Negaunee-Ishpeming Water Authority to install new well

ISHPEMING — The Negaunee-Ishpeming Water Authority was running its wells 24/7 for two months this past winter, causing the facility to run at full capacity.

NIWA is purchasing a new well to help reduce stress on its eight existing wells.  It will pump 300 gallons of water per minute, bringing the water facilities output to over 20,000 gallons. The well will be the first one installed since the late 1990s.

“(With) the strain put on by our production wells this past winter, we realized we needed additional source capacity, so that’s the reason why we’re looking at an additional production well to bring online to supplement our existing well fields,” NIWA manager Tony McGrath said.  “The well is needed to improve our source water capacity, improve our water quality that being delivered to our customers and also to maintain a safe, sustainable supply for the present and future.”

The new well will be located near the Ishpeming Wastewater Treatment Facility.  It will cost more than $300,000 to put in the new well, so NIWA is applying for a number of grants to help cover some of the costs.  The new well is expected to be up and running by next fall.