Cedar City Council approves expenditures to advance new well after positive test pumping

Cedar City — The Cedar City Council voted Nov. 12 to move forward with expenditures to develop a municipal well south of 3000 North after city engineers reported encouraging test-pump results and recommended a change order to protect nearby residential plumbing.

City engineering staff said the test pump ran long enough to show about six hours of stabilized drawdown and a peak pump rate near 1,800 gallons per minute. "We were able to see at least 6 hours of stabilized drawdown," Jonathan Stouthis, identified in the meeting materials as the city engineering representative, told the council. He said the state typically certifies a well at about two-thirds of the observed pumping rate — roughly 1,200 gpm in this case — and that sand content measured about 10 parts per million (staff said a lower value around 5 ppm is preferable).

Why it matters: The test-pump data indicate the well is a viable near-term source of culinary water for the city, reducing the need to pipe water across long distances. Council members highlighted the efficiency of tying the well into nearby distribution mains rather than hauling water multiple miles.

Costs and council action: Stouthis asked the council to approve an additional work package to install special sewer materials beneath townhome units adjacent to the well site. A plumbing subcontractor representative explained the $120,000 figure as a not-to-exceed change order reflecting material upcharges and fusion-welded installation requirements for piping. "This is a not to exceed number," the subcontractor said, noting the contractor would provide itemized invoices and expected the figure could fall if alternative suppliers and timely shipping reduce costs.

Council members asked whether the city would pay only the incremental increase (a change order) or the whole installed cost; staff and the contractor confirmed the $120,000 was the upcharge for switching materials, not a double payment. Council also discussed funding: staff said there were excess funds in the Martin's Flat culinary well fund that could be reallocated, but a formal budget amendment would be required.

The motion to accept the proposal and proceed with the expenditures carried on a voice vote. The motion included authorization to prepare the necessary budget revision for the Martin's Flat culinary well fund.

What happens next: Staff said they will call state regulators for follow-up on certification steps, run a camera inspection when pumps are pulled, and provide itemized contractor invoices for the change order. The council did not set a separate effective date; staff will return with any required budget amendment paperwork.

Clarifying details from the meeting: city engineers reported six hours of stabilized drawdown; peak observed pumping ~1,800 gpm; state certification rate estimated at ~1,200 gpm; measured sand about 10 ppm; contractor presented a not-to-exceed $120,000 change order for special sewer materials; an earlier line-item noted roughly $1,012,000 in prior related costs (as discussed during questioning). The council approved proceeding and directed staff to prepare budget amendment documentation for funding from the Martin's Flat culinary well fund.