Well collapses in Scotts Valley

The Scotts Valley Water District announced this week that one of its wells caved in 900 feet underground, forcing the district to dig a new well.
The 25-year-old well located at the Orchard Run Treatment Plant site was the district’s top-producing well, providing 30-40 percent of the district’s potable water, said Piret Harmon, district general manager.
She said that it would be impossible to repair the well, forcing the district to increase production at other district-owned well sites. She estimated the cost at $1.6 million.
“Though we are frustrated to have suffered the problem of aging infrastructure at this scale, we remain confident we can continue to meet customer demand while developing our plan of action for a replacement well,” said Harmon.
“In the months ahead, the district will proceed with drilling a new well near the old one.”
She said the new well should be completed by the end of this year.
“In the meantime, we will rely on other sources and we ask that customers continue to use water efficiently.”
In order to be prepared for anticipated fall hot weather, district staff will have replacement pumps and motors pre-positioned in case they are needed for repairs to any of the district’s other production wells.
Additionally, the district is prepared to activate the emergency intertie with San Lorenzo Valley Water District. The intertie was completed in 2016 and was intended specifically for situations such as a well failure.
Pacific Coast Drilling has been selected to perform the drilling work.
Drilling is expected to take approximately two weeks, with work taking place 24 hours a day during this time.
The new well is projected to have a depth of 1,400 feet and capacity of up to 500 gallons per minute.