Mendon residents will have more water soon, but well’s not ready yet
September 14th, 2012 Posted in OpinionBy Brandon Fonda
MENDON – Water supply has been an increasing problem in Mendon because of new housing developments. Residents voiced concerns about the lack of irrigation and culinary water recently at a City Council meeting.
In response, Mayor Ed Buist and council members said a well is being dug and will be available for public use soon.
“Water is the biggest issue in Mendon,” said Al Snyder, a member of Cobblestone Home Owners Association, a development south of Mendon.
Mendon’s irrigation water comes from a canal connected to Hyrum Dam. Once the canal water runs dry, which happened four weeks ago, people must use culinary water to water their lawns. This culinary water comes from a natural spring and a well located in Cobblestone.
“Even though the culinary water is more expensive, people still use it to keep their grass green,” Snyder said. “This creates a water shortage which then leads to water rations for everybody.”
The most recent water rationing occurred in 2009, when nitrate levels in the water increased enough to make the water undrinkable in the Cobblestone well. Buist said that in order to prevent future rationing, the water is being treated and is now usable in the well.
But with the new housing developments in Mendon, one working well is not enough anymore, he said. In response to that need, a successful well has been dug that can continually produce culinary water for the city.
“A new well has been dug,” Buist said, “our immediate plan is to get this new well online as soon as possible.”
Public Works Director Kirk Taylor said the new well is very close to being done. “We are now waiting on getting a pump installed and then afterwards sending the water levels to the state for examining,” Taylor said.
No specific date was given for when the well will be usable.
NW
Tags: Cobblestone, Mendon, water rationing, water supply, wells
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