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FieldTurf: JWMS irrigation pumps delivering about half the water needed; committee to study consolidation or new wells
Summary
FieldTurf told the Region 4 Fields Renovation Advisory Committee that two newly drilled pumps at JWMS are yielding roughly half the water required for three grass fields. The committee asked the vendor and administration to evaluate options, including consolidating irrigation or drilling additional wells, before taking action.
FieldTurf told the Region 4 Fields Renovation Advisory Committee on Sept. 3 that two newly drilled pumps at John W. Middle School (JWMS) are producing about half the water needed to operate irrigation for three grass playing surfaces. The chairman opened the 5:01 p.m. meeting and heard the update from FieldTurf representative Chris Hulk.
"The water yield from the two pumps drilled was about half of what was needed for the three grass playing surfaces," Chris Hulk said, describing the shortfall and its operational implications. He outlined three options: spread limited water across all three fields, consolidate irrigation to a single primary field, or drill additional wells.
Hulk said consolidating all irrigation to one main field would reduce in‑ground infrastructure work and produce "a credit of approximately $50,000" on the project, while drilling additional wells would carry an estimated extra cost of "approximately $50,000." The committee asked FieldTurf and district administration to continue investigating the options and to bring recommendations back to the committee; no decision was made at the meeting.
Committee Chair Miriam Morrissey said the group wanted a full vetting of alternatives before approving changes. "We asked FieldTurf and administration to look at all options prior to the next meeting," Morrissey said, noting the committee was not authorizing immediate work.
The irrigation shortfall ties into the broader athletic fields project budget and schedule; committee members signaled concern for maintaining field availability while avoiding unplanned costs. The committee scheduled further review and did not adopt any change at the meeting.
Next steps: FieldTurf and school administration will investigate the technical and cost implications of consolidation versus drilling new wells and report back to the advisory committee at a future meeting.
