Emergency forces Hull-Daisetta communities to conserve water
Daisetta Utility Superintendent John Wright (left) shows councilmembers a sample of sediment pulled from the city’s water supply. Wright explained that it was essential to lower production levels on the well that impacts Daisetta and customers of the Hull Fresh Water Supply, while efforts are made to build new wells.
DAISETTA- City officials met on Tuesday for an emergency meeting as they look to ease issues associated with water in the city, joining the Hull Fresh Water Supply in calling for an emergency conservation order.
Issues with the HFWS water well began on Monday, Aug. 25, leading to repairs after the system started producing lower-than-normal water amounts.
Sediment has been accumulating inside the system due to a hole in the well. A system that is shared by residents in Hull and the city of Daisetta.
After investigation by several parties, it has been determined that the well cannot be repaired.
“The question was what can we do to prolong the life of this well until the new one is drilled,” Councilwoman Cindy Burchfield said. “The answer is, the only thing we can do to try to prolong it, is to reduce the volume of water coming out of the well through water conservation.”
Work is already underway to begin work on a new water well, one by the HFWS and another by the city, which is further behind in the planning stages.
For now, both entities have given the green light to the emergency water plan, asking residents to limit their usage of water while the current well runs at a lower production level.
Work on a new well at the site of the existing HFWS well was already expected in the near future, but according to Burchfield, it could get underway as soon as a month, due to the emergency issues.
“I believe it will happen pretty quickly,” Burchfield said.
Utility Superintendent John Wright was present for the special meeting and brought samples of the sediment being produced by the well. He explained to council that reducing the production level of the well would cut down on the buildup, as well as help to prolong the pump.
Wright made it clear that the water was absolutely safe to drink, but that residents needed to do what they could to reduce their usage.
“All we’re asking is don’t have a slip’n slide,” Wright said.
An official notice is expected to be sent to customers in both communities, about 400 of whom are in the city, while around 280 reside in Hull.
Burchfield said that a spare pump is being tested out in the event anything happens to the current pump, while Mayor Chancie Bailey made clear that all parties were prepared for any worst-case scenarios.
“We’re doing all the things,” Bailey said.
An update was also given on efforts to build a new well specifically for the city. Currently, testing is underway on two separate water pockets at different depths.
According to Bailey, hydrologists believed an initial test was sufficient to produce quality water. Still, leadership wanted them to test a deeper pocket, in an effort to assure residents they would be getting the best possible quality.
“We want to know, we want documentation that we are giving the best possible water that we can,” Bailey said.
Official notifications are expected to be sent to the community as leaders in both communities work to conserve water, with efforts progressing on new wells for Hull and Daisetta.