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TO:       MEMBERS OF THE MAINE WATER WELL COMMISSION

 

FROM:     Edward Bowie, Chairman

 

date:     october 2, 2007, 2007

 

subject:  Meeting Tuesday, october 2, 2007

 

The next Commission meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at 9:00 A.M., at the Maine Motor Transport, Whitten Road, Augusta, ME. 

 

 

AGENDA FOR NOVEMBER MEETING

 

1.  Approve the October 2, 2007 minutes

 

2.  Discuss pending matters, complaints,

Responses, application, etc.

 

3.  New Business

 

4.  Public Comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAINE WATER WELL DRILLING COMMISSION

 

Minutes of October 2, 2007 Meeting

 

Members Present:

Ed Bowie, Chairman

Glenn Dyer, Driller

Dwight Doughty, DOT

David Braley, DWP

Marc Loiselle, MGS

Ira Goodwin, Driller

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Others Present:

Paul Gauvreau, AAG

Carol Champagne, Board Clerk

Dean Getchell, Inspector

Pratt, Driller

Mr. & Mrs. Perkins

Mr. & Mrs. Lafreniere

Barry Sanford, Driller

 

 

 

 

 

Call to Order:

 

Meeting was called to order at 9:10 AM.

 

Approval of September 2, 2007 meeting minutes:

 

The Commission made a motion to approve the September 2, 2007 minutes with one correction in wording. Passed.

 

Up Date on Complaints:

 

Gary Lafreniere vs Pine State Drilling Inc:  Dean Getchell presented his report of the on-site inspection.  The base of the case is leaking.  The well is 269 feet deep with a soft bottom, probably sediment that has entered the well.  The pump is set at 260 feet. 

 

Barry Sanford stated that the casing had lifted from frost during the winter and he tried pounding in down 1 5/8 inch. 

 

Gary Lafreniere felt the well was 269 feet deep and not 285 feet and the pitless froze.  Sediment was coming into the house as gray water and affected the appliances.

 

The Commission’s discussion explained the difference in depth could be silt build up because of the soft bottom and the well set for 2 or 3 months.   The Commission found a violation of Rule 401.5.  Failure to install a proper length of casing and/or to affect a proper casing seal.

Don Robbins made a motion that the video and Dean’s report showed the casing is leaking. In violation of Rule 401.5.  Glenn Dyer 2nd the motion Passed.  The violation was in the attempt to repair the lifted casing.  Ike Goodwin addressed the fact the bottom being soft is an indication the well was silted in.

 

Corrective Action:  Ike suggested using a sand pump to clean some sediment from the bottom of the well.  Ike Goodwin made a motion to install a liner with bottom and top Jaswell type seals. Both seals must be water tight.  Dean Getchell will inspect after the work is completed.  Ed Bowie 2nd the motion.  Passed

 

Pine State Drilling will attempt to remove sediment from the bottom of the well.

 

Points: Violation of Rule 401.5, 5 points. Applicable to driller and company.

 

Dean inspected corrective action, seals are installed no leakage observed.  Closed no water test required.

 

David Perkins vs. Merl “Sam” Dunham Inc:   The water is tannic and the color of ice tea with red clay and rock sediment.  The Perkins’ are using a hand pump in their well.

 

     Don Robbins made a motion to have Dean Getchell inspect the well.  Glenn Dyer 2nd the motion.  Passed    

 

     Mr. Dunham and Theron Perkins must come to the November meeting. 

 

Up Date on Sheriffs:

 

The Sheriff’s Association asked if the Commission needed any special format for the sheriff to follow when they get a call from the office.

 

The Commission is satisfied with the handling of the case on August 28th. 

 

Update on Appeals:

 

Wells Unlimited - Doug Wright:  Mr. Wright has not complied with the Commission’s order for corrective action.  

 

Marc Loiselle made a motion that if we don’t receive all written confirmation that correction action is completed or an explanation, and all paperwork filed with the Commission.  Mr. Wright’s driller’s license and company license will be suspended.

 

A letter will be sent to Mr. Crane with notification of corrective action. Mr. Crane failing to allow the corrective action to be completed will result in the Commission finding that the well is a significant threat to public health.  The Commission will then seek a court order requiring it’s abandonment at homeowner expense. Glenn Dyer 2nd the motion.  Passed

 

Rachel Charette vs Kevin Levesque Well Drilling: Mrs. Charette has settled the civil action with Kevin Levesque Well Drilling.  Closed

 

Up Date on Complaints:

 

Cecil Fogg vs Bill Knowlton Well Drilling: A letter was received from Mr. Fogg expressing his disappointment with the case.

 

Sandy Forde vs D & M Well Drilling Inc:  Seals have been installed and Dean Getchell will inspect the corrective action.  A water test will be taken

    

     The Commission received a concern notice on a drilled well’s setback.

 

     A letter will be sent to Mr. Knowlton asking if a Specialty Well Application was requested. 

 

Specialty Well Applications:

 

Charlie Benner – Innis Well Drilling: 

 

70 feet from leach field and 35 feet from the septic tank.

 

Approved with a minimum of 100 feet of 6 inch steel casing sealed into bedrock or as an alternative, a minimum of 20 feet of 6 inch steel casing sealed into bedrock with a solid 4 inch liner installed with top and bottom Jaswell type seals with bottom seal a minimum of 100 feet below grade and tip seal up inside 6 inch steel well casing.  Bottom and top seals shall be water tight.    

 

     Charlyn Twitchell - Delwin Philbrick Well Drilling Inc:

 

     54 feet from leach field and 30 feet from the tank.

     Approved with a minimum of 100 feet of 6 inch steel casing sealed into bedrock or as an alternative, a minimum of 20 feet of 6 inch steel casing sealed into bedrock with a solid 4 inch liner installed with top and bottom Jaswell type seals with bottom seal a minimum of 100 feet below grade and tip seal up inside 6 inch steel well casing.  Bottom and top seals shall be water tight.

 

 

     Caroline N Levine – Goodwin Well & Water Inc:

 

     36.5 feet from the leach and 46.5 feet from neighbor’s septic tank. To replace a petroleum contaminated dug well.

     Approved with a minimum of 120 feet of 6 inch steel casing grouted bottom to top at a minimum of 100 feet, with the outside casing or PVC sleave with a minimum of 2 inch nominal thickness using manufactures accepted procedures.  With bottom and top Jaswell type seals. Ike Goodwin recuse from voting.

 

Specialty Well Application approved in house:

 

     Gary & Colleen Magur – Ronnie Shannon Well Drilling Inc:

 

     75 feet from septic tank and 50 feet from the leachfield.

 

     Approved with a minimum of 6 inch steel casing sealed into bedrock to a depth just above the first fresh water bearing fracture, with a minimum of 20 feet of casing.  As an alternative, a minimum of 20 feet of 6 inch steel casing shall be sealed into bedrock with a solid 4 inch liner installed with top and bottom Jaswell type steel core seals with bottom seal just above the fresh water fracture and top seal up inside 6 inch steel well casing.  Both top and bottom seals shall be water tight.

 

     Joshua O Riggs – Lawrence Lord & Sons Inc:

 

     53 feet from the leach septic disposal bed for graywater only.

 

     Approved with a minimum of 100 feet of 6 inch steel casing sealed into bedrock or as an alternative, a minimum of 20 feet of 6 inch steel casing shall be sealed into bedrock with a solid 4 inch liner installed with top and bottom Jaswell type steel core seals with bottom seal a minimum of 100 feet below grade and top seal up inside 6 inch steel well casing.  Both top and bottom seals shall be water tight.

    

Exams requested:

 

     Thomas O Mason, Moosehead Water Wells LLC, requested to sit for the Journeyman Well Driller Exam.

 

     Ike Goodwin made a motion to allow Mr. Mason to sit for the exam, Glenn Dyer 2nd the motion.  Accepted by the Commission.

 

Examinations Passed in September:  

 

     John Bibber, Baker Well Drilling, Topsham ME, passed his Master Pump Installer exam.

 

New Business

 

     The Commission is an independent Commission and will be paying 5% of Paul Gauvreau salary.

 

Meeting Dates for 2007 

 

          January 9, 2007         July 10, 2007

          February 6, 2007        August 7, 2007

          March 6, 2007           September 4, 2007

          April 3, 2007           October 2, 2007

          May 1, 2007             November 6, 2007

          June 5, 2007            December 11, 2007

 

Subject to change.

                       

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  The next Well Drillers Meeting will be:  Tuesday November 6, 2007, at 9:00 Maine Motor Transport on the Whitten Road in Augusta.

 

 

It was also decided to move the December meeting back a week to Tuesday December 11t, 2007, to accommodate the annual NGWA meeting.  It will be at the Maine Motor Transport on the Whitten Road in Augusta.

 

Meeting Adjourned 1:15 P.M.