City looks to state grant for well improvement

An infrastructure grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation may offset more than half the renovation costs to the city’s Ranney well.

Duane Ellis, director of public works, said the city is looking to apply for a $450,000 grant to help with the renovations of the Ranney well.

“It’s a sizable grant, so we’re hopeful we’ll get something out of it,” he said. “These grants are a ‘what if.’ Maybe we’ll get it, maybe we won’t. They said they would let us know by April.”

Ellis said the original plan was to have the well renovations complete by July. But if the city is offered the grant, renovations would not finish until the fall.

The City Commission authorized a survey on the well at its Jan. 25 meeting for $33,550. Brechtel Radial Collector Wells will determine where new laterals can be installed to maximize the efficiency of the well.

“We have reached the point where we may have to make a very large investment,” said City Commissioner Kathy Ling at last week’s meeting.

The cost for the well improvement could reach as high as $700,000, Ellis said.

The current well is pumping about 60 percent of the city’s needs, or about 1.7 million gallons a day. Once new laterals are installed, Ellis hopes the well can produce about 30 percent more water. He said at least three laterals need to be installed.

“If we can get it up to three (million), it will produce about 90 percent of the water that the city needs,” he said.

How it works

Ranney wells operate differently than the more common vertical wells, Ellis said.

Water is collected from laterals about 45 feet below the surface, compared to a few hundred feet with more common vertical wells. The laterals each have screens to filter sediment, and the water flows to a main chamber, where it can be pumped out.

“It’s more efficient energy-wise because you’re pumping the water a lot less,” Ellis said.

In addition to saving energy, Ellis said the water taken from the Ranney well requires less treatment. Because the water is so close to the surface, it has less minerals and requires less “softening,” or removing of chemicals and minerals.