federal grant money that might be available for such work. But if the younger generation is going to enter the industry and succeed, Grignon thinks they will need more education after graduating from high school. “There’s so much information now. They almost have to start in some kind of trade school,” he explains. “I’d almost suggest a plumbing and heating school that focuses on newer technologies, not just working on steam boilers and older equipment, but working on low-temperature heating. That’s the future.” The last topic discussed with Grignon, which Fowler also addressed, was volume over pricing. It’s an issue that seems to have created a slight buzz throughout the industry. “The problem,” Grignon says, “is you can’t make enough time in the day to meet some of the expectations that you think you can have. What is taking place right now is people are cutting the prices so much there’s no wiggle room.” Volume over pricing has produced a “buyer beware and contractor beware”

CONTRACTOR/continues on page 16 Water Well Journal January 2011 15/

CONTRACTOR/from page 15 type of environment, according to Grignon. “Somebody is going to get either a shoddy job or the contractor could walk out of there and really lose their shirt or even their business the way some of these contracts are written. It’s very dangerous times on some of these larger projects, and we’re very careful on how we bid them.” Pine State Drilling, Grignon says, represents itself by the company’s equipment and knowledge, working not on price but the quality of its work. “With geothermal, it’s not always about price when you work with a private person,” he says. “It’s about going in there and making them understand that cost relationship of the project, meaning I usually can explain to them that if we give them this much borehole and we put this kind of equipment in, we can provide them with a reduced cost over time, which will pay them back and put actual money into their pockets. “When you can do that and show the numbers and the math is there, it makes it a lot easier to sell a project of that caliber.”

Alan Eades, CWD/PI Eades, along with his mother, Sue, and sister, Andrea, are partners of Eades Drilling and Pump Service in Hobbs, New Mexico. The business was founded by Eades’ father, Gene, in the early 1960s. Eades served as NGWA president in 2009 and volunteers on a variety of the Association’s committees. As NGWA president, Eades stressed the need for the groundwater industry to diversify, and he continues to do so today. The reason is partly twofold. Due to changes in the economy and politics, Eades attests a con16/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

tractor cannot run their business like before. “Many of us have understood this for a while,” he says. “The progressive contractor is looking for every way to squeeze pennies out of every aspect of their business—be it a different product line or different vendors. Contractors must somehow set themselves apart from the competition.” Eades recommends contractors educate themselves so they can best serve their customers and industry. “There are too many changes happening too fast for the contractor to stay on top of it alone. The contractor must also realize that the customer is also more educated than in the past, thanks to the Internet. This can be a positive, depending on if the contractor is as well informed as the customer. The contractor needs to be educated enough so that they can overcome the fallacies that the customer might have found on the Internet.” Remaining informed on new laws, regulations, or drilling techniques is equally as important as equipment maintenance to Eades.

NGWA Members: Simplify Business and Impress Your Customers NGWA members can download for free items from “Contractor Tools of the Trade” under the “Member exclusives” section of www.ngwa.org. These tools will help market and grow your business, as well as provide you with timely and useful groundwater industry information. Among the tools are the Drilling Cost Calculator, Pump Installation Cost Calculator, and Geothermal Cost Calculator. Nonmembers can purchase the calculators online at NGWA’s Bookstore at www.ngwa.org. NGWA is also an endorser of ConsensusDOCS—the first and only standard contract documents written by a coalition of 28 leading construction industry associations. NGWA members receive a discount on all ConsensusDOCS products. Learn more at www.ngwa.org/ consensusdocs. NGWA’s Bookstore also offers “Business Management” products for anyone to purchase.

“With costs escalating,” he says, “some contractors may cut corners on maintenance. Maintenance is safety. There should never be corners cut in safety.” Instead, Eades argues contractors need to look at maintenance and repairs as a way to increase efficiency. He believes if equipment can be modified to reduce time spent performing a job, it needs to be done. “Education and efficiency are the keys to success.”

David Haupt, MGWC Since 1967, Haupt has been coowner and general manager of Haupt Well and Pump Co. Inc. in Auburndale, Wisconsin. His father, Frank J., began the company in 1914. Haupt gives his basic insights into how he continues to run a successful business: “With the slowdown in the economy, I promote well cleaning, maintenance, and service a bit more than in the past. We are doing more as time goes on and I anticipate still more growth in this area. Locally, I think the reality is we are better equipped and do a more thorough job of cleaning than most.” Haupt admits he comes from the old-school line of thinking. “As to agreements,” he says, “a handshake is still boss around here, but I may reconsider putting an agreement in print, which would basically outline what would be done. I would customize it to our particular area and methods.” WWJ

Show Customers Their Water Use The Water Use Calculator is available for anyone to download at www.well owner.org.

NGWA.org

WATER WELL JOURNAL Q & A

Haiti: One Year Later ater Well Journal interviews a groundwater professional every month. However, since this month is the one-year anniversary of the tragic earthquake that took place on January 12, 2010, in Haiti, we decided to speak with those who have volunteered to assist in the rebuilding efforts. The individuals who are part of this Q&A—a water well contractor, a water well pump repairman, and a hydrogeologist—were featured in a March 2010 WWJ article, “Helping Heal Haiti.” To view the feature article on Haiti, search “Helping Heal Haiti” on NGWA.org. You will be directed to the article in NGWA’s database, Ground Water On-Line.

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Curt King, CWD/PI, says it’s “a good day when we get some water for these people in need.” Photo taken on June 26, 2010, and courtesy www.images-for-hope.com.

Curt King, CWD/PI, of Seattle, Washington, began drilling water wells in Haiti 30 years ago. King is an NGWA member and a field director for Healing Hands International, a relief and development organization in Nashville, Tennessee. On January 26, 2010, King used donations he received from various sources to fly to Haiti to drill wells for the camps around the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Water Well Journal: How many times have you been to Haiti since the earthquake hit? Curt King: Three times. First for about a month, second for a little under a month, and third for again almost a month. WWJ: What can you tell us about the progress you were able to make while there? Curt: The first time the rig had a major breakdown, so we put out a plea for $200,000, and within a few days, Healing Hands International donated the funds for a used SpeedStar SD-50. Another preacher/driller, Arron Swenson, along with a driller from Toney Drilling Supplies and volunteers very quickly completed 14 wells, mostly in survivor camps around Port-au-Prince. I then returned with volunteers and drilled about eight wells, but most of them were dry. I then returned with Guts Church of Tulsa with volunteer helpers and worked on the island of La Gonave just off the mainland. WWJ: Are you planning on returning anytime soon? Curt: I’m returning to my ongoing training/drilling program in East Africa to continue working with the Church of Christ there and Healing Hands International. I hope to be back in Haiti after the long rains return sometime in the spring of 2011, with plans to spend about four months drilling. WWJ: How has this impacted you? Has it made you want to volunteer not only in Haiti but elsewhere in the world? Curt: This is my only work: drilling and training in many Mike Price is the associate editor of Water Well Journal. In adition 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.

NGWA.org

countries throughout the world. I’ve been reminded that life is precious and can end at any moment, and that if we are going to make the world a little better place, we have no time to sit on our duffs and wait for others to do it. WWJ: It’s been a year since the earthquake. What is the feeling like among Haitians and the recovery efforts? What does the future look like for the country? Curt: I’ve been involved with water development in Haiti for more than 30 years, and with the population increase, I assume the need for clean drinking water is greater than it was then. I don’t have a lot of answers. My belief in God is my driving force, and He made it quite plain to me that my job is to be drilling and training others to do the same. The need is so great and there is much that I cannot do, but this is the niche I fit into to try and help. WWJ: What does the country need more than anything at this moment? Are they getting it? If not, what is the reason? Curt: This is a tough question . . . how do we best help the poor? I’m truly not sure what Haiti needs most long-term. Short-term there needs to be a massive effort to fend off the apparent cholera epidemic. WWJ: How much support have you received from other organizations and/or companies in the United States? Curt: One hundred percent of my work and funding is from donated sources, mostly Christian organizations, Christian individual donors, and church groups. Most of these groups give donations to the work without a lot of bureaucracy that some government agencies require. This is a great help, especially after a disaster when we need to move quickly to help.

Q&A/continues on page 18 Water Well Journal January 2011 17/

The first well King drilled after the earthquake. As of June 18, 2010, the well was still being used. Photo courtesy www.images-for-hope.com.

Ken Drowley (left), and fellow volunteer Keith Luckett repair a water well last year in Haiti.

“If we are going to make the world a little better place, we have no time to sit on our duffs and wait for others to do it.” Q&A/from page 17 Ken Drowley is owner of 4D Builders Inc., a residential construction company in Alma, Michigan, who repaired water well pumps last year in Haiti from January 26 to February 24. He was able to get to more than 67 wells and found that 11 needed re-drilled with 56 now up and running. WWJ: You were scheduled to return to Haiti on March 22 with your wife and two children. If you did, how long did you stay and where? Ken Drowley: Yes, we were able to travel to Haiti. We were there until April 2. We stayed at the Ebenezer Glenn Orphanage in Dessalines. WWJ: What can you tell us about the progress you were able to make while there? Ken: We were able to repair a couple more wells, making it a total of 60 repaired wells since the earthquake, but we mainly worked at an orphanage helping to build a school. WWJ: Are you planning on returning for a third time anytime soon? Ken: The kids and I, along with a team of 10, traveled to Dessalines from August 2 to 16. They put a second story and roof on a school. Three more wells were repaired. WWJ: How has this impacted you and your family? Has it made you want to volunteer not only in Haiti but elsewhere in the world? Ken: The impact on the family is a desire to help wherever the Lord leads us. We have had a pull towards Haiti for more than 15 years and will continue to support them when and however we can, but if we feel the call to go elsewhere, we will.

WWJ: It’s been a year since the earthquake. What is the feeling like among Haitians and the recovery efforts? What does the future look like for the country? Ken: The feelings run in different directions. Some are excited about looking for jobs with the companies coming in to rebuild. Some are praying for relief from their living conditions. The fear is still there about staying in concrete structures. You can see, especially in the younger generation, a mind shift to building and working in a different way than prior to the earthquake. The rebuilding will take years. This is not something that can be fixed in a short-term project. If the organizations that raised the funds back in January come through with their money and projects, than the rebuilding will go much faster. Right now, we are not seeing many U.S. non-profit organizations remaining in Haiti. WWJ: What does the country need more than anything at this moment? Are they getting it? If not, what is the reason? Ken: They need houses. They are living in tents, cardboard structures, sheets and sticks tied together—anything they can find. No, they are not getting the assistance they need due to the government slowing the process. They need cooperation within their government. The government has been stopping or preventing a lot of the non-governmental organizations from assisting. WWJ: How much support have you received from your church and other organizations? Ken: Financially, we have received about $23,000 from local churches and people in the community since the earthquake happened, and 100 percent has gone to assisting the Haitians.

Q&A/continues on page 20 18/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

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WellGuard

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Protecting Your Vision

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s we look ahead in the New Year, it’s a good time to look at protecting your vision. Deteriorating vision is one of the most troubling and early signs of aging or poor eye health. From nearsightedness to macular degeneration, much can go wrong with your vision if your eyes are not properly cared for. The eyes can start to change rapidly after age 40. You may notice that you seem to need brighter or more light to read fine print or see details. If you never needed prescription lenses, you may find they are now required for reading or close work. If you already wear prescription lenses or contacts for driving and distant vision, your optometrist may advise bifocals are now needed. By age 40, most drivers will notice they no longer can see as well at night and that headlight glare bothers them much more than when they were younger. This is from the natural aging process but may be aggravated further by high blood pressure, medications, diabetes, or smoking. These conditions can lead to progressive loss of vision and ultimately blindness if not treated properly. Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, causing double or blurred vision, problems with glare, and difficulty seeing at night or in low light. Treatment varies from eyeglasses to surgery, including possible lens implants depending on the individual patient. Get treatment if detected early. Do not wait for significant vision impairment before seeking treatment. We understand how hard you’ve worked to build your ground water contracting business, and we want to help you protect it. That’s why we’ve developed a customized insurance program that meets the most important needs of your business. We offer specialized coverages,

Glaucoma, a painless buildup of pressure in the eye, is a leading cause of blindness. You can lose your vision, particularly peripheral or side vision, and not even realize it until the vision loss is significant. African Americans over age 40, everyone else over age 60, and those with a family history of glaucoma are at highest risk. Treatment is the simple daily use of eye drops or oral medication if caught early. Diabetic Retinopathy is caused when excessive blood sugar damages the tiny vessels that nourish the retina. All diabetics should have a comprehensive eye exam each year. The National Institutes of Health advises that 90% of diabetes-related blindness can be prevented by controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Macular Degeneration is when abnormal blood vessels grow on the retina and leak blood, affecting central vision. The change can be so subtle and gradual that it can go undetected for years, particularly if regular eye exams are not performed. Macular degeneration is a major cause of blindness for those over 60. It is treated with laser therapy, medications, and miniature telescopic implants. Retinal Tear or Detachment can occur from an injury, but also for no apparent reason. The retina pulls away from the connective tissue between the white of the eye and the retina—its source of oxygen and nutrients—causing a risk of permanent vision loss. Symptoms include a sudden abundance of floaters (specs or strings in the eye), sudlike downhole coverage, that are designed exclusively for the groundwater industry. Also, additional premium credits are available for NGWA-certified contractors. Endorsed by the National Ground Water Association, the program offers the financial

3

den flashes of light or blurriness in the eye, and a possible shadow or fog over part of the visual field. It should be noted that having one or two floaters in the eye is normal, but a sudden increase in the number of floaters calls for an eye examination. Dry Eye occurs when tears are not enough to keep the eye moist. The result is stinging, burning, redness, eye fatigue, pain, or badly blurred vision. Treatment can include over-the-counter or prescription eye drops. Minor surgical correction may be needed in more extreme cases to open blocked tear glands or to trap moisture in the eye. If left untreated, corneal scratching and eye infections can occur. The secret to maintaining good vision is a thorough annual eye exam by a qualified physician so that early treatment for any eye health or vision impairments found during the exams can take place. Any sudden changes in vision or change in appearance of the eyes should result in a prompt trip to the optometrist. Do not wait for your next scheduled annual exam. Protect your eyes so you can continue to see clearly into the future. The NGWA Safety Program Manual has more information on this and other important safety topics. Help protect yourself, your employees, and your business today by contacting the NGWA Bookstore at 614 898.7791 to order your copy. In addition, members can access dozens of other free safety tips by logging in to the member exclusives section of the NGWA Web site, www.ngwa.org, and clicking on “safety fact sheets.”

stability of The Hartford and the flexibility to use the local independent insurance agent of your choice. To learn more, please contact Jeff Blumberger at Willis Programs (the program administrator) at 860 756.7333, or visit their Web site at www.wellguard.com.

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Water Well Journal January 2011 19/

Q&A/from page 18 WWJ: How do you think it’s impacted your two children? Ken: Our daughter, Samantha, who is 15, wants to move to Haiti on a full-time basis and help with education, food, wherever needed. She is in her second year of French classes to learn the language used by the government in processing the paperwork. Our son, Max, who is 13, has started pilot school training so that he can get his pilot’s license at 18 and be able to fly missionaries and/or people into other countries. WWJ: Any last thoughts? Ken: As we continue our efforts to assist the Haitians with getting clean water and better living conditions, we feel so helpless with the ones we cannot get to. The need is so enormous. Hopefully, as people become aware of the situation, more assistance will be given. Stuart Dykstra, a hydrogeologist and vice president of V3 Companies Ltd., a civil, science, and construction firm headquartered in Woodridge, Illinois, worked in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, for almost four weeks last year beginning in mid-January. Dykstra and V3 hydrogeologist James Adamson conducted water supply assessment, repair, and installation.

Stuart Dykstra, a hydrogeologist and vice president of V3 Companies Ltd.

WWJ: You were scheduled to return to Haiti on March 8, 2010. How long did you stay and where? Stuart Dykstra: All told, for the earthquake assistance work, V3 was in Haiti for approximately six weeks. After initially evacuating staff that was there during the quake, James Adamson and I returned to Port-au-Prince approximately two weeks after the quake. We were down there for four weeks during the first trip. We came home for a couple of weeks and then traveled back to Port-au-Prince again for an additional two weeks on March 8. Since then we have been there on approximately four additional trips working on our projects. WWJ: What can you tell us about the progress you were able to make while there? Stuart: Our work following the earthquake focused on assessing various water supplies for villages and, in a couple of cases, devising repairs to the systems—mostly in the form of reservoir and pipeline repair. We rehabilitated a well in Portau-Prince for Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) and also repaired several large capacity irrigation wells up the coast in an area where heavy migration of people was occurring. Our in-country team member, Haiti Outreach, also provided water trucking services with its water truck and also provided geo-locating of camps and a well survey in the hardest hit areas. Overall, it was difficult to actually establish new water supplies for the camps and other areas because there is hesitancy by WASH, a water, sanitation, and hygiene advocacy campaign initiated by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, to creating permanence. We worked and met regularly with the cluster group consisting of Haiti’s water ministry: DINEPA (Direction Nationale de l’Eau Potable 20/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

“The international community, working with the government, has done a great job responding to critical needs.” et Assainissement), UNICEF, the Red Cross, and others. We followed their directives on work. WWJ: Are you planning on returning anytime soon? Stuart: We have several projects in the country that are going fully forward now. These projects, for the most part, were started or conceived prior to the earthquake but were significantly impacted and changed by the disaster. One principal project we are working on is the rehabilitation, community animation, and sustainability assessment of 30 wells on the island of La Gonave, just off the coast to the west of Port-au-Prince. This project was developed prior to the earthquake but just kicked off in September. With the migration of a reported 50,000 additional people to the island since the quake, the project has gained new importance and has been slightly altered to accomplish a couple of new objectives. At this time (early November), V3 has a full-time geologist working out of our new office in Anse Galets. Senior staff from V3 travel to Haiti at least once a month. We are no longer doing work specific to earthquake relief, but much of the work in the country or that is upcoming has relation to recovery and advancement of Haiti following the earthquake. WWJ: How has this impacted you and V3 Companies Limited? Has it made you and V3 want to volunteer not only in Haiti but elsewhere in the world? Stuart: Our work there via both volunteer and also projectrelated work has been important for V3 in several ways. The employees, whether directly involved or not, have taken pride in what the company did and continues to do in Haiti. The employees have followed and supported the work and have thereby participated in it. As we resume our project-related work there, Haiti will continue to be an important part of our international services. The experience that we gain operating in difficult circumstances and with a wide variety of participants provides us the experience to expand beyond Haiti to other developing nations. Ultimately, our ability to volunteer is limited by the constraints of conducting a business. Without an external means to support the work, what we can accomplish is severely limited. Developing project work, performed via a fee, not only in Haiti but elsewhere in other developing markets allows us a much greater capacity for doing the work. WWJ: It’s been a year since the earthquake. What is the feeling like among Haitians and the recovery efforts? What does the future look like for the country? Stuart: There is a lot of frustration that things are not moving fast enough. That frustration is shared by the people, the nongovernmental organizations, and the public agencies. There has been a tremendous response to emergency relief. The international community, working with the government, has done a great job responding to critical needs. Rebuilding, or NGWA.org

better yet, transforming Haiti, however, is a much bigger challenge and is what is truly needed to reduce the suffering that occurs. WWJ: What does the country need more than anything at this moment? Are they getting it? If not, what is the reason? Stuart: Physically, the greatest needs are housing, water, and sanitation. The conditions in the tent cities are deplorable and getting worse as the meager infrastructure of the camps fails. The recent cholera outbreak is evidence of worsening conditions, and the fear is that a second and third catastrophe is awaiting Haiti via epidemic and storms. How to fulfill the need, however, is a much more complicated question and spans from political reform, land title reform, cultural reform, international aid reform, and the need for money. WWJ: How much support have you received from other organizations and companies in the United States? Stuart: As a private company, V3 has not received any assistance. We were operating in Haiti as a business, albeit in a limited manner, for nearly four years prior to the earthquake. We had staff there during the quake and volunteered after the quake because we felt that our history gave us unique qualifications that we could employ to help. We have incorporated our volunteering and our project work into our business with the goal of ultimately operating as a business there and elsewhere. As with any such endeavor, we will hire local and international staff when justified and will support the endeavor via fees and hard work. WWJ

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Circle card no. 25

Let your voice be heard on Capitol Hill! Join your fellow groundwater industry professionals at the 14th Annual Ground Water Industry Legislative Conference: NGWA Washington Fly-in February 28-March 1 s Washington, D.C. The NGWA Washington Fly-in puts groundwater professionals in touch with those who set the nation’s groundwater policy. NGWA will set up your congressional meetings, provide you with briefings on the hot topics of the day, and give you tips to maximize your visit. But we need you—and your knowledge of groundwater and the industry—to deliver the message. Don’t delay in reserving your space to meet the new Congress. Registration closes January 26.

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Circle card no. 18

Water Well Journal January 2011 21/

As acceptance of aquifer storage and recovery systems grow in the United States, water-thirsty regions are looking to systems both large and small to add to their water supplies.

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By Jill Ross

limate change. Population growth. Drought conditions. Declining water tables. No doubt these issues have caused many a sleepless night for those in charge of managing U.S. water supplies, who continue to look to new technology to help ensure future water availability. One relatively new method that’s rapidly gaining acceptance is that of aquifer storage recovery. Aquifer storage recovery, or simply ASR, is the storage of water in a well during times when water is available, and recovery of the water from the same well during times when it is needed. ASR can provide a cost-effective soluJill Ross is a former editor of Water Well Journal and worked for the National Ground Water Association from 1996 to 2004. Today, she does freelance work from home. She can be reached at jillross72@gmail.com.

22/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

tion to water management needs. What it does is store water during times of flood or when water quality is good, and recover that same water later during times of drought or when water quality from the source may be poor. Large volumes of water are stored deep underground, reducing or eliminating the need to construct surface reservoirs. In many cases, the storage zones are aquifers that have undergone longterm declines in water levels due to heavy pumping to meet increasing urban and agricultural water needs. Groundwater levels can then be restored if adequate water is recharged. “There is a constant imbalance between supply and demand for water,” says R. David G. Pyne, PE, president of ASR Systems LLC in Gainesville, Florida, and author of the book Aquifer Storage Recovery, now in its second edition. “(Future) increased water storage will be essential.”

ASR is a relatively new technology. In the United States, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted small tests of well recharge systems beginning in the late 1940s, but none of these test sites were placed into operation. The first ASR well began operation at Wildwood, New Jersey, in 1969, and Pyne says this system is still in operation, having been expanded to four wells. In 1982, Pyne coined the term “aquifer storage recovery” while working for CH2M Hill, a global firm specializing in consulting, design, design/ build, operations, and program management. In 1983, he worked with the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Manatee County, Florida, to build an ASR system. That project went on to win a major national award in 1984, and across the country, the ears of water managers pricked up in interest. Ever since then, the concept of water storage has slowly but surely gained acceptance. NGWA.org

To illustrate its growth in the United States, consider this. In 1995, there were about 20 operating ASR wellfields nationwide. A current best estimate is that there are now more than 500 operating ASR wells in at least 95 wellfields in 20 states, with many more ASR wellfields in various stages of investigation, design, permitting, and cycle testing, Pyne says. (Figure 1 shows the known activity of ASR in the United States as of April 2009.) “It’s a win-win for everybody,” he says. One of the winners in this equation may be groundwater professionals. ASR wells have some similarities to projection wells and injection wells, although the design process is different, Pyne says. In his book, Pyne says the principal factors differentiating ASR wells from other wells are that ASR wells are designed for both recharge and production of water, and in many cases are designed for use in non-potable aquifers for water storage. The choice of materials for the well casing, screen, and pump for ASR wells requires special attention due to the higher potential for corrosion and plugging. Water well contractors are already benefitting from the growing number of ASR wells and the associated monitoring wells that are being constructed nationwide, Pyne says. “The market will most likely expand for the foreseeable future, galvanized by the need for water storage,” he says. He identifies some of the major potential growth areas as Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California. “There are still parts of the country that are concerned about ASR and water reuse,” says Pyne, who prefers use of the term reclaimed water over recycled water. “Although in places where water supply is a serious problem, they get used to it very quickly.”

ASR Wells on the Small Side On the other end of the spectrum, a group of groundwater districts in the arid state of Texas are hoping to alleviate their water woes by implementing the principles of ASR on a much smaller scale. That is, by encouraging individual well owners to harvest rainfall and then store it in a dual-purpose water well.

NGWA.org

Figure 1. There are currently about 95 ASR sites in operation around the United States, ranging from a single well to 30 wells, with recovery capacities ranging from 500,000 gallons per day from single wells to 100 million gallons per day from wellfields. Courtesy of ASR Systems LLC.

Figure 2. An illustration shows a proposed individual rainwater collection and ASR storage system. Courtesy of the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District.

David Jeffery, general manager of the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District, located within Groundwater Management Area 9 northwest of San Antonio, hopes to build a case for the individual ASR this year. Together with other Texas groundwater districts, he is working to find funding to establish a pilot study that will examine the feasibility of such systems. Texas is no stranger to the concept of aquifer storage and recovery. There are

now several operating ASR facilities in the state. The city of Kerrville has been operating since 1990 and the San Antonio Water System came online in 2004, according to a 2008 article in the publication tx H2 O. The El Paso Water Utilities has injected highly treated wastewater into the Hueco Bolson Aquifer since 1985, and the city of Corpus Christi is planning for up to two ASR wellfields in the future.

ASR/continues on page 24 Water Well Journal January 2011 23/

ASR/from page 23 These systems are capable of storing millions—or even billions—of gallons of water. But for the individual systems proposed by Jeffery, the numbers are a little different. In central Texas, rainfall averages between 28 and 32 inches per year, Jeffery says. To calculate rainwater harvesting, the rule of thumb is 0.6 gallon per inch of rainfall per square foot of roof area. A typical 2000-square-foot home would capture between 33,600 and 38,400 gallons per year, based on average rainfall. But nonetheless, Jeffery predicts these small numbers will have a big impact. “Although this is less than one half the amount of water required by the household, it would reduce the amount of water pumped, and the demand on the aquifer,” Jeffery says. And this is water that would otherwise be lost. “Maybe four percent of all rainfall ends up in the aquifer. In dry years, it’s probably zero percent,” he sums it up. “The largest cost of a rainwater harvesting system is the cost of storage,”

Jeffery says. “To cut the cost of aboveground storage, a water well is a good alternative for the storage.” The well would be dual-purpose. The rainwater is treated and injected by gravity into the well, and then pumped to supply the household. (The concept is illustrated in Figure 2.) In this way, the well then becomes an aquifer storage and recovery well. The rainwater is injected at a low pressure of 0.43 psi/ft of increase, which would increase the water level only a few feet above the static water level and should prevent damage to the formation. Filtration and disinfection would be important considerations. “The rainwater needs to be compatible with the well materials and formation water, as well as the formation itself. Generally, the rainwater is saturated with oxygen and has a lower pH than the groundwater. This combination is corrosive to steel casing and will react with the dissolved iron in the groundwater to form a precipitate and plug the formation,” Jeffery says. In addition to water conservation, the study will examine a number of other potential benefits.

“In the Texas hill country, the rainwater injected would be an improvement of the water quality found in the (local) aquifer,” Jeffery says. “The water hardness would be reduced, as well as other constituents such as sulfates, iron, and fluoride.” This type of well would be considered a Class V injection well, which is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “A complete and detailed study of individual ASRs would provide data to be used in considering the revising of the rules to allow for a less restrictive registration,” Jeffery says. Jeffery says he’s received some positive interest from other Texas groundwater districts regarding the study. “It would be an interesting project,” he says. “A complete and detailed study of individual ASRs needs to be undertaken to encourage individual injection of rainwater and reduce groundwater usage. Homeowner or domestic ASR projects would allow residents to create a more sustainable future.” WWJ

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24/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

Circle card no. 14

Circle card no. 11

NGWA.org

By Ed Butts, PE, CPI

Reservoir Systems—Part 2 Each class has its own considerations that you must factor.

ast month, we began a discussion about reservoir systems and the basic criteria for their proper sizing. This month, we delve into the specifics of sizing and designing reservoir systems.

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Reservoir System Design Basics Given the fact that reservoir systems can be developed with sources as low as half a gallon per minute to as large as who knows, the design principles vary considerably. I have developed two separate and individual classes of reservoir systems over the years, each with their unique considerations. 1. Low-source volume system. This type of system is generally developed to provide interim water storage for low-producing wells or other water sources with sustained discharge rates of 7 gpm or less for rural single- or double-family residential use. Although some lending institutions use 5 gpm as the cutoff rate, I have found it is usually fairly easy to develop an exclusive domestic use water system from a source with greater than 7 gpm of sustained flow and without reservoir storage as opposed to a water source with 7 gpm or less. Obviously, if irrigation, livestock watering, or other similar uses are included, the system must be evaluated on a case by case basis. Ed Butts, PE, CPI, is the chief engineer at 4B Engineering & Consulting, Salem, Oregon. He has more than 30 years experience in the water well business, specializing in engineering and business management. He can be reached at epbpe@juno.com.

NGWA.org

2. High-source volume system. This type of reservoir system includes most of the municipal, water district, and commercial/industrial classes, as well as many larger residential water systems with extensive grounds irrigation or livestock watering. Although the basic definition describes a source volume of 7 gpm or more, it is obvious this type of reservoir system goes from one extreme to the other.

Low-Source Volume Reservoir Systems The low-source volume reservoir system is often the only alternative available to rural homeowners with lowproducing wells, springs, or other marginal water sources. This class of water system has been around for decades, although their popularity and use has greatly increased since the 1970s. This was mostly due to declining well and aquifer capacities in many regions of the country, as well as a universal tightening in recent years of the criteria for obtaining loans or financing for rural homes and acreage. Although many lending sources are apprehensive to loan funds for properties with limited water source capacity, the primary consideration for implementation of this type of water system is not economic or even technical at all. It is a practical issue, one requiring the development of a clear understanding with the homeowner and their family that the water source they will use is severely limited and must be conserved whenever possible. Even though a reservoir system may

be constructed using thousands of gallons of water storage and the finest hardware and pumping equipment available, the realization that any excess use or waste of the resource could eventually lead to a total or partial loss of the source must be passed on to the residents in order for the water system to properly function over time. Although installing thousands of gallons of water storage may provide a false sense of security and complacency, the residents must also be made to understand no amount of water storage would be able to offset the total loss of the source since the reservoir storage will always deplete at some point in the future. Once this realization and cooperative attitude is reached, the designer can proceed to develop the storage and pumping system, using the sustained capacity of the source as the basic design factor. Although the relationship between the source flow rate and the required volume of water storage varies from lending institution to lending institution and government agency to government agency, there are some fundamental minimum values all lending sources adhere to. The most important value is the source flow. The minimum allowable rate of flow is generally around 3 gpm, although many agencies will increase the minimum to 5 or even 7 gpm. Therefore, it is obviously critical to verify this value with the actual lending source before beginning construction. The relationships cited in Part 1 last month constitute the minimum volume of storage required for the typical uses

ENGINEERING/continues on page 26 Water Well Journal January 2011 25/

Figure 1. Exterior pump option.

Figure 2. Interior pump option.

ENGINEERING/from page 25 over a 24-hour period. However, during that time frame there will undoubtedly be periods of higher, or peak, demands, usually during one of the two 2-hour periods I outlined or during irrigation cycles. This additional volume consumed during the peak demands is normally what determines the size of the booster pump and motor, discharge side water treatment equipment, and pressurized water storage as all of these pieces of equipment need to be sized for the higher than average flow rate. In addition, the system designer must also make sure the added burden on the storage vessel does not cause an excessive drop of water level within the vessel that could cause a possible loss of suction or introduce air into the booster pump suction. There is as much a need to determine the proper geometry of the storage tank as there is for the volume. Simply put, you should ensure that a 26/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

minimum of 25% of the total storage volume remains following any of the maximum peak demand periods. As an example, let’s assume the average daily demand is 2.08 gpm or a total daily demand of 3000 gallons, and the source volume is 2.5 gpm or a total daily input of 2.5 gpm. Multiply 2.5 gpm by 1200 minutes (20 hours) to equal 3000 gallons. The peak demand has been determined to equal 15 gpm over a 60-minute time span, or 900 gallons. Obviously, in this case, the daily demand over a full 24-hour day equals exactly the source volume over a 20-hour day, so our minimum source-to-demand ratio is just met. The variance of an added 900-gallon draft over a one hour period, however, adds another dynamic to the system design that we cannot afford to ignore. For this example, I would calculate the minimum storage volume as 900 gallons á 0.75 = 1200 minimum gallons of total storage volume. By using this

relationship, you ensure that 25% of the total volume of 1200 gallons, or 300 gallons, of water remains in the reservoir after peak demands for additional demands and for a suction reserve. Of course, this assumes that the remaining water system demands are either the same as the source flow or will drop to the source flow in a short time. In this case, I would more than likely increase the storage volume to a minimum of 1500 gallons to provide an extra measure of protection and reserve for the system, especially if livestock watering is a factor. This is why all reservoir system designs must be evaluated individually and not as a typical water system. In order to assure your customer has adequate storage volume for all intended demands without oversizing, you must carefully examine the entire water system on an hourly basis. An additional design factor, which I cannot overstate the importance of, is the actual value of water available from the source (well, spring, other) over any given day of use. Although most lending and regulatory agencies use a four-hour pumping period as the target time frame, I believe this value is often dangerously low, especially for aquifers with a substantial volume of available storage such as basalt or other rock formations. In many cases, a low-producing well can effectively pass a 4-hour test at a reasonably higher production rate simply by drawing off the local storage surrounding the wellbore. On a long-term basis, this type of reliance can be risky and lead to problems from either undersizing the reservoir storage or an overreliance on the well yield. Therefore, in most cases of low-producing wells, I recommend performing at a minimum a 24-hour constant rate test to verify the actual safe well yield. This type of test, using the minimum required flow rate, is conducted to simulate the actual turnover volume the water system, and by association the well, will be required to produce over a typical full day of water consumption. In many cases, if the nature and value of the storage of the aquifer is known, an 8-hour constant rate well test may be sufficient. However, this type of test can only be used when careful measurements of the well drawdown NGWA.org

Figure 3. Interior pump installation.

Figure 4. Housing over interior pump installation.

Figure 5. Ground-level water storage reservoir.

and recovery are available. Although I realize a 24-hour flow test can be somewhat expensive, explaining that it is critical for the correct design and longterm performance of the water system is generally enough to convince the client of the importance and justify the cost.

Low-Source Volume Reservoir System Configurations Although there are numerous ways of connecting low-source volume reservoir systems, I worked with many different types over the years until I settled in on two basic configurations. NGWA.org

The first method, shown in Figure 1 as the exterior pump option, assumes the use of a submersible pump—a perfect fit for most of the higher volume applications and easy to install and service. In order to take advantage of all of the water storage as well as provide a means for easy retrieval of the pump, it is installed in a PVC pump can outside of but next to to the reservoir. The pump can is a device that is easily constructed and can be installed well before the installation of the reservoir. A flexible hose connection between the two allows for some variance of elevation and alignment during installation. Using a shroud over the pump and motor provides proper motor cooling as well as an increase of pump submergence when the reservoir is virtually depleted. This type of installation is flexible and has worked extremely well for me on dozens of installations. The second option (Figures 2, 3, and 4) is to use the top of the reservoir as the floor for a wooden enclosure that houses the booster pump, pressure tank, and electrical controls. Figure 2 is indicative of a cross section of a typical installation of this type, using a shallow well jet pump. Figure 3 shows an interior pump installation with a single 6-inch-diameter projection through the top of the reservoir along with an adjacent 2 inches for the level controls. This is an excellent example of this type of installation as it demonstrates the reservoir fill pipe and booster pump suction pipe entering the reservoir through a common two-pipe jet pump well seal with the outgoing service and incoming fill pipes exiting the structure together, lessening the amount of exterior insulation and protection needed. Figure 4 illustrates the exterior view of the same installation before painting and it shows the wooden structure mounted directly on the reservoir. This option works well for homeowners who wish to hide the reservoir or at least not have it be in plain view as the pump house could conceivably be any type of storage building. When using this configuration, it is important to use advance planning by including enough sill bolts around the tank perimeter and at the proper spacing

to effectively hold down the building, include any needed projections in the upper or lower floor or walls for piping and controls, and verify the top of the reservoir (floor) is adequate in strength to carry all projected floor loads, especially any pressure vessels. Generally, additional reinforcement in both directions is all that is needed to provide this strength. Obviously, strict warnings to the homeowner to not store any hazardous or poisonous chemicals or other harmful material, such as fertilizers or insecticides, inside of the structure must be advanced and heeded. However, I have found this option to be workable and it eases many of the concerns homeowners typically have with the aesthetics associated with the use of exterior reservoir systems.

High-Source Volume Reservoir Systems The use of high-source volume reservoir systems covers the gamut from ground-level water storage vessels to elevated water storage vessels. Ground-level reservoirs are typically constructed from bolted or welded steel panels from 5 feet to as high as 105 feet and diameters from 10 feet to more than 150 feet. Their use is typically limited to ground elevations along with a booster pump station or at ground level on elevated foothills where they can provide gravity pressure directly to the water system situated downhill at a lower elevation from the tank. Elevated reservoirs are typically built on standpipes or legs that support the primary tank above the water system directly below it. The type and number of accessories is different than those found on lowsource volume reservoirs. However, many of them are critical for properly operating the vessel. A typical ground-level water storage reservoir is shown in Figure 5. It shows the tank itself as well as four of the most common accessories used for this type of structure. The first accessory, shown just left from the middle of and ascending the tank, is a fully shrouded vertical access ladder that extends from a height of about 6 feet above grade to the dome or top of the tank. The lower height of 6

ENGINEERING/continues on page 67 Water Well Journal January 2011 27/

By Gary Ganson

Safety Procedures for Decontamination You must have a safety plan when you may encounter contaminants at a job site.

econtamination is the process of removing or isolating hazardous materials by confining and controlling contaminants. Following proper procedures to remove contaminants from job site personnel and equipment is not only important because of the potential for increased exposure and cross contamination, it’s also required by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Under OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) regulations, organizations are required to develop, communicate, and implement decontamination procedures before any employees or equipment enter areas where there is the potential for exposure to hazardous substances. In addition to the OSHA requirements, drilling companies should understand that many hazardous waste sites might be classified as a Superfund site and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will have additional requirements for the prevention of the spread of contamination.

D

The First Step The procedures that OSHA references in the HAZWOPER regulation 29 CFR 1910.120 should be detailed in the water well drilling company’s health and safety plan. The first step in creating the decontamination procedures is to Gary Ganson is the EHS group manager, environmental for Terracon in Lenexa, Kansas. He is a certified industrial hygienist and certified safety professional.

28/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

The goal should be to protect the individuals and equipment and prevent spreading contaminants to others, family members, and the environment. determine if the drill crew will be working at a site known to contain hazardous contaminants in the soils or groundwater, or a site that might be reasonably expected to be contaminated. Decontamination is very important and understanding its purpose is critical to the prevention of employee exposure. Drilling crews and their equipment are critical pathways for coming into contact with hazardous materials. In preparation for working at a job site where contaminated materials are present, the decontamination process must address a prevention-focused method that will stop a response person from coming into contact with the contamination as well as how to decontaminate an individual involved with the hazardous materials. Regardless of the specific intent of the decontamination procedures or whether the contaminated are workers, first responders, or equipment, the goal should be to protect the individuals and equipment and prevent spreading contaminants to others, family members, and the environment. Once you’ve outlined the purpose of the decontamination plan, the next step

is to determine what needs to be done to achieve that purpose. The HAZWOPER standard has specific guidelines on how to establish the decontamination plan. Whether your plan is elaborate or simplistic, it should identify different zones for containing the contamination. The hot zone contains the greatest potential for hazardous material exposure. The warm zone is the decontamination area where contaminants are controlled and removed. A cold zone is established for communications and equipment storage.

Types of Contaminants There are a number of contaminants water well contractors might encounter in soil or groundwater, including highly toxic compounds that have an immediate effect upon exposure. An example is sulfur compounds, some of which are lethal in high concentrations. Also present might be moderately toxic compounds such as certain metals, arsenic, or beryllium. There are groundwater hazards that trigger allergic or neurological responses, such as organic compounds or petroleum distillates— like gasoline that floats on water— or chlorinated compounds. Other water contaminants include flammable materials, and in regions that have experienced a disaster, cholera, hepatitis, coli, and other bacteria may be present. Even radioactive materials are a contaminant hazard, and all these classes of contaminants should be considered when you put together your plan. The decontamination plan must specify the type of contaminant. If neuNGWA.org

tralizing agents are necessary, or if solvents or steam cleaning will be required, all runoff liquids must be contained for proper disposal.

The Plan The decontamination plan, first and foremost, must focus on people. It should lay out how to dispose of personal protective equipment in sealable bags and how to clean PPE that can be reused, such as respirators or boots. There should be specifications for the level of cleanup required—simple hand and face washing to full shower and chemical or biological removal. The part of the plan dealing with equipment must outline how to accomplish the decontamination of everything from a shovel to the heaviest rig. And finally, there should be instructions for how to gather and dispose of the cleanup materials. Training is one of the first steps in the implementation of a decontamination plan. In addition to all the how-to’s, the plan should specify a litmus test to ensure everything and everyone is clean before moving from the warm zone to the cold zone. In practice, a good litmus test is to cover an object in shaving cream and then spray it down, so you can immediately judge the success of the spraying. In reality, most litmus tests involve wiping testing surfaces after decontamination and sending the samples to a lab. Unfortunately, this involves a lag time before you get final results, but it will confirm whether you did an adequate decontamination. If you’re conducting a special analysis of soil or water contamination or drilling in a suspected contaminated area, specific EPA protocols apply. For example, there will be guidelines for decontamination of drill rigs, augers, and split-spoons in order to minimize worker exposure and cross contamination, and make sure contaminants are not being carried from one site over to another. The plan is supposed to outline the steps on how all this will be accomplished, but for each work site, an individual onsite health and safety plan must also be developed containing decontamination procedures specific to that site. This onsite decontamination

plan should take into consideration primary wind direction, runoff control for any liquids, how much space will be required, plans for emergency care, how many people will be needed to conduct the decontamination, and what their equipment needs will be, including PPE. An onsite plan should also include the power requirements for all the plan’s elements and any seasonal or temperature considerations.

For More Information: ● 29 CFR 1910.120(k)(2) Decontamination

procedures. ● Mickam, J.T., R. Bellandi, and E.C. Tifft Jr.

1989. Equipment decontamination procedures for ground water and vadose zone monitoring programs: Status and prospects. Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation 9, no. 2: 100-121. ● Environmental Protection Agency:

Superfund Sites www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/index.htm

Training Can Be Good for Business If employees at a water well drilling company are coming into contact with hazardous materials, they should have between eight to 40 hours of HAZWOPER training. The HAZWOPER standard will also require a decontamination supervisor with additional training who can not only train other employees, but also develop the specific decontamination plans and their implementation. It also can be good for business as some potential customers with a well remediation project specifically look for a company with HAZWOPER-trained personnel.

Once the plan is finished but work is yet to start, it is helpful to go through “what if” scenarios. This can be an emergency evacuation of one or more people and an extrication of an injured person from a contaminated area. The ultimate goal of decontamination is to minimize or eliminate any threat to water well contractors, other workers, equipment, sample integrity, and the environment. And last, but not least, to make certain no one is bringing any contaminants home to their family. WWJ

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Water Well Journal January 2011 29/

By Ed Butts, PE, CPI

Engineering of Water Systems Part 7—Regulatory Aspects: Water Rights n our last installment, we reviewed the numerous regulatory provisions associated with the various water quality issues throughout the United States. These regulations are generally universal in scope and application and are intended to provide safe drinking water to every consumer in the community and non-community water systems throughout the United States, and are administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or state regulators. This month, we will expand upon the topic of regulatory enforcement by reviewing the different water rights law around the country as well as around the world. I will outline the most common forms of water law, usually referred to as “water rights,” in the United States.

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Figure 1. The water cycle.

Introduction Water law is an established system of enforceable regulations and rules that dictate and control the use and allocation of water resources. The means for this regulation in the United States are created and enforced by statutes (legislation), court decisions, and administrative rules. Although much of the U.S. water law is rooted in the common law system inherited from Great Britain, water law today is a complicated and complex mixture of federal and state regulations superimposed on a system of public and private water rights users. Ed Butts, PE, CPI, is the chief engineer at 4B Engineering & Consulting, Salem, Oregon. He has more than 30 years experience in the water well business, specializing in engineering and business management. He can be reached at epbpe@juno.com.

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Most of the state water law today is primarily a product of statutes enacted by state legislatures followed by the creation and implementation of regulations or administrative rules developed and issued by state administrators, although reviewing and administrative courts remain an important link and overseer in the system. Modern water law is becoming increasingly complicated as well as more accommodating to ecosystem values in many regions. Although this practice can irritate some people or seem unnecessary, it actually makes sense as the movement of and access to all freshwater is an element of a single hydrologic cycle. The hydrologic cycle, also known as the water cycle (Figure 1), is a constant system used for the rotation and transferring of water using three means:

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In the form of rainfall, snow, and other types of moisture Through the environment (atmosphere, oceans, streams, lakes, and ground) By using various processes, including runoff, streamflow, infiltration, evaporation, and other means.

The cycle generally provides a reasonably consistent, but finite, movement of water throughout the various regions of the world. It is dictated by multiple and mostly uncontrollable local and environmental factors—typical storm track movements, the jet stream, local temperatures, humidity, transevaporation patterns. There are numerous other factors, such as global warming as well as incidents of El Niño and La Niña, which have modified the weather patterns in the United States and altered the NGWA.org

distribution of water resources in many regions. Water rights usually apply to the allocation and use of a water source above a maximum limit of exceptions. The exceptions generally apply to small water systems or users below a set amount of instantaneous or daily volume of water. Exceptions can sometimes include nonconsumptive uses such as groundwater source heat pumps or other systems that recover the water used for an industrial process. Actual exceptions vary from state to state. In most states, water rights are not only available for the withdrawal and use of groundwater and surface water sources, but are also required for the storage of water in impoundments or reservoirs, usually above an established maximum volume. Unfortunately, in many locales of the world, the demand for freshwater greatly exceeds the supply of the same, often leading to water shortages or “overallocation,” which then requires the fair and balanced application and ultimate enforcement of the applicable local water law.

In many locations, each part of the hydrologic cycle is treated by the legal system as if it were totally disconnected from the others. For example, the law establishing rights to groundwater is generally different than the laws governing surface water. Some parts of the hydrologic cycle, however, are difficult if not impossible to enable the establishment of water rights. Soil moisture, for example, cannot be easily determined or extracted from the ground in which it exists. In this case, the water is treated as a part of the land it is contained within and water rights are not feasible. Although this practice ignores the reality of the hydrologic cycle, it does help prevent potential conflicts with landowners and water users. Although strides towards increasing atmospheric water have been made in recent years through cloud seeding and other methods, the ability to obtain water rights for this type of moisture remains problematic. This is because of the difficulty associated with determining the actual volume and movement of this moisture in the atmosphere and the location in which it inevitably falls to the ground.

History of Water Rights Back during the Roman Empire, the basic water law at the time stated that people could obtain temporary rights for running water. These rights were totally independent of land ownership and lasted as long as the use continued unabated. In later medieval times, common law treated all freshwater streams as a static source, meaning landowners owned parts of rivers with full accompanying rights to the water that was in the river. Landowners could also seek damages for the loss of any water that was diverted upstream. Over time, water rights slowly evolved from being mainly landbased to use-based, thus allowing nonlandowners to hold and enforce the right to allocate freshwater supplies.

Water Rights and the Hydrologic Cycle Water rights initially evolved as a method of allocating water use in the various parts of the hydrologic cycle. In a simplified cycle, water is classified as either surface water, groundwater, atmospheric moisture, or soil moisture. NGWA.org

Consumptive vs. Nonconsumptive Use Because water is a mobile resource, it is theoretically available to several users in succession as well as for different uses as it moves through the hydrologic cycle. For example, the potential energy existing in a water molecule could be extracted from a river and used as a source of kinetic power to spin a turbine to generate power at a hydroelectric plant as part of a water stream, with the same molecule recovered and placed back into the river and used later to irrigate a farm. This is known as a “nonconsumptive use,” meaning the water is returned to its originating source following its use or duty. On the other hand, although a given water molecule can be used over and over through its continuous rotating path on the hydrologic cycle (and it is known that energy can never be truly consumed or destroyed but converted to another form), a “consumptive use” is one in which the potential energy of the water is converted or otherwise used for a relatively short time for assisting in biological processes. This includes uses

such as crop growth, human and animal consumption, and similar uses. Consumptive uses alter the hydrologic cycle and may also impact the environment as the normal path of the water is intercepted and rerouted. Because a single drop of water can be used and reused several times and is also needed to maintain an environmental balance, conflicts between different uses and users are frequent when consumptive uses are disproportionally high or associated with a great percentage of waste. Water law is used to resolve these potential conflicts by encouraging the desirable uses of water and discouraging or banning the undesirable uses or waste of water through the balance of consumptive use with the net water supply found in the hydrologic cycle. This desirable use is often referred to as a “beneficial use,” and generally applies to water used for agricultural, domestic, industrial, or commercial purposes.

International Types and Classes of Water Rights Although the United States uses two basic classes of water rights, fundamental differences exist between the nature and source of water rights in different countries. For example, they can be land-based rights, use-based rights, or rights based solely on the ownership of water bodies. Additionally, some countries now apply the principle of water solidarity, which attempts to reconcile water rights through compromise solutions based on the public interest. Land-based water rights, also known as riparian rights, are based on the ownership of land and are protected by property law. Riparian rights state the owner of the land in which the water source is located or traverses has the sole right to the “undiminished and unaltered” flow of the water. Riparian rights are transferable only when the title of land ownership is transferred to a new owner. Use-based water rights are protected by the “law of torts” and state land ownership is not required as long as water users have legal access to the water source. Under the system of use-based water rights, there is a hierarchy or “pri-

WATER WORKS/continues on page 32 Water Well Journal January 2011 31/

WATER WORKS/from page 31

Principal meridian map.

ority” of use where the first user has the greatest claim to the water (first come, first served) and other users can enforce their claim only against those with lower ranks (seniority). This type of allocation is often referred to as the same as prior appropriation. Water rights based on ownership of water bodies are those in which the water bodies themselves are privately owned. In some countries, the water cannot be prohibited from free flowing to downstream users for subsequent use.

Water Rights Systems in the United States In the United States, two divergent and unique systems exist for the determination of water rights. Riparian water rights are more common in the eastern states. Prior appropriation water rights are common in the west. However, each state has variations on the basic principles dictated by custom, culture, legislation, and court rulings. Under the prior appropriation principle, water rights are administered similar to use-based water rights as “first in time, first in right” (the older, or more senior, water right has the first claim to water over—and to the exclusion of if necessary—later, or junior, water rights). In this system, the concept of a priority date, or the date the application for water was initially received and processed, is critical. This concept is so important that a water rights application processed on the same date as another application has been known to be denied simply because the first application was processed earlier in the day. Although water rights are generally established pursuant to the applicable state law, there are exceptions with the most notable the concept of federally reserved water rights. Federally reserved water rights are those that are established when the federal government reserves a piece of land for a specific federal purpose such as a wildlife refuge, Indian reservation, military base, federal rangeland or forest, or water storage project administered by the Army Corps of Engineers. In some cases, court proceedings are 32/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

required to determine the relative priority or claim to a water right. This process is known as an adjudication. Since passage of an act referred to as the McCarran Amendment, all federal water right claims are adjudicated in the applicable state court.

Typical Water Rights Process Although the specific process varies from state to state, a typical procedure for obtaining a water right in many cases involves three steps. 1. Application An application is typically the first step in procuring a water right. Usually, the application includes specific information detailing the applicant’s name and address, type of water right (irrigation, domestic, storage, etc.), the quantity of water requested (also known as “the duty”), the location of the intended use, the location of the point of withdrawal or diversion, and the date of submission of the application, also known as the priority date. Many states also require submission of a map drawn to scale and indicating the area of use and the point of withdrawal (well, river, etc.). The application is then processed by the state agency and verified for adequacy of the proposed use before proceeding to the next step. 2. Permit The permit is the next step in the water rights process and proceeds to

this level only after the successful acceptance of the application and verification that water for the intended use is available and the proposed permit will not injure senior users of the resource. Frequently, any permit that is issued will have limitations and specific reporting and measuring requirements attached to it. These can include yearly measurements of static or pumping levels and are often referred to as targets. Exceeding or otherwise not meeting any of these targets can lead to additional restrictions on the permit, or in extreme cases, the nullification or ultimate denial of the permit. Permits by themselves are not water rights, but simply a means of providing permission to the water user to develop and use the resource and construct the diversion. Permits are typically valid for a set number of years and can usually be extended if the full duty of the application or permit has not been met. 3. Certificates, or Water Rights The last step in the water rights process is typically referred to as the issuance of a “certificate of water right.” This step can only be completed after the full duty, or application, of the requested volume of water has been applied or used in the manner and over the area dictated in the permit. NGWA.org

Public Land Survey System

PLSS map.

Once an applicant is certain they have complied with all of the terms and conditions of the permit, they arrange for a “final proof”. This is a typical process in finalizing a permit towards issuance of a water right and is a field inspection by the state agency or other approved entity to verify and document the installation, proper application of water use, and at the proper location. This process results in a detailed and certified map showing the location of the “point of diversion” and “point of use,” along with a description of the observed use of the water. A certificate of water right is then issued on the strength of the information contained in the final proof. Generally, most water supplies are regarded as public property where a certificate of water right is applied to the property and the water source, not the owner. Therefore, they can usually be transferred to a new owner. Once again, these guidelines vary from state to state as well as the different systems of water rights.

Water Rights Locating System Locating a water right (and often a well) in most regions of the United States is performed by using the Public Land Survey System. It is a method used in the U.S. to survey and identify land parcels, particularly for titles and NGWA.org

deeds of rural, wild, or undeveloped land. Its basic units of area are the township, range, and section (see sidebar). It is important to note that although the PLSS is used throughout many regions of the country, it is not universal and some states still use a different system. It is vital to verify and understand the specific method of land location and identification used in your area. Given the recent rise in popularity and accuracy of satellite locating methods using the geographic information system (GIS), eventual conversion to this method by using coordinates for water rights locating is a strong potential. However, the PLSS method is so established and universally accepted, it is doubtful it will ever be completely abandoned. Further, although using this system requires practice and an understanding of the various components, it remains an effective and accurate method of identifying and locating water rights in many states.

Groundwater Rights Due to the nature of the source and recharge, water rights for groundwater sources are often processed and evaluated in a different manner than for surface water sources. Since most surface waters have a predictable flow and recharge source from rainfall and snowpack during most of the year, it is generally easier to estimate the streamflow to

The Public Land Survey System is sometimes referred to as the rectangular survey system, although nonrectangular methods such as meandering can also be used. The survey was the first mathematically designed system and nationally conducted survey relating to land boundaries in any modern country. The detailed survey methods to be applied for the Public Land Survey System are described in a series of instructions and manuals issued by the General Land Office, beginning in 1851. Townships are generally assigned to a 6-square-mile area of land in the north-south direction while ranges are assigned to a 6-square-mile area of land lying in the east-west direction. Townships bear north or south from an established point of origin known as the base line and ranges bear east or west from a principal meridian, the location of which varies throughout the United States (see the principal meridian map). Within each township and range combination are 36 sections, each bearing a dimension of one square mile (5280 feet by 5280 feet) in each direction. Thus, as shown on the PLSS map, Township 2 South (T2S), and Range 3 West (R3W) refers to a 36-square-mile (6 miles by 6 miles) block of land that is located 2 miles south of the base line and also 3 miles west of the principal meridian. Within each section exists a total of 640 acres that can then be divided into four quarters, further dividing the section into four 160-acre parcels. Each 160-acre quarter can be further subdivided to quarter-quarters to create four 40-acre parcels, with each one bearing the relative location of the quadrant it is located within. For example, a parcel located in the northwest quarter-quarter of the northwest quarter section of the PLSS map would be referred to as: the NW1/4 of the NW1/4 of Section 14.

allow either the allocation or restriction of a surface water permit. Groundwater, on the other hand, is much more elusive and unpredictable,

WATER WORKS/continues on page 67 Water Well Journal January 2011 33/

By Alexandra Walsh

Fighting Negativity in the Workplace A staff that is not happy is one that is costing its company money.

he recession is technically over and there are signs that indicate economic recovery is on the way. So workers should be happy, right? The worst may or may not be over, but many employees these days still feel overworked, underappreciated, distrustful, and disengaged. Economic hard times and workplace negativity are natural bunkmates. Even though many workers may be relieved not to be among the expanding ranks of the unemployed, they may also be suffering in ways, big and small, from changes or cuts their employer made in order to ride out the recession.

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Afraid or Miserable Workers may still be afraid of losing their job in the future or they may be frustrated because the tools and resources they need to do their job may no longer be available. The atmosphere in the workplace may have changed for the worse as people become more competitive and cutthroat over dwindling jobs and resources. Workers may be miserable in their jobs for reasons unrelated to the poor economy, but feel they cannot leave because the economy limits their choices. So why should it matter how employees feel as long as they show up and do their jobs each day? The answer is productivity. Research from Gallup estiAlexandra 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.

34/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

mates that disengaged employees are costing their companies up to $1 out of every $3 spent on payroll. It’s a difficult balancing act for employers to make the painful cuts necessary to keep their businesses afloat while still maintaining the goodwill and loyalty of their remaining workforce. But it is up to the owner and management team to counteract the negativity through communicating more and acknowledging their workers’ concerns as well as their successes.

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Stop Before It Starts The best way to combat workplace negativity is to keep it from happening in the first place. These tips will help you minimize workplace negativity. ●

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Provide opportunities for employees to make decisions about their own job. The most frequent cause of workplace negativity is a manager or an organization making a decision about a person’s work without their input. Create opportunities for people to express their opinion about workplace policies and procedures. Recognize the impact of changes in such areas as work hours, pay, benefits, overtime hours, comp pay, dress codes, office location, job requirements, and working conditions. Changes in these areas can cause serious negative responses. Provide timely, proactive responses to questions and concerns. Treat workers as adults with fairness and consistency. Develop and publicize workplace policies and proce-

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dures that organize work effectively. Apply them consistently and fairly. Do not create “rules” for all employees when just a few people are violating the norms. You want to minimize the number of rules directing the behavior of adults at work. They’ll usually live up to your expectations and their own. Help workers feel like members of the in-crowd. Each person wants to have the same information as quickly as everyone else. Provide the context for decisions and communicate effectively and constantly. If several courses of action are under consideration, communicate all that you know, as soon as you know it. Reserve the right to change your mind later, without consequence, when additional factors affect the direction of ultimate decisions. Afford employees the opportunity to grow and develop. Training, opportunities for promotions, lateral moves for development, and crosstraining are visible signs of an organization’s commitment to its staff. Provide appropriate leadership and a strategic framework including mission, vision, values, and goals. People want to feel as if they are part of something bigger than themselves. If workers understand what direction the business is headed, and their part in making the desired outcomes happen, they can effectively contribute more. Provide appropriate rewards and recognition. This way, employees feel their contribution is valued. NGWA.org

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Reward and recognition are some of the most powerful tools an organization can use to boost staff morale. Get to know employees on a personal level. It is possible to maintain the employer/employee balance in a relationship while showing care and concern. Be genuine in taking an interest in them—their aspirations, goals, motivations, or families. Allow them to get to know you and see you as a person instead of just “the boss.” Creating a lasting bond promotes loyalty, dedication, and improved performance. Just be mindful not to allow your newfound associations to become a source of rivalry or favoritism. Treat all workers equally with the same respect, consideration, and admiration as you would have them show you.

Careful Analysis Take some time to analyze how well your business is applying these recommendations. They form the foundation for positive staff morale and minimizing negativity in your workplace. Also remember that management has to walk the walk. If employees are being asked to work harder for less and lose benefits they once took for granted, management has to be seen as doing the same. Encourage your employees and motivate them by remaining optimistic and cheerful yourself. Find creative ways to inspire, stimulate, and induce your staff to continue working with smiles on their faces. Smiles are contagious, and if your employees are happy, they have the potential to improve relations and make your customers more comfortable. WWJ

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Water Well Journal January 2011 35/

By John L’Espoir

Power Transmission Follow the power transfer from truck engine to the driving axles or drilling components. Chain drives and belt drives, drivelines, transmissions, and more.

orsepower requirements on portable rigs have grown over the years. When looking at a rig that can drill 2000 feet with 3½-inch drill pipe, we find that the hp requirements have increased dramatically over the decades: 150 hp in 1960, 225 hp in 1970, 300 hp in 1980, and 350 hp today. Larger engines require larger clutches, transmissions, drivelines, and rear axles. Transmissions used to be a standard 5-speed with perhaps a 4-speed auxiliary. Now we find 10 to 13 speeds with double low reductions. Great for the trucks! Bad news for the PTOs (power take-offs, also called splitter boxes). In 1990, we find an International truck with a DTA 466 diesel producing 245 hp at 2400 rpm, 210 hp at 2100 rpm, and a torque of 625 ft-lbs at 1600 rpm. The transmission is a Fuller 10speed with a low of 8.94:1 and a reverse of 9.50:1. Transmission output torque equals 625 × 9.50 = 5937.5 ft-lbs. Today, we mount a similar machine on a Peterbilt 357 with a 350 hp Detroit at 2100 rpm having a torque of 1250 ftlbs at 1200 rpm. The transmission is a Fuller 10-speed with a low of 14.56:1 and a low reverse of 15.22:1. Transmission output torque equals 1250 ×15.22 =

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John L’Espoir has enjoyed a 40-year career in portable drilling equipment design. He holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering and was formerly the director of engineering for the George E. Failing Co. in Enid, Oklahoma. John was born in the Netherlands and moved to Enid in 1969. He is the founder, owner, and president of Enid Drill Systems Inc. He received the 2003 NGWA Technology Award.

36/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

Figure 1. 350-hp Detroit in 357 Pete driving a Ewbank M-75 rig.

19,025 ft-lbs. This is 3.2 times as compared to the 1990 series. Will the old PTO work on a new truck? No! Did you notice that I used the reverse ratio for the calculation? Most PTO shafts get twisted off in reverse while trying to rock out of a hole. The majority of PTO trouble is always in the drive through to the axle mode. When the unit is in rig drive, the transmission is usually in the 1:1 (high) gear ratio, resulting in a low input torque but of course at higher speeds. hp = torque × rpm ÷ 5252 Torque in ft-lbs.

Power Take-Off (PTO) Many types and manufacturers exist; for example, gear drives, chain drives, and even belt drives. In the 1970s, the governing design factor was hp and now

it is hp plus torque. Design engineers may not use the input torque, but use the tire slipping torque of the wheels at full axle rating. This does not take into account the fact that your helper throws a two-by-four in the hole in front of your tires to help you. Caution! Anything you throw in front of or behind the tires can fly out at 20 mph, possibly hurting you or the windshield of your new SUV. PTO box construction can be welded plate or a casting. A casting indicates a good number of these have been made or are planned to be made. Weldments can be one of a kind. Portadrill uses the Cotta gear type PTO (Figure 2). Shifting collar #25 forward to the cab will connect input shaft #21 to gear #18 and on up to the rig while output shaft #26 has no power.

NGWA.org

Figure 2. Cotta gear type PTO on a Portadrill rig. Drawing courtesy of Portadrill.

Sliding collar #25 to the rear supplies power to the truck axle. Many PTO problems are due to abuse of equipment. Examples include: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Overload on torque Shock loading to jump out of hole Wrong lubrication or too-low levels Shifting on the fly without proper declutch 5. Drivelines that are out of balance 6. Heat due to overload on horsepower or too high a lube level. The author prefers the Fabco 170 series for its ease of installation, full engineering support, air shift and pressure lubrication (cooling optional), plus high torque rating to accommodate up to 500 hp diesels with 10 speeds on the tranny (Figure 3). Note the simplicity of shaft design with only external splines. Of course, these gear type drop boxes were designed as drive boxes for front axles with a declutch. Choosing a 4 × 4 or 6 × 6 truck has the advantage that the drop box provides a live shaft with declutch to power the rig. Once again, when switching an old rig onto a newer, more powerful truck, be sure to check the PTO capacity for both hp rating and the torque capacity. Also check for PTO shaft rotation. Some boxes, like a Fuller 3TA92, can turn the PTO flange anti-engine wise and the rig would run backwards! Some rigs in the field use the reverse operaNGWA.org

tion to eliminate the reversing box for the rotary table. How do I know this? I built them around 1980.

Drivelines Holy cow, what a mess we have gotten into due to low usage of our favorite parts. Spicer, Rockford, and Mechanics have all drastically changed designs and reduced choice of inventory. Older rigs have to change out complete drivelines rather than installing new cross and journal kits followed by balancing. When a driveline is balanced, small weights are welded on. The female spline as well as the male spline should get timing marks. No, we do not need a strobe light, but we do have to have the two pieces in time as balanced. Before taking a driveline out of the rig, mark the two pieces with a dot punch or a can of paint. The yokes must line up on both ends. If the unit vibrates, pull it apart and stab the splines 180° rotated and check again for vibration. The best solution is to have the drivelines serviced, balanced, marked, and wired together to prevent accidental separation before installation. Driveline tubing is very delicate and the wall thickness is measured in thousandths of an inch. The wall thickness must be uniform, so stay away from black pipe with a seam or other heavy tubing. Fix bent or dented tubes immediately!

Angularity Chart Angle

B÷A

1°

0.017

2°

0.034

3°

0.052

4°

0.069

5°

0.087

6°

0.104

7°

0.121

8°

0.139

9°

0.156

10°

0.173

11°

0.190

12°

0.207

13°

0.224

14°

0.241

15°

0.258

Balancing is done on a special machine at 3000 rpm. When installing a driveline to connect two units (transmissions, chain drives, axles, etc.), the centerline of these units must be parallel. The offset will thus result in equal angles at both ends of the driveline. Unequal angles will cause torsional vibration, which will knock out bearings and cause noise. Maximum allowable angles will depend on the speed of the driveline and

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY/continues on page 38 Water Well Journal January 2011 37/

B divided by A = sine of the angle. Drivelines below 1500 rpm can operate at maximum 11.5°.

Figure 3. Fabco 170 series of PTOs.

Constant velocity, called Con-Vel or CV joints, can allow a greater angle and angles do not have to be equal. This design allowed the author to design an auger rig in the mid-1980s that would take mechanical driveline power for drilling in 5° increments up to 30° off the vertical. CV joints are typically found on most front-wheel-drive cars when the engine is mounted crossways, and front left and right wheels do not turn on equal angles. Telescopic drivelines to power sliding rotary tables or drill heads are found on many rigs. Worn female splines are a common problem. Old square splines are obsolete, involute splines are in; however, long spline stock is very difficult to find and may have to be made locally. The driveline works in the stretched-out position, meaning that the male spline next to the yoke is always like new. When servicing the unit, reverse the male spline, put in a new female spline, balance, and lube. This will double the life. Do not run a loose driveline. Yes, we have seen them running around a 4-inch circle in the middle, then they blow apart! It is a good design practice to keep this drive as short as needed for the scoping requirement. Install a secondary shaft with center bearing to reach longer spans.

Chain and Belt Drives

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY/from page 37 the size of the components. Some designs allow more angle than others. A knock in the line cannot be acceptable since it means that two parts are hitting one another. Stay clear of rotating shafts—they will reach out and grab you and leave no time for prayers. Always guard rotating parts with a heavy steel guard and provide lube access holes to reach those lube points. Frequent lubing is definitely required on splines and the needle bearings. Provide at least 1° offset on drivelines, ¼inch on short coupled units. Just about 38/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

all truck-powered equipment manufacturers are guilty of angularity problems. A truck engine and transmission runs typically on about a 3° angle and so does the rear axle. A power take-off and machinery runs usually parallel at a 0° angle with the frame. For this reason, it is wise to oversize the drivelines. Angles may be compounded, meaning up and down plus left to right offsets. 1. Measure centerline of driveline: cross to cross (A). 2. Measure the total offset in the plane perpendicular to the centerline of the driveline (B).

The application of chain drives in our drilling world is without limits. Every engineer will have his or her preferred brand and type of designs. An engineer must choose from the following: ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Open or closed box drive Adjustable or fixed centers Number of shafts in box Whether there is a need to reverse the rotation Lubrication and cooling system Chain tension and maximum speed Chain sprocket alignment.

Open drives are usually from one shaft to another, where one shaft can be moved for tightening or where a chain idler is used. Preferred is that the top strand on horizontal drives is in tension NGWA.org

Figure 4. Reconditioned Spicer drivelines.

Figure 7. The Portadrill main power distribution chain box. Oil bath with eccentric top shaft for chain adjustment.

Figure 5. Ewbank 600 hp compound case for two 300 hp Cummins diesels. Diamond Chain Co. six-strand roller chains run on large sprockets inside a fixed center pressure lubricated oilbath.

Figure 6. Rolland Ewbank’s first rig used belts and chains. Guards were removed some time ago. This model is no longer in production.

to allow chain stretch to sag on the bottom strand. Idlers are installed on the slack side. Open drives are normally slow and lube systems are poor due to environmental problems. Guards must be installed to protect people and other equipment, such as hoses. Do not get these chains fiddletight. One of my designs had a double #60 chain drive. Tightening was done by pusher bolts. The chains ran nice — that is, until we disengaged the air clutch. Under load, the chain would stretch. The sudden release would spring the chain back to tight. The shock broke two chains before we figured out the problem. The two shafts must be mounted to a solid base frame. Slight deflection will act like a powerful spring and slapshock load the chain to pieces. All sprockets within the chain loop will rotate the same way. Sprockets outside of the loop will rotate opposite. Appropriate chain lube is non-detergent single viscosity motor oil, such as 30W or maximum 50W. Gear oils will not lube the chain pins inside the rollers due to the tight tolerances. Some closed chain boxes have eccentric bearing retainers on one shaft to take up the slack. Both sides must be tightened exactly equal. The author believes that the best chain and sprocket life is attained inside a non-adjustable, fixed-center box that has been line bored and that strictly adheres to the calculated center distance and tolerance. Cooled and filtered, pres-

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY/continues on page 40 NGWA.org

Water Well Journal January 2011 39/

Figure 8. All of these sprockets are totally worn beyond use. The chains also had to be replaced. Chains hang up while drilling, causing shock loads to the equipment with result of additional damage.

Figure 9. A 400-hp Detroit with an Allison transmission and torque convertor stripped the teeth of this 9-inch pinion caused by a shock load. Repair cost to equipment was about $10,000 plus 10 days downtime. Preventive maintenance pays!

Figure 10. The #60 four-strand chain was inside an oil bath box. The wrong oil caused the wear on the link pins and the break on the link plate. Note the hole elongation. Do you know what oils to use to lube your equipment?

40/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY/from page 39 surized spray lube systems are, without a doubt, preferred. A good quality sprocket with flame-hardened teeth can usually handle a total of three new chains; after that we find it necessary to replace the sprockets as well. To check an old sprocket, wrap the new chain on the sprocket about 180°. Pick the chain up in the middle and lift on it. This will show the wear factor. Belt-driven components can be found on all drilling rigs, from engine fan belts to the high horsepower drives that power the compressor and/or mud pumps. Hundreds of hp values can be transmitted properly from driver to driven components. To select the proper drive belt(s), the engineer must know the following: 1. Power source: diesel, gas, or electric 2. Type of component driven 3. Maximum hp and rpm of sheaves 4. Duty cycle of power transmission. Many standard sizes both in design and cross-section of belts and sheaves are available. Sheave diameters can be custom-made while belt lengths are available only in standardized sizes. The older designs have sizes A–B–C–D–E. Next came 3V–5V–8V. A notch on the inside adds an “X” to the designation, such as AX–BX–5VX– 8VX. Sheaves must be properly selected to fit the belt. Power transmission is dependent on the proper fit and wedging of the V-belt in the sheave groove. Power is transmitted through the contact of the belt side to the sheave groove side, not the bottom. If a belt touches the bottom, it is worn out. If a new belt touches the bottom, the sheave is worn out or you have the wrong cross-section belt. NGWA.org

Figure 11. Nine belts drive a LeRoi 256S2 high pressure air compressor.

Figure 13.The Gates Poly Chain GT2 allows transmission of high horsepower in a very small package. Courtesy of Gates Rubber Co.

Figure 12. Two 5 x61⁄4 mud pumps, each driven by one powerband with five belts. Powerband means that the five individual belts are joined together across the top of the belts with a tieband that makes a single belt with five strands.

Figure 14. Main input drive on a Mayhew 1000 for Earnest Drilling.

Common Belt Problems ●

●

●

●

●

Slippage. This causes heat that spotcooks the belt. Rubber gets hard, the belt cracks, and chunks fly out. Do not allow belts to slip. Misalignment. Belts eat steel. When your sheave groove tops are turning into sharp knives, you have had a misalignment for too long. Idlers. An idler that is not perfectly parallel with the drive shafts will cause the belts to stretch and walk up the tight side and jump off. Overtightening. Pusher bolts will overload bearings in a hurry. The smaller sheave bearings will fail fast, bronze bushings will melt away. Belts must be properly tensioned. Lubrication. Lube bearings properly, and keep all lubes and dressing away from belts.

NGWA.org

●

●

Run-in time. Belts must be adjusted after about 24 to 30 hours run-in time. The belts will slightly loosen up due to the initial seating of belt to groove. Sheave wear. Sheaves wear out. Check for worn sheaves by using groove gauges.

The synchronous belt, like a Gates Poly Chain GT2, allows transmission of high horsepower in very small packages. This is an excellent tool to overcome excessive driveline angles from PTO to the rig drive. This 90 mm (3½-inch) wide belt transmits power from the PTO to the input drive on a Mayhew 1000 and has a rating of 160 hp (Figure 14).

Transmissions and Clutches Spicer, Fuller, Eaton, Funk, Clark, and many more. The biggest problem with all of them is obsolescence.

Service-wise, there are very few problems if the unit is properly lubricated. When replacing a transmission, the driller must choose one with ample input torque capacity and ratios. Also, check the input rotation. Some of these run backwards and the input shaft lube spiral must be reversed. Others may have one or two gears blocked off to avoid excessive output torque or speeds. Clutches can be a standard automotive type or an in-line over-center clutch. Automotive clutches such as Spicer, Lipe, Borg & Beck, and Ford are spring loaded to engage. Proper operation is to disengage the clutch either mechanically

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY/continues on page 42 Water Well Journal January 2011 41/

Figure 15. Power pack for the gas fields. Drilling down to 7500 feet with Detroit 12V71 with Twin Disc convertor, Allison 5-speed, and Cotta reversing box.

Figure 16. Two Detroit 4-71s side-by-side with Twin Disc fluid couplings going into a three-shaft, chain type, compound box with mechanical 5-speed transmission and automotive clutch. (Do not confuse this with a Twin Detroit compound!)

common and these torques would literally rip chains in compound drives apart. A fluid couplings function is to absorb equipment shocks, especially rotary table shocks, from a drag bit and keep these out of the engine. A fluid coupling does not multiply the torque and is therefore not a torque convertor, while a torque convertor is indeed a fluid drive. A fluid coupling allows a slight variation of two compounded engines on input speed. While a transmission will run backwards (caution: internal load reversals on helical gearing), a convertor or fluid coupling will not transmit power when run backwards. Detroit’s twin-engine packs with a gear compound box and convertor require that both diesel engines run lefthanded or anti-engine wise to assure that the convertor runs engine-wise or right-handed input. Torquematic transmissions like the popular Allison can be shifted under load—even from forward to reverse. Each gear has a separate clutch. One clutch will disengage while the next one engages simultaneously. Automatic transmissions will shift pending output torque. This is not desirable on a rig— for example, the rotary could shift gears when drilling from sand into clay zones. Torquematics must be specified as having a “power shift,” meaning they will remain in the same gear until the driller wants a change.

Service and Operation Suggestions ● ●

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY/from page 41 or pneumatically, shift the transmission to neutral, and then engage the clutch. Extended disengaged periods, such as when making a connection, can get very dangerous when by mistake or malfunction the clutch engages by itself. Air clutches or air shifted/mechanically shifted over-center clutches will stay in the disengaged function until forced to resume operation. Twin Disc clutches must have the locking type cones to 42/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

maintain engagement. This is opposite from the draw works clutches previously discussed.

● ● ●

Fluid Drives

●

Is it a fluid coupling, fluid drive, or a torque convertor? While the first two are the same, the convertor is different by design. The function of a Twin Disc, Funk, or Clark convertor is to convert the running torque into a multiplied stall torque. Multipliers of two to three are

● ●

Remove, service, and balance all drivelines of truck and rig. Drain, flush, and fill all mechanical transmissions with gear lube, such as 85W140. Service the truck and deck engines. Drain, flush, and fill all chain drives with non-detergent motor oil. Adjust master and driveline clutches. Adjust chain drives. Adjust belts on rig and engines. Service torquematic systems.

Resolutions to Make Today 1. Write a power transmission components inspection and maintenance program and stick to it. NGWA.org

2. Determine what maintenance tools should be on the rig. 3. Record any readable numbers on transmissions, PTOs, chain boxes, and even drivelines and clutches. 4. Obtain parts and service manuals for these from the manufacturer who built your rig.

5. Establish a personal contact with an engineer who understands horsepower and torque transmissions. Coming next month: Rig repairs. Do you know how to get spares for obsolete items? Don’t miss the information on welding, bearings, seals, and sleeves.

Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by John L’Espoir. All designs by L’Espoir from 1969 to February 1992 were done as an employee of the George E. Failing Co.

Summer of 2010—BOP Is the Talk of the Beach ust what is a blowout preventer (BOP) and how does it work? A BOP is a mechanism that is installed on top of the casing of an oil or gas well being drilled. The sealing elements are in the storage position out of the way from the drill string and allow drilling fluid to flow upwards through the annular space, the space between the open bore of the BOP and the outside of the drill pipe. There are three types of BOPs:

J ● ● ●

Figure 1. Diagram of an annular BOP. Courtesy of Cavins Oil Well Tools in California.

Annular type Ram type for pipe Blind or shearing type.

Let’s take a look at an annular type (Figure 1) and see how it works. The sealing element, #13 shown in red, is made of rubber and looks like a big, tall donut. When hydraulic pressure up to 3000 psi is applied to fitting #15, the piston #9 moves up to squeeze this rubber element. Being held in position by the housing #4 and the top plate #1, the rubber can only expand to the inside, filling up the annular space. With the powerful force of the piston #9, this annular space will completely fill the space around the pipe of any size and even close an open hole if no pipe is installed. The hydraulic pressure is then locked in and this will control a well formation pressure of up to 3000 psi. This is a small BOP. Once the well is under control, the hydraulic pressure is released and the memory of the rubber will push the piston down and retract back into its original position as shown. Some other types have a hydraulic power-down system for the piston.

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Hydraulic Pressure Some rigs come with pressurecompensated pumps and can operate the BOPs from the rig system. Once the BOP is under pressure, the pressure comp pump swash plate strokes back to zero volume at maximum pressure, which avoids heating up of the hydraulic fluid. A PO check can be built in so

that in case the pressure supply hose gets ripped off, cut, or burned up, the BOP internal hydraulic pressure is trapped and kept in the closed position. The power transmission for this type of system involves diesel power to hydraulic power with mechanical power to open the BOP.

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY/continues on page 44 Water Well Journal January 2011 43/

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY/from page 43 Since many of the land oilfield rigs have no hydraulic systems, a pneumatic system of compressed air is used in a closing unit. The closing unit includes a number of accumulators, high pressure containers that look like a cutting torch bottle. On the inside is a bladder that is typically pre-charged to 1000 psi with nitrogen. Hydraulic fluid is then pressured into the accumulator to bring this pressure up to 3000 psi. This pressure and volume can be instantly used to operate the BOP. The hydraulic fluid is pressured up by an air cylinder with a large diameter of around 12 inches coupled to a small hydraulic cylinder with a bore of around 2½ inches. The large area ratio of about 23:1 will transform 125 psi air into 3000 psi hydraulic pressure. After use of the BOP, the accumulator must be charged up again and be ready for the next job. Some closing units use an explosionproof electric motor with a triplex pump to supply this hydraulic pressure. The power transmission using air for the closing unit will be diesel power to the compressor, then compressed air over hydraulics. Using the triplex, it will be diesel power to the generator, and then electric motor to drive the triplex hydraulic pump. A ram type of BOP has built-in hydraulic double-acting cylinders, one on each side of the pipe 180° apart. The top unit is usually the pipe ram and the sliding steel plates have a precise cutout to fit the pipe size. Built-in seals will seal the cavity and around the pipe as well. The lower unit is typically a blind ram or shearing ram that will cut the drill pipe in half and then seal the complete diameter with about 3-inch-thick steel plates. These BOPs are much heavier, larger, and of course, more expensive. The unit seen in Figure 3 was equipped for 4-inch drill pipe and weighed 7000 pounds. It had a 10-inch opening, was 80 inches long, 28 inches tall, and 34 inches wide. A BOP is machined internally to very fine tolerances; it must work at extreme low as well as at extreme high temperatures. A land unit is almost always covered by drilling mud and cuttings, so sealing of the BOP to protect it from the outside is a must. 44/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

Figure 2. Closing unit based on compressed air. Photo taken in Oklahoma.

Figure 3. Shaffco double stack BOP installed below a Failing high-back rig in Colorado. Powered by the rig hydraulics.

A BOP needs an external power source to get into action. This power source is activated by the driller in charge of the rig. Perhaps a better name for a BOP would be blowout controller since by itself it will not prevent a blowout. By now, the whole world is aware of the problems when BOPs fail to do their job. Please keep your equipment in top working condition, properly lubricated,

and adjusted to design specifications. WWJ Waiver: The views expressed in this article are the author’s opinion and are based on the engineering education, skills, and experience gained in a lifelong industry commitment. No part of this article is intended to replace or supersede any information supplied by others. The contents of this article may not be used for any type of legal action. NGWA.org

Dedication

Figure 4. On location in Oklahoma.

This series is dedicated to the education of John L’Espoir’s two grandsons, Ethan Daniel Atwood and Elliott John Atwood (right), who are each destined to become a drilling rig engineer. Opposing points of view or questions? Contact us at Enid Drill Systems (580) 234-5971, fax (580) 234-5980, john@eniddrill.com.

Interested in the book Transfer of Technology? It is available in the NGWA Bookstore at www.ngwa.org. The member rate is $75; the nonmember rate is $87.50. Call NGWA at (800) 551-7379 to order your copy today.

No one is more serious about your job than we are. When you’ve been around for over 70 years and invented a lot of the tools that are industry standard worldwide, you tend to develop a certain amount of confidence in your product. We offer over 40 models of swivels, handling tools, and other drilling equipment made with high-quality heat-treated steel alloys and tested in our own 300,000-square-foot facility. It’s a serious business, and no one is more serious about it than we are. Got a tough job ahead? Bring it on.

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Water Well Journal January 2011 45/

By Ron Slee

Welcome to a New Year. How About a New Oulook? Have you had enough of negativity yet?

for one am happy we are done with 2010 and into 2011. Call it fatigue if you want, but I am really looking forward to this new year. There is a new day at hand. Last month I made the suggestion that we should aim to make our customers’ lives easier in 2011 by helping them contain their costs and maintain their water supplies and equipment at a high level of performance. Now I want us to start doing it.

I

Timely Maintenance We talked last month about proper and timely maintenance on water supply systems and equipment. This is probably the single most important thing we can do. From the early 1980s we spent nicely and growth was good. But we have found out it was on borrowed money, and we now know this borrowing was unsustainable. Frankly, we should have known it at the time as well. This means that we have discarded and replaced assets much before their useful life was over. We threw away value that we shouldn’t have, and we did it on borrowed money. This new reality means that prime 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.

46/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

products will be kept longer—and that means more work for the aftermarket. In other words, there will be more parts sales and more labor to repair and maintain water systems and equipment. That looks right at the skills and abilities of the people who work in support staffs or parts and service departments.

Building Self-Esteem One of my favorite authors in recent years is Patrick Lencioni. He has published many books (included in the reading list on my Web site at www.rjslee.com under “Resources” on the menu). One of Lencioni’s books that I particularly like is The Three Signs of a Miserable Job. It isn’t really about a miserable job, but rather it is about what we need to do to enhance the job of those people who are doing the work in our businesses now. People need to have a reasonably high level of self-esteem in order to effectively do their jobs. For more than two years now, we have had negativity all around us with high unemployment, high deficits, political polarization, and in general a “woe is me” mood. Well, that is done with and it is more than time to move on. I am a strong believer in the adage that we can make things happen if only we would let ourselves be free of negativity. Hope is a wonderful attribute. So what do we need to do this year? We ended last year talking about how important maintenance was and that the supply chain was changed and continu-

ing to change. Now this year needs to be all about the employee. What do they want? What do they need? As you know by now, I believe the person doing the job is the one who knows the most about the job. We just need to pay attention to what they want and listen to their needs. One of the truths about customer service is that your customers will never ever be more satisfied with your service than your employees are in providing it. The Service Profit Chain is a book that discusses this idea wonderfully. It states the direct relationship that exists between employee satisfaction and loyalty, and customer satisfaction and loyalty. The employees create the service value that customers sense and see when they interact with your business. And isn’t this one of the most critical elements in your business?

Make a Difference Employees need to feel they make a difference in what they do and who they are. We need to know them and who they are. They need to understand how they affect the business and customers, and more importantly, they need to be able to measure objectively how they do on a daily basis. Now that’s where it might get a bit difficult for many of you. What are the measures of each and every job that determine their importance? How is the employee involved in determining these critical measurement elements? Isn’t this where we need to pay attention? NGWA.org

Sit down with each employee. Discuss their jobs and how they view the work and the processes and the methods and the systems they use every day, and ask them how you can make it better for them. Look at the key performance indicators. You remember them, don’t you? But this time, determine along with the employee what those performance indicators should be and what the company should provide in tools, technology, and training to ensure success. Then the employee is in a position to help you “deliver the goods� to your customers and keep them coming back to you year after year after year. I believe everyone will be happier with the results—the customer, the employee, and you.

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Water Well Journal January 2011 47/

By Michelle Nichols

The Pitch for Speed If “time is the new money,” consider time-saving benefits you can offer customers on your next sales call.

ime is money,” said inventor and statesman Benjamin Franklin more than 200 years ago. However, these days, customers are increasingly more interested in saving time than they are in saving money. Remember that regardless of how much money people have, they still have only 24 hours in a day. Even Bill Gates doesn’t have 25 hours in his day. As another wealthy man, publisher Malcolm Forbes Sr., once quipped, “Unless you’re serving time, there’s never enough of it.” Here are six time-related benefits you can offer to your customers. No matter what you sell, challenge yourself to find ways to apply each benefit in different situations. They can help you sell more—and close faster, which is a time benefit you can definitely appreciate.

“T

Faster to Market If you can show how your offering will help your customer get a new product or service ready to sell faster than competitive offerings, you will be giving them a competitive advantage. Don’t forget that you may be competing against their in-house resources too. For example, say a client is launching a new production line and will need a new well for the extra water needed to run the new line. You sell well drilling Michelle 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 toll-free at (877) 352-9684 or at michelle.nichols@savvyselling.com.

48/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

Often customers start with a basic solution but want to be able to add other features as they need them or as they become available. This increases the return on their investment. services. Perhaps their in-house construction department planned to subcontract out the work but is backed up with other projects. Your argument to close the deal should be that by helping get their production line up and running sooner than their in-house group can, their company will receive additional cash flow from new sales sooner. Cash is king, but cash flow is king too.

Faster Results Customers want instant results. Perhaps you can show them how they can measure the results of a manufacturing process faster than before by using your offering. You can explain that by speeding up the process, they can make corrections sooner, which decreases error rates and waste. It’s like in the old days, when we checked stock prices in the next day’s newspaper. Now we can read them in real time on the Internet. Likewise, your customers want to know the measurements and results as soon as they hap-

pen, not at the end of a shift, the end of the week, or the end of the month.

Faster to Operate If you sell equipment that can drill more feet per hour than your competitor, offer it as a valuable benefit to your customer. Getting more work done in the same amount of time, especially with the same amount of labor, is an enticing benefit. Also, find out if your customers need more production power at certain peak times, such as over holidays or during the summer months. You could offer to save them costly overtime or outsourcing expenses.

Faster to Train If your customer’s business has high employee turnover, sell your offering based on its learning curve and ease of use. After all, if your customers have to wait to train their employees, they’re losing a lot of precious efficiency and productivity. For an offering that takes more time to learn to use, offer to provide or create a training DVD or a Webinar your customers’ employees can watch anytime. It may be enough to win the order for you. You can hire a video crew to help you, and the DVDs can become a tool to help you close future business too.

Faster to Modify, Upgrade, or Customize Customers know their needs will change over time, but they want to get the longest useful life out of their present purchases. If you sell accounting software, NGWA.org

for example, show your customers how easy it is to upgrade when tax rates or withholding tables change. You can apply the same idea to all types of equipment. Often, for cash flow reasons, customers will want to start with a basic solution but want to be able to add other features as they or their customers need them or as they become available. This increases the return on their investment in their original purchase too.

Faster to Deliver or Install Sometimes, the first one who’s able to deliver a product or drill a well wins the order. I’ve bought expensive items simply because they were in stock, and you probably have, too. If your customers can have water, save money, or earn more revenue soon after they buy from you, use this benefit to close them. One of my favorite book titles is It’s Not the Big that Eat the Small . . . It’s the Fast that Eat the Slow. Although it’s not a sales book, the title reminds me of the increasing power of selling time-related benefits to my customers. I hope you’ll try the same approach. Happy selling! WWJ Get more sales information online! Go to www.ngwa.org/publication/wwj/index.aspx 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, classifieds, buyers guides, and links to other valuable information. Bookmark the page because it is updated every month!

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Water Well Journal January 2011 49/

COMING

EVENTS

January 6–7/ Nebraska Well Drillers Association Short Course/ Kearney, Nebraska. PH: (402) 476-0162, E-mail: jason@h2oboy.net January 10–13/ North American Environmental Field Conference and Exposition: Advances and Innovations in Environmental Site Characterization, Sampling, Monitoring and Remediation Technology/ San Diego, California. Web: www.enviro fieldconference.com January 10–14/ 12th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst: Integrating Science and Engineering to Solve Karst Problems/ St. Louis, Missouri. Web: www.pela.com/sinkhole conference2011.htm January 13–14/ Utah Ground Water Association Annual Conference and Expo/ Mesquite, Nevada. Web: www. utahgroundwater.org January 18/ Air Rotary Drilling 101 Webinar/ PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customerservice@ ngwa.org, Web: www.ngwa.org January 19/ Empire State Water Well Drillers’ Association Annual Meeting/ Rome, New York. PH: (315) 339-8960, Web: www.nywelldriller.org January 26–28/ Texas Ground Water Association Annual Convention/ Lubbock, Texas. Web: www.tgwa.org/ meetings February 1–3/ Montana Water Well Drillers Association Annual Convention/

Helena, Montana. Web: www.mwwda.org, E-mail: contactus@mwwda.org

Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customer service@ngwa.org, Web: www.ngwa.org

February 2/ Complying with the U.S. EPA’s Ground Water Rule Webinar / PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customerservice@ngwa.org, Web: www.ngwa.org

March 4–5/ Oregon Ground Water Association Spring Technical Seminar / Silverton, Oregon. PH: (503) 390-7080, Fax: (503) 390-7088, E-mail: nancy@ ogwa.org

February 2–4/ Low-Cost Remediation Strategies for Contaminated Soil and Groundwater/ Denver, Colorado. PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customerservice@ngwa.org, Web: www.ngwa.org

March 6–12/ National Ground Water Awareness Week/ PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customer service@ngwa.org, Web: www.ngwa.org

February 7–11/ The Groundwater Pollution and Hydrology Course/ Orlando, Florida. Web: www.princeton-ground water.com/course-calendar.htm February 16/ The Life Cycle of Groundwater Data—From Field to Lab to Electronic Data Deliverable to Report Webinar/ PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customerservice@ ngwa.org, Web: www.ngwa.org

March 8–11/ WQA Aquatech USA/ San Antonio, Texas. Web: https://s36.a2 zinc.net/clients/wqa/wqa11/public/enter .aspx March 25/ Washington State Ground Water Association Driller and Pump Installer CEU Seminar/ Tacoma, Washington. Web: www.wsgwa.org/education.asp March 26/ Washington State Ground Water Association Driller and Pump Installer CEU Seminar/ Kelso, Washington. Web: www.wsgwa.org/education.asp

February 16–17/ Nebraska Well Drillers Association Annual Convention/ Lincoln, Nebraska. PH: (402) 476-0162, E-mail: jason@h2oboy.net

April 1/ Washington State Ground Water Association Driller and Pump Installer CEU Seminar/ Pasco, Washington. Web: www.wsgwa.org/education.asp

February 16–18/ Virginia Water Well Association Winter Conference and Trade Show/ Richmond, Virginia. PH: (540) 740-3329, Web: www.vawater wellassociation.org

April 2/ Washington State Ground Water Association Driller and Pump Installer CEU Seminar/ Spokane, Washington. Web: www.wsgwa.org/education.asp

February 28–March 1/ 14th Annual Ground Water Industry Legislative Conference: NGWA Washington Fly-in/ Washington, D.C. PH: (800) 551-7379,

April 11–15/ The Remediation Course/ Las Vegas, Nevada. Web: www.princetongroundwater.com/course-calendar.htm May 1–5/ 2011 NGWA Ground Water Summit and 2011 Ground Water Protection Council Spring Meeting / Baltimore, Maryland. PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customerservice @ngwa.org, Web: www.ngwa.org July 30–August 1/ South Atlantic Well Drillers Jubilee/ Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Web: www.well-drillers.com/ jubilee.php September 13/ Protect Your Groundwater Day/ Washington, D.C. PH: (800) 5517379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customerservice@ngwa.org, Web: www. ngwa.org September 26–27/ 2011 Groundwater and Fractured Rock Conference/ Burlington, Vermont. PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customerservice @ngwa.org, Web: www.ngwa.org *Dates shown in red are National Ground Water Association events.

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NEWSMAKERS NEW ADDITIONS/ Pentair Residential Filtration, a division of industrial manufacturer Pentair Inc., announced that Ricardo Sureda has joined the PRF team as operations manager for its facility in Chardon, Ohio, manufacturing home of the Ricardo Sureda WellMate, Codeline, and Structural brands of water system vessels. Sureda will lead daily operations and the planning of production and human resources. Alps Wire Rope Corp. announced that Jeff Marterella has been named eastern region manager/director of crane rope sales. Marterella joins Alps Wire Rope Corp. with 30 years experience both on the Jeff Marterella manufacturing and sales support side in the wire rope industry.

NGWA.org

Lakos Separators and Filtration Solutions announced that Reid Garner of Atlanta, Georgia, has joined the Lakos Irrigation and Groundwater Division. Garner assumes the title of Atlantic Southeast territory sales manager, a newly created position Reid Garner headquartered in Atlanta, and will report to Russell Clark, division vice president. BUSINESS GROWTH/ ISCO Industries, a Louisville, Kentucky-based distributor and fabricator of piping products, is building a 40,000square-foot, 10-acre distribution facility in Kingman, Arizona, with the intent to employ up to 30 people in the area. Grundfos Pumps Corp. announced that it will create a new global business development “competency center” devoted to the residential groundwater market at its North American headquarters in Olathe, Kansas. Establishing this

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competency center complements the global production relocation to North America of the Grundfos Groundwater products—submersible motors (MS402) and submersible products (SQ/SQE/SQ Flex). IN

MEMORIAM/

Robert L. Beeson, who retired as president of two divisions of the Red Jacket Pump Co., passed away in November 2010. He was 77. Beeson, formerly of Elgin, Illinois, was a war veteran who served in the U.S. Navy and a member of the National Ground Water Association.

Water Well Journal January 2011 51/

FEATURED

PRODUCTS

Solinst Water Levels Meters Allow Measurement in Narrow Applications

steel probe is excellent for use in smaller spaces, while a heavier ⅜-inch brass probe is ideal for greater depths. The ergonomic reel has a convenient brake, handle, and tape guide, and is powered by a single 9V battery. A sensitivity control allows a clear signal in both high and low conductivity conditions and in cascading water. Circle card no. 40

Solinst Model 102 coaxial cable water level meters are made durable for rugged field use. The cable features accurate laser markings every 1⁄100 feet of the heavy-duty polyethylene jacket. The cable reels smoothly, remains flexible, and hangs straight in wells. It comes in lengths of 100 feet to 1000 feet. Intended for measuring water levels in narrow wells, the meters feature narrow diameter probes with segmented weights, ideal for snaking past downwell pumps. A ¼-inch-diameter stainless

Thank y ou

AMS Develops Groundwater Well Management Systems and Port-A-Reels

AMS groundwater well management systems and Port-A-Reels increase wellmonitoring efficiency. They simplify purging and sampling of monitoring wells, monitor water quality and flow rate, and allow for determining the nature and extent of contamination, resulting in the identification of areas of concern so resources can be focused on where they will be most effective. They maximize flow rates and greatly reduce

equipment maintenance and replacement. They also reduce the potential for injury—hydraulic up and down movement eliminates hand cranking and the boom system eliminates loading and unloading heavy reels and pumps. Circle card no. 41

Krohne Introduces Tidalflux Flowmeters

Krohne Inc., a global developer, manufacturer, and distributor of measurement instrumentation for the process industries, introduces its Tidalflux electromagnetic flowmeter, including IFM 4110 PF and IFM 4210 PF. Used to

g Auction participants! n i s i a r d n u F F E to our NGWR

Thank you for helping to make the NGWREF Fundraising Auction held in conjunction with the 2010 NGWA Ground Water Expo in December such a success! Sixty percent of the money raised went to help the future of the industry—the kids—via the Len Assante Scholarship Fund, while the remainder went to the Developing World Projects Fund. A special thank you goes out to Platinum Level donors Baroid Industrial Drilling Products and GEFCO, both of which made donations valued at $2,500 or more. A 501(c)(3) public foundation operated by NGWA, NGWREF focuses on educational, research, and other charitable activities related to a broader public understanding of groundwater. To learn more about NGWREF—and how you can make a difference—visit www.ngwa.org or call customer service at 800 551.7379 (614 898.7791).

52/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

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SEMCO INC. P.O. Box 1216

●

7695 U.S. Hwy 287 N

●

Lamar, Colorado 81052

800-541-1562 719-336-9006

●

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

S6,000 SEMCO Pump Hoist, PTO-Direct Mount Pump, 2 Speed Winch, Remote Control, 16,000# Capacity Sandreel, Hydraulic Oil Cooler 12VDC, 1,500⬘ Capacity Sandreel w/Disc Brake, 2-Pipe Racks w/Straps, Factory Mounting w/Hydraulic Oil, 2-96⬙ Toolboxes, 11⬘ Steel Flatbed, Painted Blue and White Neiman's Well Service 1411 West 5th Street Ogallala, NE 69153

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

Cost

S110H

1-10⬙

Hydraulic

$9,950

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See Our Classified Ad on Page 61.

FEATURED

PRODUCTS flowmeter’s steady display of measured values is achieved regardless of rough product surfaces and distorted flow profiles. Circle card no. 42

Badger Meter Offers Utilities In-Home Display for Customers measure the volumetric flow rate of electrically conductive liquids in partially filled pipelines, the Tidalflux flowmeter offers accurate wastewater measurement. This flowmeter is ideal for industrial and municipal water and wastewater treatment applications. The Tidalflux flowmeter is combined with a capacitive flow-level measuring system, built into the wall of the measuring tube, providing flow measurements in partially filled pipelines, with levels between 10% and 100% of the pipe cross section. The Tidalflux flowmeter’s factory calibration ensures a level of measurement accuracy, featuring abrasion and chemical resistance, and the

from inside their home. Customers can access this display to view hourly, daily, or monthly water use data numerically or in seven-day graphic intervals. In addition, the Orion IHD allows users to automatically convert units into gallons, cubic meters, or cubic feet. It displays the time, date, or temperature and various messages to notify the customer of “alert conditions,” such as leaks. Data is stored for 40 days. Each Orion IHD comes with an intuitive user interface, two AA batteries, a six-button display, and is programmable to the specific Orion transmitter. Circle card no. 43

Badger Meter, a manufacturer of metering and flow measurement solutions, has launched a remote water consumption display for utilities to provide to their customers. Badger Meter’s Orion In-Home Display (IHD) is compatible with any water meter that is connected to a Badger Meter Orion automatic meter reading system, and it enables end customers to monitor their water use

2011 Annual Convention & Trade Show January 26–28, 2011

Sonic Sampling & Supply Debuts Mobile Sonic Drill 1500

Morooka dealer Sonic Sampling & Supply announced the introduction of the Mobile Sonic Drill 1500. The platform for the sonic drill is a Morooka 1500VD rubber track carrier. Sonic Sampling and Morooka have teamed with Mobile Drill International to build the Mobile Sonic Drill 1500. This platform is designed for mineral exploration, geo-heat loop installations, geo-construction, environmental, and geotechnical applications. Circle card no. 44

Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Lubbock, Texas

To develop, promote, and protect Texas groundwater and the water well industry. Contact information:

Leroy Goodson Phone: (512) 472-7437 Fax: (512) 472-0537 E-mail: LGoodson@twca.org www.tgwa.org 54/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

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Shallow Groundwater Monitor Well Solution Made Possible by Solinst

Solinst Drive-Point Piezometers are excellent permanent or temporary wells used to monitor shallow groundwater, soil, and gas up to 25 feet below the surface. These well points are ideal for initial site investigations and for long- or short-term applications. Installation is easy using NPT carbon steel extensions and any direct push or drilling technology, including a manual slide hammer. NGWA.org

FEATURED The piezometer tip and screen are stainless steel and a barbed fitting allows a sample tube to be attached to obtain high quality samples. Where an airtight connection is most desirable, a compression fitting option is available. To ensure that the screen does not clog or smear, shielded versions are available for sites with high silt or clay content. Circle card no. 45

Marked Noise Reduction Is Featured in KPSI Series 340 Transducer

SJE-Rhombus Releases Ultra Nator Control and Alarm System

PRODUCTS

curs (top float activates), the alarm indicator and horn turn on. The pump in use will turn off and the other pump will turn on. Pumping will continue until the pump switch deactivates (bottom float). This alternating action equalizes pump wear. The Ultra Nator is NEMA rated for indoor use. It features a factoryinstalled power cord, pump activation switch, and alarm activation switch for installation. Circle card no. 47

SJE-Rhombus, a manufacturer of liquid level controls for the water/wastewater industry, introduces the Ultra Nator control and alarm system for duplex sump pump applications. The Ultra Nator system is designed to control two 120V 1 hp or 15 amp single-phase pumps. It features two receptacles to accept two 120V pump plugs for pump connection. In normal operation, the pumps will alternate based on the pump switch level. If an alarm condition oc-

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.

Pressure Systems, a manufacturer of precision level and pressure instrumentation for environmental water usage and water resource applications, has reduced the noise of its KPSI Series 340 ASIC-based small bore submersible level transducers by five times. By using an improved signal amplifier on the transducer circuit board, the signal output is quieter, creating fewer errors when retrieving data and increasing data reliability. The improved series offers custom level ranges up to 230 feet H2O and an accuracy of up to ±0.25% FS total error band over the complete operating temperature range of –4°F to 140°F (–20°C to 60°C). In addition, the series features analog outputs of 420 mA, 0-5 VDC, or mV. The KPSI Series 340 level transducers are ideal for remote environmental water monitoring applications. Circle card no. 46

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NGWA.org

Water Well Journal January 2011 55/

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

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

57 Direct Push Supplies

Manufacturer of Pre-Pack Screens i Standard Pre-Pack When You Would Set A Traditional Well

Equipment Appraisals 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.

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

i Economy Pre-Pack When Cost Is A Factor

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

i All Stainless Steel Pre-Pack For Aggressive Groundwater Environments

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

i Annular Seals Foam Bridges, Bentonite & Quick-Sleeves

i Multiple Sizes Available

1/2-in, 3/4-in, 1-in, 1.25-in, 1.5-in, 2-in **We Stock Geoprobe Compatible Supplies & Tooling** *Proactive Pumps Master Distributor* ®

®

Toll Free 1-888-240-4328 Phone: 1-609-631-8939 i Fax: 1-609-631-0993 ectmfg.com i proactivepumps.com i torquerplug.com

SALVADORE AUCTIONS & APPRAISALS 401.941.7451 www.siaai.com

JOURNAL

Get in the Know About Geo Make sure to look for the February issue of Water Well Journal as it focuses on ground source heat pumps. Featured will be an article for those getting ready to go into the growing geothermal market, as well as project recaps on interesting geo jobs.

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

Along with WWJ ’s regular columns and departments, the February issue will certainly be one you don’t want to miss.

56/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

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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

JOURNAL

Century Geophysical Corporation 1223 S. 71st E. Ave., Tulsa, OK U.S.A. 74112 Phone (918) 838-9811 Fax (918) 838-1532 sales@century-geo.com www.century-geo.com

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

Classified Advertising Rates

NGWA.org

Line Classified Ads

(2 ⁄4 column—approx. 39 letters and spaces per line): $8 per line, $32 minimum (4 lines) 1

There is no discount for multiple runs.

No new equipment advertising accepted in line advertisements.

Display Classified Ads

Single column 21⁄4 inches wide OR Double column 411⁄16 inches wide (per column inch – min. depth 2 column inches): 1 month: $60 per inch 3 months: $58 per inch 6 months: $55 per inch 12 months: $49 per inch

To place a classified advertisement in Water Well Journal, please send ad text to Shelby Fleck by e-mail at sfleck@ngwa.org or fax to 614 898.7786. Upon receipt, you will be contacted and provided a quote. Thank you!

Water Well Journal January 2011 57/

71 Drilling Equipment FOR SALE: 22W, B.E., Series 3, truck and rig. Fair shape. Runs. Call (330) 637-2586. If no answer, leave message.

75 Electric Motors

H i g g i n s R i g Co.

FOR SALE: Four (4), 125 HP, 1800 rpm premium efficient G.E. VHS motors. Motors are brand new and still in plastic and crate. All with frame No. L405TP16. Asking $6,680 each. F.O.B. Fredericksburg, Iowa 563-237-5361.

DRILLS - PARTS And Everything Else For Your Drilling Operation!

MD 510 Geothermal Drill

817-927-8486 www.watsonusa.com Sales@watsonusa.com

All Make – All Models

www.higrig.com

FREE Call - (800) 292-7447 (270) 325-3300 Fax: (270) 325-3405

Office: 2594 Stiles Ford Rd. Hodgenville, KY Shop: 1797 Bardstown Rd. Hodgenville, KY

Did you know? Water Well Journal classified advertisements appear online (at no additional cost) each month at www.ngwa.org/publication/wwj/index.aspx

Check it out!

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

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

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 6 –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. SEMCO of Lamar 800-541-1562 Fax 719-336-2402 Credit Cards Accepted

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

Phone:

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

Dealers Wanted

www.rexmcfadden.com

58/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

NGWA.org

90 Equipment

80 Employment New Low Prices

The perfect solution for poor well yield is only a click way. 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

82 Engines

99 Geothermal Services Over 600 distributors nationwide & Canada. NSF Approved Polyethylene Fittings & Pipe Residential & Commer-Well Manager cial Flow Centers

Classified Display Ad “Solution� Water Well Journal B&W 2 col 4.25� x 2� 5-15-09 1345 WM

Radiant Buffer Tanks

HELP WANTED: Sales/New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Morris Industries, located in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, is looking for highly motivated inside and outside sales people to sell water well casing, steel pipe, drilling products, environmental products, pumps, and well accessories. This is a great opportunity to work for a growing, profitable company that offers advancement based on performance and a full benefit package that includes excellent pay, health insurance, 401k/profit sharing and paid holidays and vacation. Morris Industries offers not just a job but a future with the Morris family of employees with an average of 15 years of service and a company that has been established in the industry for more than 50 years. Please contact: Mike Stern, (800) 835-0777, fax (973) 835-1245, mstern@morrispipe.com HELP WANTED: The Village of Lake George is accepting resumes for the position of Chief Operator for its 1.75 M.G.D. Trickling Filter Waste Water Treatment Plant. Candidates must be NYS 3A Certified operators; salary depends on experience; must be willing to relocate to Lake George area. This is a NYS civil service position. Send resume and salary requirement to Village of Lake George, P.O. Box 791, Lake George, NY 12845.

105 Injection Pumps

/ 8 7

137 Services

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

, / 0 1 . 0 1 ,, 2 #"" 1 " 3 4

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

, 1 ,. . 7 * , 9, * 8 , : * , , * , !!"#$ %&'!!"( #) #! * +&'!!"( #) !$)# *, -* ,.

NGWA.org

Water Well Journal January 2011 59/

101 Grouters

115 Mud Pumps

0$.( <285 *(27+(50$/ *5287,1* $ 21( 0$1 23(5$7,21

Hydraulic drive mud pumps —small and lightweight—

,WÂśV D VQDS ZLWK WKH (= /RDG 7UDLOHU 3DFNDJH FXVWRP EXLOW E\ *HR /RRS ,QF 6DYLQJ WRQV RI ODERU KDQGOH RYHU ÂśV RI VDQG RU JDOORQV RI WKHUPDO JURXW SHU GD\ 3RZHUHG E\ WKH IDVWHVW JURXW SXPS DYDLODEOH LQ WKH LQGXVWU\ \RXÂśOO EH DPD]HG

‡ 0RGHO ‡ +\GUDXOLF 'ULYHQ *URXW +RVH 5HHO ‡ :DWHU 7DQN 3DOOHW 7DEOH &RPER ‡ (= /RDG 6DQG /RDGHU ‡ +HDY\ 'XW\ 7UDLOHU &KHFN RXW RXU IXOO OLQH RI JURXW SXPSV DQG DFFHVVRULHV DW

ZZZ JHR ORRS FRP ‡ MHII#JHR ORRS FRP ‡

FOR SALE: Large shop built grouter suitable for abandonment work, geothermal or cementing surface pipe, 24 T trailer, 4 pallet enclosed storage, material bed elevates to waist height, progressive cavity pump, power tremie reel, closed center hydraulics. $20,000. tsolson1@hotmail.com, (701) 238-5409.

174 Wanted

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

Centerline Manufacturing 903-725-6978

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

www.centerlinemanufacturing.com

106 Installation Accessories

ATTENTION Buy Direct from Manufacturer Why pay retail — when you can buy direct We ship any amount to anywhere

Select Environmental Supplies LLC P.O. Box 6036 Concord, NC 28027 5 6 Monitoring Well Manhole 8 7 1â „2 Monitoring Well Manhole 8 12 Monitoring Well Manhole

$18.25/ea. $22.15/ea. $23.35/ea.

OBSERVATION MONITORING WELL MANHOLES • H-20 Load Rating • 2-Bolt with O-Ring (9⠄16 ) Bolt Head • Galvanized Skirts with Welded Seam • Aluminum I.D. Tags • Stainless Bolts & Washers with Neoprene Washer

We carry prepacked screens and other testing supplies.

Heat Shrink from B & B Wholesale Why pay higher prices for lower quality products? Check out the prices on our Heat Shrink Splice Kits. 3–Wire Kit (for #10/12/14, clear) $1.82 ea. 4–Wire Kit (for #10/12/14, clear) 2.22 ea. 1 ⠄2 3 Tubes (clear) .45 ea. 1 ⠄2 48 Tubes (clear) 8.81 ea.

– custom kits for up to 4/0 wire – volume pricing available – labeling available – choose from 3 types of shrink tubes – also available is a large selection of installation accessories such as pressure gauges, tapes, tank fittings packages, and valves.

800-593-9403

Call (704) 467-6092 or (704) 425-7838 Fax (704) 795-1638 Visit our Web site www.selectenvironmentalsupplies.com We accept Visa and MasterCard

60/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

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116 Mud Systems DESANDER

Mini-Desander

MUD MIXER CM Consulting & Equipment Jerry Mason Specialist in your drilling and grouting problems. 1640 Oppenheimer Rd., Bedford, PA 15522

(814) 623-1675 (814) 623-7285 FAX

125 Pump Hoists FOR SALE: Pump hoist, 2000 Ford F-550 diesel, 4 4, 230,000 KLM. $27,500. Pictures available on request. Equipped with 16 truck bed, fold-down sides, headboard for tools, Cyclone telescoping hoist, new oil tank, outriggers. Electrically operated plastic pipe hoist 300 , welder generator electric start, s/s underbody toolboxes w/roll out shelves. HD towing package and hitch. Boadway Drilling, Sutton, ON, Canada. 905-955-3852, boadwayservices@aol.com.

2010 Models in Stock 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

2000 Ford 4 4, white, Smeal 4T, double drum, heavy cable, sand line, safety and E tested, new rubber, 250,180 km. $18,000 OBO. Call 519-625-8332

NGWA.org

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 Contact us at 1-800-541-1562 for a list of our used equipment.

SEMCO Inc. P.O. Box 1216 7695 U.S. Highway 287 North Lamar, CO 81052 (719) 336-9006 / (800) 541-1562 Fax (719) 336-2402 semcopumphoist@yahoo.com www.SEMCOoflamar.com See our ad on page 53.

Water Well Journal January 2011 61/

135 Rigs

DRILLING EQUIPMENT

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NGWA.org

176 Water Level Measurement

Ground Water Monitoring Instrumentation 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

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178 Water Treatment

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Air Pump Water Solutions, Inc.

10983-E Guilford Road • Annapolis Junction, MD 20701

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1-877-4-AER-MAX 1-877-423-7629 NGWA.org

Water Well Journal January 2011 63/

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.

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

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

186 Well Screens

P a te nt No. 6,868,904

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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

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.

ADVANTAGES x Mos t e ffe ctive wa y to de ve lop a ny we ll x P roduce more wa te r, le s s color a nd turbidity x Only the s urge block me thod “ba ck wa s he s ” the

we ll s cre e n, re moving cla y bridge s x Fle xible wipe r cre a te s s uction a nd pulls wa te r into

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s cre e n, not a va ila ble with othe r de ve lopme nt me thods Ba ll va lve a llows for pumping wa te r to s urfa ce a nd pre ve nts wa te r from flowing ba ck into we ll, will not clog with s e dime nts Ca pa ble of lifting wa te r ove r 50 fe e t Fa s t, e ffe ctive , a nd s a ve s time Cons tructe d of s trong ine rt ma te ria ls P olyure tha ne wipe rs ma de to la s t, re pla ce a ble 1-1/2-inch NP T s te e l pipe thre a d ca n be us e d on drill pipe or we ighte d wire line Ca n be us e d with che mica l a dditive s to bre a kdown mud ge l or re de ve lop proble m we lls For more information call or visit:

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64/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

NGWA.org

JOURNAL

184 Well Packers

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Deadlines: First day of the preceding publication of magazine (December 1 for February issue). No guarantees after that date. This applies to renewals, cancellations, and any revisions. All classified ads must be prepaid by check or credit card. Commission rates do not apply to classified ads. Current month’s classified ads are posted on our Web site at www.ngwa.org/pdf/classify.pdf for no extra charge. To place a classified advertisement in Water Well Journal, please send ad text to Shelby Fleck by e-mail at sfleck@ngwa.org or fax to 614 898.7786. Upon receipt, you will be contacted and provided a quote. Thank you! NGWA.org

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Read Water Well Journal online

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

Check out WWJ’s Buyers Guides online All of Water Well Journal ’s buyers guides can be found on www.ngwa.org in the area dedicated to NGWA’s publications. Check out the annual buyers guides as well as ones for pumps, rigs, and water quality and treatment products and services. The annual buyers guide is searchable so you have the information you need at your fingertips in seconds!

66/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

Get Safety Resources online You can never be too safe so take advantage of safety resources online. Go to the Web site of the National Ground Water Association and check out the resources it has available at www.ngwa.org/ PROGRAMS/safety/index.aspx. Also while you are at the Web site, make sure to check out NGWA Press’ newest safety item, Safety Meetings for the Groundwater Industry, a set of 52 sheets that provide information so companies can hold weekly safety meetings on topics specific to their industry.

Make sure you head to Water Well Journal’s page at www.ngwa.org every month. The site is updated regularly to coincide with the focus of each print issue. Along with electronic versions of articles in the current printed issue, there are complete versions of articles from past issues about the same topic. This provides everyone coming to the site with a wealth of information about subjects critical to you and your profession. It’s like attending an online workshop for free! There are also links to other areas of the Web site about the same topic so you have a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips. And if you’re ever too busy to check out the Web site one month, each updated page is available in a “Back Issues” area. Make sure you check it out today at www.ngwa.org/publication/wwj/ index.aspx.

NGWA.org

The first factor, referred to as operational or equalizing storage, is a design factor that allows the sources to function at a more constant rate throughout the day to avoid large changes in flow rate. Although this factor can vary from system to system, a value equal to 25% of the water system’s average day demand is often used. The volume of water storage required to handle emergency or unusual events is a factor much more difficult to arrive at and often requires a detailed analysis

of the various emergencies that could occur during any given day. These factors include power outages and their expected duration, potential pipeline breaks and the loss of projected volume, and the potential loss of source supply. Obviously, all of these factors can extend from one extreme to the other and careful analysis is employed on a case by case basis. The final factor, fire protection, is another design variable that cannot be generalized and must be evaluated as an individual factor. Generally, for larger water systems and cities, a minimum flow rate based on population determines the minimum required flow rate the water system must sustain. The duration is determined on other factors, but usually ranges from two hours up to 12 hours. This concludes this series on reservoir systems. Obviously, I’ve only scratched the surface, but I hope I have provided some basic information to help you with understanding the design basics of these components. Until next month, work safe and smart. WWJ

dicate the progressive and eventual loss of the entire resource. Often, this philosophy is based solely on outdated water level measurements from observation wells that have not been checked for more than five years or in some cases may not represent the conditions of the aquifer at all. This is where overly conservative guesswork often collides with science and public policy, with the agency taking an excessively cautious approach towards issuing new permits, sometimes resulting in the administrative rather than legislative action of limiting or outright banning of all growth within a city or other potential water user. In some cases, more recent or updated data indicates a stabilization of the static water level has either occurred or the decline of the water level is slowing from historical values. However, much of this data is anecdotal or from pumping records obtained from public and private sources and not from established observation wells and the applicable regulatory agency may not be aware of the change. As an engineer, I totally support the

proper protection and use of all water resources. However, I feel it must be conducted using the appropriate science and with the most recent and reliable data. In any event, water system designers intending to use groundwater resources for their impending design must be aware of the local limitations or prohibitions of obtaining groundwater permits or any water rights in their area as well as any potential restrictions or covenants that may be placed on any permit that is issued before they begin extensive planning or design on a new or expanded water system. My intent in this article is to provide the reader with a basic outline of the water rights process in the United States, not as a treatise for the actual preparation and submission for a water right. In each case for a pending design, the reader must carefully investigate and evaluate the application procedures and all potential limitations or restrictions that might be placed on a permit as an element of the preliminary design within their local jurisdiction. Until next time, keep them pumping! WWJ

ENGINEERING/from page 27 feet is used to preclude easy access to the ladder from the ground level. This ladder is needed to provide access to the top of the tank for service and access. The second accessory, shown behind the top of the ladder, is the dome hatch. This is the only access on the dome and provides for access into the top of the tank. The third accessory, shown in the middle of the tank and just above the floor level, is an access hatch. This hatch, usually around 24 inches in diameter, provides the means of access into the tank at the floor level. The final accessory shown on the figure is the staff gauge, or readerboard as it is often referred to. The readerboard provides an immediate means of determining the actual level of water inside the reservoir and is usually regarded as a mandatory accessory. Sizing of storage for larger water systems is generally dependent on three factors: 1. Equalize supply and demand for daily flow variations, maximum day, and peak hour requirements.

WATER WORKS/from page 33 even from year to year, as the recharge and withdrawal for this source is often difficult to predict and quantify. Farmers who use groundwater for irrigation often rotate large tracts of acreage, allowing a well to sit for two to three years without pumping and then using the well without notice, which can impact other nearby users. Many regions of the country have experienced overallocation or overpumping of an aquifer, resulting in a progressive and noticeable lowering of the water table. Some areas of the United States have started to implement classification of some regional or local aquifers as limited, critical, or endangered. This has often resulted in restricting or even completely prohibiting the issuing of new permits as well as placing severe restrictions on existing permits. Unfortunately, I think it appears some state water regulatory agencies are taking a “Chicken Little” approach to the issue, assuming by default that all declines in water levels are bad and inNGWA.org

The volume of water storage required to handle unusual events is a factor difficult to arrive at and often requires a detailed analysis of the various emergencies that could occur. 2. Provide emergency reserve supply during pipeline breaks, mechanical failures, and power outages. 3. Provide water for fire protection.

Water Well Journal January 2011 67/

INDEX OF

ADVERTISERS Card No./ Page

Card No./ Page

A.Y. McDonald Mfg. 1 IFC (800) 292-2737 www.aymcdonald.com CCV Engineering & Mfg. 2 35 (800) 671-0383 www.ariesccv.com Carmeuse Industrial Sands 3 49 (800) 947-7263 www.carmeusena.com Centennial Plastics 4 10 (402) 462-2227 www.centennialplastics.com Cotey Chemical 5 50 (806) 747-2096 www.coteychemical.com Design Water Technologies 6 9 (952) 474-4657 (952) 470-6637 (fax) GEFCO/King Oil Tools 7 45 (800) 759-7441 www.gefco.com 8 1 Geoprobe ® Systems (800) 436-7762 www.geoprobe.com

Gus Pech Mfg. 9 29 (800) 383-7324 www.guspech.com Heron Instruments 10 7 (800) 331-2032 www.heroninstruments.com Hoeptner Perfected Products 11 24 (408) 847-7615 www.freezeflow.com Jet-Lube 12 2 (800) 538-5823 (713) 678-4604 (fax) Lorentz Solar Water Pumps 13 OBC (888) 535-4788 (866) 593-0777 www.lorentz.de Marks Products 14 24 (800) 255-1353 www.geovision.org Mount Sopris Instruments 15 47 (303) 279-3211 www.mountsopris.com 16 11 NGWA/Bookstore (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org

Card No./ Page

NGWA/Education (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org NGWA/Fly-In (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org NGWA/Ground Water Awareness Week (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org NGWA/Profit Mastery University (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org NGWA/Membership (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org NGWA/NGWREF (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org NGWA/WellGuard (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org North Houston Machine (800) 364-6973 nhmi2@earthlink.net

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18

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20

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21

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Card No./ Page

Powers Electric Products 25 21 (559) 275-3030 www.powerselectric.com SEMCO 26 53 (719) 336-9006 www.semcooflamar.com Sonic Drill 27 35 (604) 888-1388 www.sonic-drill.com Southwire 28 IBC (770) 832-4590 www.southwire.com Star Iron Works 29 12 (814) 427-2555 www.starironworks.com Texas Ground Water Association 30 54 (512) 472-7437 Windmill 702 31 55 (956) 717-2900 www.windmill702.com Wyo-Ben 32 49 (800) 548-7055 www.wyoben.com

Help promote the resource that provides your livelihood. Educate your customers Educate customers about the importance importance of annual water testing and well maintenance during National Ground Water Awareness Week, March 6-12, 2011. You will not only be helping them, but yourself, your business, and your industry. And 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 6-12, 2011

68/ January 2011 Water Well Journal

Circle card no. 24

Circle card no. 19

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