White Rock System Update

Last updated: April 16, 2024

Project Update

On Monday, April 22, Aquarion will begin a well redevelopment project on Well 2. 

• The well is expected to be out of service for one to two weeks.
• The project involves cleaning the well and bedrock fractures that feed water into it.
• During this project, our water supply will be limited to Well 3 and bulk water purchases. Please conserve water during this period to help ensure adequate water is available for essential indoor needs.
• Outside water uses are prohibited.

Community Meeting

Aquarion staff met with community members on Wednesday, March 27. Presentation slides can be viewed below.

Community Meeting FAQs

Where are the pressure reducing valve (PRV) replacements?

Two were replaced last year. They are located:

• Near the corner of Rocky Point Drive and Shore View Drive.
• Near the corner of Rocky Point Drive and Old Coach Road.

The remaining three will be replaced this year. They are located:

• Near the corner of Surrey Coach Lane and Hemlock Road.
• Near the corner of Surrey Drive and Hemlock Road.
• Near the corner of Rocky Point Drive and Oak Ridge Road.

How is the data from well and meter telemetry recorded?  Who can sees and access this information?

The data is transmitted to the company’s servers where it is stored in a database of operating data. This is an internal database used by operations and engineering staffs and is not accessible by the public.

Regarding the redevelopment of Well 2, where does the bulk water coming from?

The majority is trucked from the Manchester Water Works Department.  A few loads are obtained from the Bow Water Department.

Why are bulk deliveries needed?

Normal system demand exceeds the production capacity of Well 3.  Bulk deliveries make up the difference.

Regarding redevelopment, how does the carbon dioxide (CO2) process work?

• Liquid CO2 is pumped down into the well and into the bedrock fractures that allow water to flow into the well.
• Liquid CO2 dislodges bacteria and sediment that have plugged the fractures.
• Some of the CO2 vaporizes and the resulting gas bubbles also help dislodge bacteria and sediment.
• The temperature of the CO2 (-35^o F) also kills bacteria and freezes water in the fractures.  The resulting ice expansion also dislodges sediment.
• CO2 and water are surged back and forth in the fractures, then flushed to clean out the fractures.
• After flushing shows that CO2 and sediment has been removed, the water is tested to confirm that no contaminants remain before the well is put back into service.

Is it CO2 safe?

Yes, CO2 is not a contaminant and leaves no residues in the well.

Can you monitor the pressure in the system during the redevelopment?

Yes, the well is isolated from the rest of the system, and redevelopment has no impact on system pressures.

Can we get larger storage tanks so there is not a need for bulk water?

Because the redevelopment will take 10 to 14 days, a tank would have to be able to hold up to 150,000 gallons to last long enough to avoid bulk deliveries.  Temporary tanks of this size are not available.

What time will bulk water deliveries be made?

The company is scheduling daily deliveries at about 10:30 a.m.

Is Well 1 still a viable option?  Can it be drilled down more to match the other wells?

• The company has stopped pumping Well 1 because data shows that is pumps from the same bedrock fractures as Well 2.
• Drilling deeper will not improve its capacity.  It will continue to compete with Well 2 for water in the same fracture.  Deeper fractures are also under greater pressure so they are not large enough to provide larger volumes of water.

What happened to the grant money for the new well exploration?  Is any being used for the redevelopment of Well 2? 

Yes.

Is there any other grant money for this project?

The company’s engineering department submits applications for both grants and low interest loans, however most state funding is being directed towards PFAS and lead service line replacement projects.

What happens for meter changes, what is the process?

An appointment is made for a service technician to come to the customer’s house to replace the meter.

How long will it take?

Typically 10 or 15 minutes, unless access to the meter is blocked.

Do the meters have alarms that will notify someone if there is a leak inside the home?

Such meters are available in the industry, but not currently used by the company.  The cost of replacing existing meters and adding the necessary communications systems does not make this a cost-effective option.  However, the company tracks meter readings and informs customers of high readings that may be indicative of a leak.  It is also easy for a customer to observe the meter directly to see if there is an an active leak at home.  Go to www.aquarionwater.com/conservation/how-to-find-leaks to learn how.

Can a plumber be coordinated with the meter change if a customer wants to have a new shut off  installed?

Yes, if an appointment is scheduled with plenty of advance notice.  You may also schedule a separate appointment to shut off the service for this work.

What are suggestions for when people are away.  Should we shut of the internal valve?

This can be done if the shut off valve works properly.

What maps are available and are we keeping track of where the repairs have been made?

The company maps its systems within a geographic information system (GIS) which tracks locations, materials, repairs and main breaks, and other information.  However, for security reasons these maps are not available to the public.

How much of an impact did the leak repairs make on the system?

See slide 7 in the presentation.  This leak averaged 4 gallons per minute (5,760 gallons per day) between January 1 and January 25.  Fixing it reduced total daily pumping volume by a third.

How old are the wells?

• Wells 1 and 2 were drilled in 1966.
• Well 3 was drilled in 1987.

What is Safety Valve?

Safety Valve is Aquarion's service line protection program.  Questions are best answered from the website at www.safetyvalveplans.com.