White Rock System Update

Last updated: August 29, 2023

Background

The water for Abenaki’s White Rock water system (in Bow, NH) is supplied by three bedrock wells. On Friday, May 19, we observed a marked decline in production capacity from the three wells. The wells were not producing enough water to satisfy the demand for water. The declining capacity of the wells is due to either deteriorating pump conditions, diminished water in the bedrock fractures that feed the wells, or both. Since last Friday, staff has been on site multiple times daily to closely optimize operations.

Abenaki's Actions

Bulk Water Delivery

• August 29 Update – Bulk water deliveries have been reduced to being scheduled as needed.
• August 17 Update – Deliveries have been reduced to once per week. Please continue to minimize outside water uses, and lawn sprinkling continues to be prohibited.
• July 25 Update – The production capacity of the wells has improved slightly, allowing us to reduce bulk water deliveries from three to two loads per week.
• July 14 Update – The production capacity of the wells has improved slightly, allowing us to reduce bulk water deliveries from three to two loads per week.
• July 7 Update – Three bulk water deliveries have been scheduled each week. This reduces the demand on the wells and allows them to recover.
• June 22 Update – Three bulk water deliveries have been scheduled each week. This reduces the demand on the wells and allows them to recover.
• June 15 Update – Three bulk water deliveries have been scheduled each week.
• June 12 Update – Additional bulk water deliveries have been scheduled this week.
• June 5 Update – No bulk water deliveries are scheduled for this week. More will be scheduled to support work on the pump in Well 3.
  
• May 31 Update – Bulk water deliveries will be made throughout the week of May 29 when Well #2 is out of service for pump removal, inspection, repairs/replacements, chlorination, flushing, and water quality testing.
• May 27 Update – There was one bulk water delivery on Friday. Bulk water deliveries will be needed during the week of May 29 when Well #2 is out of service for pump removal, inspection, repairs/replacements, chlorination, flushing, and water quality testing.
• May 24 Update – Bulk water deliveries are scheduled for this Friday and Sunday to supplement water from the wells.
• May 22 Update – To supplement the supply of water from our wells, we ordered bulk water deliveries and received three tanker loads of 6,000 gallons of water each on Friday, and two tanker loads on Saturday and Sunday. The bulk water hauler was unable to make any deliveries on Monday, and we are reaching out to other water haulers to obtain additional water tanker deliveries this week. The bulk deliveries received over the weekend allowed us to rest the wells, resulting in a moderate increase in production capacity from the wells.

Well Pump Repairs and Capacity Status

• August 22 Update – A good question was recently asked about why there weren't restrictions during last year’s drought, yet there were restrictions this year with much wetter weather. The wells draw from deep bedrock fractures that recharge slowly. Last year, we pumped from water stored in the fractures faster than it recharged. This year’s abundant precipitation is slowly recharging the fractures. We have been receiving bulk deliveries to reduce withdrawals and allow the water bearing fractures to recover faster. During the next couple of months, well monitoring telemetry will be installed in the wells to observe groundwater levels in real time.
• August 17 Update – We installed another system valve near the intersection of Rocky Point and Oak Ridge Drive, which reduce future shut down areas for when fixing breaks or similar work.
• August 9 Update – Two pressure reducing valves were repaired this week. These valves help relieve excessively high pressures at lower elevations, and reduce pressure surges (water hammer). Some residents may observe somewhat slower flow rates now that pressure is down to more optimal levels. We also installed another system valve near the intersection of Surrey Coach Lane and Oak Ridge Drive, which reduce future shut down areas for when fixing breaks or similar work.
• July 25 Update – Equipment has been purchased and contractors are being scheduled to install the instrumentation and controls described below.
• July 10 Update – Over the next few months, we will be installing instrumentation and controls to improve operating effectiveness. Transmitters will be installed to measure and record well levels, well pump rates, and storage tank levels. This data will enhance our ability to optimize pumping schedules. Controls will add the ability to exercise more flexible pumping schedules in place of the current system that can only turn all wells on or off simultaneously based on the storage tank level.
• July 7 Update – Well capacity continues to be limited and bulk deliveries are used to allow the wells to rest in hopes of improving their longer term production capacity.
• June 22 Update – Well capacity continues to be limited and bulk deliveries are used to allow the wells to rest in hopes of improving their longer term production capacity.
• June 15 Update – Well capacity continues to be limited and bulk deliveries are needed periodically to allow the wells to rest. This improves their production capacity, which declines rapidly if the wells run for too long.
• June 12 Update – Well capacity continues to be limited. Staff is working to more accurately quantify what each wells can produce, yet it is not in much excess over daily inside residential demand.
• June 8 Update – New pumps in Wells 1 and 2, and their associated electrical systems, are fully functional. The new pumps can pump more than the wells are capable of producing, which has resulted in automatic shutdowns; an equipment feature to protect the pumps from damage. Today, we installed valves that will allow us to manually throttle flow rates to sustainable levels. In a week or two, we will have determined the production capacity of each well more accurately.
• June 5 Update – Well #2 placed back into service on June 2. This week, pumps in Wells #1 and #2 are undergoing operating adjustments to maximize production capacity.
• May 31 Update – Removed pump from Well #2 on Tuesday, May 30. Installed new pump and motor in Well #2 on Wednesday, May 31, and chlorinated well.  Water samples will be collected on Thursday or Friday, after flushing well.
• May 27 Update – Flushed Well #1 on Thursday and Friday, and collected water quality samples from the well on Friday. Well #1 placed back into service on Saturday, May 26. Plan is to remove pump from Well #2 on Tuesday, May 30, and make any necessary repairs/replacements. Well #2 is expected to be out of service for several days for pump removal, inspection, repairs/replacements, chlorination, flushing, and water quality testing.
• May 24 Update – Replaced Well #1 pump/motor and connecting piping, and chlorinated the well. Water quality samples will be collected on May 25. Plan is to remove Well #2 pump/motor on May 30 for inspection, and possible replacement.
• May 23 Update – Removed the pump from Well #1 and discovered issues that there were limiting its production (a hole in the column discharge pipe)
• May 22 Update – We have scheduled a contractor for Tuesday, May 23 to inspect, and possibly replace, some of the well pumps. Given the depth of the wells (500+ feet) and equipment lead times, it’s likely to take a day or two to do this for one of the wells. If the pumps are the cause of the production problem, this should restore production capacity to a satisfactory level. If the bedrock fractures feeding the wells are the cause of the production problem, rehabilitating the wells may restore capacity, but this is a lengthier process (at least a weeklong process for each well).

New Well

• August 9 Update – Because the first well site failed to produce a viable well, we are evaluating other nearby areas for possible new well locations. This involves performing a fracture trace analysis and a very-low frequency geophysical survey to identify the locations of underground water bearing fractures. This work expected to be performed over the next two to three months.
• July 25 Update – Because the previous test well produced poor results (see June 19 update below), we are performing a more rigorous evaluation of the proposed site for the second well. We have also expanded the scope of new source development to assess if there are any other viable locations nearby that might produce better results.
• July 7 Update – Work on the second exploration well is currently on hold.
• June 22 Update – Work on the second exploration well will begin in a few weeks.
• June 19 Update – The first exploration well was drilled this week to a depth of 815 feet, yet could only produce about one gallon per minute. This volume is not enough to warrant further development. The driller is expected to return to drill the second exploration well in a few weeks.
• June 8 Update – Drilling of the first exploration well is in progress.
• May 23 Update – We are also in the process of evaluating another property in the area as a potential new well site.  Due to permitting requirements, this effort has taken more than a year. Well drilling will begin at the first site this week, and is planned to continue next week at the second site. Once drilled, pumping tests will be performed to evaluate how much water might be available. Although we are hopeful that a well at this new site will provide a long-term solution to supply constraints for the system, we would not expect a new well to be active for more than a year.
  

Leak Detection and Repair

• July 25 Update - Night flow rates continue to be low, indicating that no large leaks are present in the system. Also, work started this week on pressure regulating valve repairs and the installation of some new system valves. This work will improve control of flow and pressure in the system and reduce the extent of future shutdowns that may be needed for leak repairs.
• July 7 Update – Flow rates at night when residential use is near zero indicate that no large leaks are present in the system.
• June 22 Update – Flow rates at night when residential use is near zero indicate that no large leaks are present in the system.
• June 5 Update – We are continuing to observe production data every day for evidence of leaks in the distribution system.  As of today, there is no indication of any new ones since the two repairs done last month.
  
• May 27 Update – With the repair of the leak and conservation, system water demands have decreased by more than 30%.  Aquarion sincerely appreciates the conservation efforts of our customers.
• May 23 Update – Repaired the leak that was found on May 22.
• May 22 Update – We are also working to minimize water losses in the distribution system. We performed a leak survey on Monday, May 22, and found one small leak. We will repair this leak on Tuesday, May 23. We also found and fixed a leak earlier in May.

Community Meeting

Aquarion staff (John Walsh, Carl McMorran and Taylor deOgburn) met with community members on Wednesday, June 7. Presentation slides (and annotated comments) can be viewed here.

Water Conservation

• July 25 Update – Please continue to minimize outdoor water uses, and conserve water in general.
• July 7 Update – Well capacity continues to be limited. Please do not use domestic, potable water for outside water uses, and avoid any unnecessary inside uses.
• June 22 Update – Well capacity continues to be limited. Please do not use domestic, potable water for outside water uses, and avoid any unnecessary inside uses.
• June 12 Update – Well capacity continues to be limited. Please do not use domestic, potable water for outside water uses, and avoid any unnecessary inside uses.
• May 23 Update – To ensure that water is available for essential needs, please continue to conserve water as requested on May 19. Production capacity is sufficient to meet normal, routine indoor uses, but we ask customers to continue to refrain from outdoor watering.