County explores new well, pump upgrades and storage at County Line to speed water truck fills

Jefferson County received an update on options to increase water production at the County Line site and on the trade-offs among drilling a new well, upgrading the existing pump, or adding above-ground storage tanks.

County staff and engineers presented two main options: drill a new 10-inch well (with 14-inch casing through upper formation and 10-inch through the lower) expected to yield roughly 400—500 gallons per minute, or upgrade the existing pump from an estimated five-horsepower to a 10-horsepower pump. Staff said the existing well (reported casing size six inches, depth about 538 feet) currently produces about 71 gallons per minute and takes about 6—1/2 hours to fill a county water truck; a well that produced 400—500 gpm would cut fill time to roughly 16—18 minutes.

Engineers quoted drilling and casing scenarios; county staff noted quotes and additional vendor bids are needed. Meeting discussion emphasized a critical constraint: any new well or increased diversion could trigger protests or require proper water rights. Staff said they would research whether the property has existing water rights or a domestic-exemption filing and check historic drilling records with the state. The county also discussed above-ground storage tanks as a mitigating option for immediate needs but flagged winter freeze risk and the cost of larger tanks and pumps.

Commissioners asked staff to gather additional bids and to confirm water-rights status before committing to drilling. Staff noted storage and recharge options are under discussion and that locating previously available storage (including potential purchases or partnerships) might offer near-term mitigation while the rights question is resolved.

No formal funding decision or drilling order was made at the meeting; staff will return with water-rights verification, additional quotes and a recommended path forward.