Montgomery Fixing Old Wells, Drilling a New One

is having well trouble, and village leaders are poised to spend more than $215,000 on a solution.

First, on March 3, one of the village’s 14 wells (No. 4) failed, and had to be shut down. According to a letter written by engineer Pete Wallers on May 17, testing of the well’s equipment showed a failure in the pumping assembly, one that could potentially lead to further damage if left running.

Then on March 14, the pump and motor of Well No. 11 also failed, and had to be shut down as well. Both wells were inspected by Layne Western Company of Aurora, the “only qualified contractor in our region that is capable and authorized to perform the outlined rehabilitation work,” according to Wallers’ letter.

Because of that, this work cannot be bid out, said  Director Mike Pubentz. Layne Western’s estimates would see the village spending $146,769 on Well No. 4, and $68,372 on Well No. 11.

Trustees approved both contracts Monday night. Pubentz said there has been no issue with water supplies, and neither well’s malfunctions constitutes an emergency, but would like to see the wells repaired and the village returned to full pumping strength as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the village is moving ahead with a plan to expand and improve its well water system, to the tune of around $2.9 million. Village leaders announced this week that a hoped-for low interest loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency had come through, and will be used to pay for the upgrades.

The plan calls for the drilling of a new well, the 15th, on the village’s Civic Center Drive campus, and connection of that well to the treatment plant on Gordon Road via a new water main.

That plant and the well that it serves (No. 14), also will be improved.

Pubentz said the drilling of a new well does not mean there is a water shortage, but is a way of keeping ahead of the curve on the village’s west side. Layne-Western will drill the new well,  while Superior Excavating of Channahon will install the new water main, and Concord Construction of Lake Zurich will complete the upgrades to the treatment plant and Well No. 14.

Construction is expected to begin in June, and wrap up in December. The IEPA loan is set at 1.25 percent interest, and can be paid back over 20 years, village officials said.