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Fillmore staff: Well 10 drilling delayed by rock; 24‑hour noisy operations set for Feb. 6–20 and Mar. 14–23
Summary
Public works staff reported that drilling for Well 10 encountered cobble and boulder‑sized rock, delaying the work; a 24‑hour drilling phase will begin Feb. 6 (with four especially noisy days) and a second noisy period is scheduled in mid‑March. Staff said cost impacts are possible but not yet quantified.
City public works staff updated the Fillmore City Council Jan. 27 on progress and delays at the Well 10 drilling project after crews encountered significant cobble and boulder‑sized material while installing the conductor pipe.
"We hit rock all throughout," Public Works staff member Joe said, describing the difficulty of placing the conductor pipe and explaining the work that removed a car‑sized boulder and completed concrete work around the pipe. He said crews were able to install the conductor pipe prior to the council meeting but that the pipe required special attention to reach acceptable plumb alignment.
Staff now projects a 24‑hour drilling phase beginning Feb. 6 and running through Feb. 20; staff said only four days during that window are expected to include the loudest activity (metal contact and heavy rig operations). A second 24‑hour noisy period is scheduled for Mar. 14–23. Beyond the noisy days, staff said there will be additional pumping and sampling activities.
Council members asked whether the subsurface rock would affect long‑term well stability or seismic resilience; staff said the conductor pipe is a rigid steel casing and that, provided the earth moves as a unit, the installed conductor through the rock should remain stable. When asked about budget impacts, staff said contingency funds have been used so far and that any formal contractor cost increase request was still under negotiation.
Staff said they will continue to update the council and the school district and expand community outreach information on the city landing page; the city manager asked staff to notify residents in advance of the noisy four days and provide schedule updates as the contractor submits them.
