County approves expanded Spring Valley test well after crews find larger aquifer

The Board of Supervisors approved change order number 1 to the construction contract for Spring Valley test wells on June 17 after well drillers discovered water-bearing formations below the originally planned test depth.

Special Districts Administrator Robin Foray told the board the original contract called for drilling to 300 feet at a cost of $147,000, but during drilling crews encountered rock layers and a deeper aquifer. The driller extended drilling to approximately 560 feet and completed reaming, casing and screening work. The change order for the additional work totals $133,400, bringing the contract value to $280,400.

Foray said preliminary pumping and testing show the deeper well may yield about 300 gallons per minute, a sizable increase compared with the county's existing water plant production of about 190 gpm. "This is a huge win for Spring Valley," Foray said, noting the well work is fully grant-funded and that the county had a state mandate to secure a secondary water source for the Spring Valley community. The item approved today covers drilling and completion; the county will solicit competitive bids for retrofitting the well with a pump and surface facilities.

Board action: Motion to approve change order and authorize the Special Districts Administrator to sign the construction contract change was offered and approved.

Why it matters: Spring Valley has only one primary access and a single water source; county staff and residents have sought improved emergency access and water redundancy. A productive test well that exceeds existing plant output would provide a backup source and reduce vulnerability for the community.

Next steps: Contractor will finish test pumping and water-quality sampling, staff will evaluate pump sizing and call for bids for the retrofit and pump installation, and the county will coordinate design and permitting for a production well and connection to the water system.