Lemont Approves $221K For Emergency Well Repairs

LEMONT, IL — Progress on Well No. 6 is moving slow, Public Works Director Ralph Pukula said during Monday's Village Board meeting. Pukula said the village is waiting on pipe threading, and the "moving goal" is to finish up the threading this week, and "remobilize" by mid-next week.

Later in the meeting, the Village Board approved a $221,540 proposal for emergency repairs for the well.

"Everything is ready to be put back in the hole, except the pipe," Pukula said.

The pipe threading had been stretched due to the weight of the motor and pipe that had been added on, Pukula said.

"One might ask, why not just buy all new pipe," Pukula said. "It's not that easy. You just can't get [the materials]."

For new materials, it may be 18-24 weeks for pipe, Pukula said.

"We cannot wait that long, we've got to get this well back online," he said.

The well first failed in June, and an outdoor watering ban has been in place since then. The capacity of the remaining wells can handle indoor water use, but the Village has asked residents to refrain from sprinkler use or spraying lawns so water can be conserved.

The board approved $197,715 for the repairs, as well as an additional $24,365 to install new round submersible cable and hipot cable reports, for a total of $221,540.

The board waived competitive bidding and authorized Layne Christensen to do the repairs. The company has done work on the wells in Lemont previously.

Additional work and costs may be needed to complete the project.

The Village has 103 miles of looped water main, four deep wells and a shallow emergency well, board documents. Well 6 is one of two wells which pumps the most water for the village.

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