production artist | Krista Misener kmisener@annexweb.com
group publisher | Martin McAnulty mmcanulty@annexweb.com
president | Mike Fredericks mfredericks@annexweb.com
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4 e ditorial: s ee K ing your opinion
Send us your ideas. By Laura Aiken
8 Keeping it in the family
M&M Drilling gives honest service that goes the extra mile.
12 the world of pumps
Association update, industry news and new products.
15 noisy data?
Find out why your water level readings look weird.
20 p ipelines and wells face off
Your update on government sponsored pipelines
ON THE WEB:
Ground water depletion detected from space
Scientists are using small variations in the Earth’s gravity to identify spots around the globe where people are making unsustainable demands on ground water.
Company fined $100K for false testing results
Tiger Calcium Services has been fined $100,000 in provincial court for providing false ground water testing results to the Alberta government.
Seeking your opinion
Send us your ideas on what you’d like to see in these pages.
by Laura Aiken
iwent to my first two ground water industry events, and, lo and happily behold, golf was an option for both of them. In my last editorial, I saw the links (no pun intended) between my other forays into food writing and the ground water industry. It’s nice to see the ground water industry gathers to play a sport I love and have also written much about.
I played the golf round at the Canadian Association of Pump Manufacturers meeting and it was a real pleasure to meet so many nice people. Date conflicts had me missing the Ontario Ground Water Association’s round prior to its convention and trade show, but the same theme of super nice people dominated that event. Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me with a smile and a handshake as I begin this editorial adventure, still a stranger in your midst.
Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me with a smile and a handshake as I begin this editorial adventure, still a stranger in your midst.
And now, I have a favour to ask. Already. Maybe two favours.
Firstly, I want to know what you want to read about in Ground Water Canada. I can put whatever you want to read about and see in these pages (that’s relevant, that is, let’s not get carried away). An editor’s job is to manage the editorial direction of a magazine, but all great magazines are really driven by their readers and a listening editor. So my ears are open. Shoot me an e-mail (laiken@annexweb.comm)or drop me a line (416-522-1595) next time you’re flipping through the magazine and wishing there were something in there on a problem you face or an issue you want to know more about. It could be more in-depth equipment information or opportunities to work providing safe drinking water abroad. Maybe you’d like to read a few
jokes or see more pictures. Perhaps you’d like to see more business information related to sales or customer service. We can write about that here too. I am planning to send out a readership survey and any initial feedback I receive will be helpful in creating the questions.
In addition to the magazine, our website, www. groundwatercanada.comm,is a great platform for information, and opportunities abound. This is a relatively new website and features like video spots and photo galleries can easily be incorporated into it. Just like the magazine, your opinions are welcome and appreciated in regards to what would or wouldn’t be useful for you to see or read. We send out an e-newsletter every month as well, so if you’re not receiving it, and you’d like to, be sure to sign up online.
I would also like to put together an editorial advisory board. This isn’t a large time commitment, but merely a way for the magazine to have point people to review technical articles from time to time for accuracy and relevance as well as to offer expert opinion. If you’re interested in offering your eyeballs and ears in a formal capacity, please let me know. The donation of a little bit of your time and expertise will be most appreciated and recognized by Ground Water Canada.
So there it is, just two small favours, so I can push my agenda of filling these pages with stuff you want to read. I hope it’s a busy summer for all and business is good; it’s certainly rumoured to be a hot one weather-wise.
Well, maybe one more thing. Keep golfing.
NEXT ISSUE: The next issue of Ground Water Canada will focus on geothermal. Stay tuned!
Your customers want to protect their family. You can help them be Well Aware.
As a member of the ground water industry in Canada, you can play a lead role in protecting the shared groundwater in your community by helping well owners to properly manage and maintain their wells.
Here’s how you can help … by bringing Well Aware to your province. Well Aware helps well owners identify potential risks to wells and gives the necessary knowledge to properly maintain the water quality of their wells.
Through Well Aware, you can help rural residents address issues that affect the quality of their drinking water, including:
• Finding solutions to adverse water sample results
• Understanding their responsibilities as well owners
In Ontario, Well Aware has been successfully delivered for 10 years. Quality assurance is a key component of this science-based program that is delivered using communitybased social marketing principles.
Take the First Step
Well Aware is delivered by not-for-profit environmental organizations that are members of Green Communities Canada. We can guide you and your province through the essential steps to bring Well Aware to your province: establish partnerships, adapt delivery model to be provincially relevant and seek funding opportunities.
Contact Heather Kirby at hkirby@greencommunitiescanada.org or 705-745-7479x114 to learn more about protecting our groundwater through Well Aware.
INDUSTRY NEWS
FoRMER lEaDERS URGE aCTI oN oN woR lD waTER ISSUES
Quebec City – Former heads of government from around the world are establishing a new panel to fill a “serious void” in leadership on global water issues.
The 20 members of the InterAction Council presented at the group’s annual meeting held this year in Quebec City, hope the new panel will elevate the political prominence of water issues to avert a potential water crisis.
The meeting was co-chaired by former Canadian prime minister Jean Chretien and former Austrian chancellor Franz Vranitzky. Members in attendance included former U.S. president Bill Clinton, former Mexican presidents Vicente Fox and Ernesto Zedillo, and former prime ministers Yasuo Fukuda (Japan) and Gro Brundtland (Norway).
“International water leadership is virtually nonexistent,” the council said in a statement released after the meeting. “Solutions to the water crisis need to be sought from the perspective of development, energy, technology, international law, gender equality, migration, economic progress, public health, conservation and environment.”
The council of former leaders also offered today’s office-holders 21 recommendations for world water management. Their top recommendation encourages leaders to place water “at the forefront of the global political agenda.”
Other recommendations include: linking climate change research and adaptation programs to water issues; making the right to water legally enforceable; raising the price of water to reflect its economic value while making provisions for people in poverty; preferring the growth of food over bio-fuel crops in places where water supplies are threatened; and encouraging the United Nations Security Council to take up water as an important focus.
The council also urged government’s to take a watershed-based approach, rather than piecemeal approaches that vary among countries sharing watersheds.
“Political jurisdictions have created artificial boundaries for shared resources around the world: water and rivers flow without worrying about political boundaries drawn on a map.”
For a full list of the council’s recommendations, visit www.interactioncounmcil.org.
CGC honours professor frank Clements hooper, unveils new bursary
Toronto – The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) recently recognized the pioneering research on ground source heat pump heating and cooling technology conducted more than 60 years ago by Frank Clements Hooper.
Hooper, B.Sc., DIC, FEIC, FCSME, FCAE, P.Eng. and professor emeritus of mechanical engineering at the University of Toronto, was presented with an award at the U of T’s Faculty Club, where the association also unveiled Canada’s first national bursary program for postgraduate studies related to geothermal heating and cooling.
In an article published in the Canadian Journal of Technology in 1952 and titled “An Experimental Residential Heat Pump,” professor Hooper definitively established, with indisputable evidence and strong technical argumentation, that “ground coils in suitable soils offer a satisfactory heat source in Ontario.” The article presented results of research conducted from 1949 to 1951 at the University of Toronto. Today, thanks in part to the initial work of Prof. Hooper, thousands of GSHP systems are installed in Canada every year.
Professor Hooper’s pioneering work clearly established not only the feasibility of GSHP applications in Canada but covered important concepts such as system design, system performance, soil conductivity and diffusivity, and seasonal coefficient of performance. Today, there are more than 80,000 GSHP systems installed across the country, most of them since 2005. CGC has encountered renewed interest in
geothermal research at Canadian universities, in government labs as well as in the private sector. In addition, industry intelligence suggests the imminent commercialization of many new products developed and manufactured in Canada.
To help grow the industry, the CGC established an education network it says is unique in North America. The CGC Education and Training Network comprises more than 16 colleges and universities across Canada and shows the openness and inclusivity of the CGC-led market transformation initiative. Together, network member colleges offer standardized training recognized by their Ministry of Education, and also through the CGC Global Quality GeoExchange Program.
honoured by the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition for his pioneering work.
courtesy Canadian GeoExchange Coalition
CGC also recently announced five new Canadian postgraduate bursaries jointly funded by CGC and industry partners. The first-ever national bursary program for renewable geothermal HVAC technology, designed to build on Prof. Frank Clements Hooper’s
Frank Clements Hooper was recently
Photo
Keeping it in the family
this family business focuses on honest service and going the extra mile.
Bill Murray’s family history may be hidden beneath the surface of Alberta, but every trip through the province’s wide open spaces is a trip down memory lane.
by Tr EE nA H E in
“As I drive through the countryside, I enjoy being able to pick out wells that we’ve drilled and recall situations where we had to put in the extra effort in order to get a customer water,” says Bill, who co-owns M & M Drilling Company Ltd. with his wife Jeannette in Strathmore, Alta. “It’s a really good feeling to know that you’ve been able to help someone by providing them with one of the necessities of life.”
Bill has followed in the footsteps of his father, Don, and water well drilling has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember.
“I take pride in being a part of the industry and I’m committed to any efforts that will lead to the enhancement of our future water resources,” he says. “Our business is a familyoriented operation and we strive to treat our employees as such.”
M & M got its start in seismic drilling. “My father, Don, started working in the seismic industry on a Franks rig during the winter of 1949/50 for M & W Drilling, which was owned by Hank Webster and John Mundell,” Bill remembers. “In 1952, Dad purchased Hank’s share and during that same year bought a new Mayhew rig.” In 1956, M & M Drilling was incorporated. Two years later, John Mundell retired and Don purchased his shares in the company.
M & M Drilling acquired all the licences and permits needed to do drilling work in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. The rigs criss-crossed all three provinces doing seismic
work. They went everywhere from Fort Nelson and Fort St. John, B.C., to Fort McMurray and Crowsnest Pass, Alta., to Weyburn, Sask., and many more locations, notes Bill. During these years, M & M worked for Amerada Petroleum, Weiss Geophysical, Century Geophysical, Beaver Geophysical, Teledyne and Compagnie Generale de Geophysique.
As the years passed, the company took on more and more water well drilling projects.
“In the mid ’60s, my father purchased two new Failing rigs that were more adaptable to water well drilling,” says Bill. The new rigs helped expand the business to include sales and installation of pumps, pressure systems and, more recently, water treatment systems.
The acquisition of two new Cyclone rigs also allowed the company to get involved in a much wider variety of work. “It became possible to do large diameter, high production wells, including work in downtown Calgary for air-conditioning wells in office building complexes,” explains Bill. “We also drilled a series of large capacity wells at Finnegan, Alta., to de-water river gravel for the construction of the Alberta Power Sheerness power plant water intake.” Prior to construction of the new CP Rail tunnel, M & M was also involved in exploration drilling in British Columbia’s Rogers Pass.
M & M has also done surface hole drilling for gas and oil well production, cathodic protection drilling for gas plants, and coring for Calgary’s Light Rail Transit system.
Through these and many other projects, his father became well known in the industry, building a reputation for doing whatever it took to find water for his customers. “No matter what the time of day, if someone had pump problems, my father would take care of it. He had his pilot’s licence and bought his first plane in 1950, and he surprised many a customer when he flew in to fix a problem.”
From that point on, his dad always had a plane available for the company –a tradition Bill continues.
Another tradition passed on from father to son is leadership in the industry. Don was a major force in water well drilling in Alberta and served several terms as a director on the board of the Alberta Water Well Association. Bill has done the same. In addition, he served as an alternate for the Alberta representative on the board of the Canadian Ground Water Association.
As a company, M & M Drilling belongs to the Goulds, Grundfos and Franklin Professional Dealers
Associations.
M & M is also heavily involved in the local community. “Our company is an ongoing supporter of the Strathmore Cancer Walk For Life,” says Bill. It’s also a supporter of local Heritage Days festivities and 4H activities.
In 2002, Don passed away after a lengthy illness. Ownership of the company was transferred to Bill and Jeannette.
Challenges along the way
Although M & M has retained several very long-term employees for anywhere from 15 to 30 years, Bill says that keeping workers has been one of their biggest trials. “An issue that we’ve struggled with for years is putting time, effort and money into training new employees only to have them leave to work in the oil patch. It’s one of the water well drilling industry’s biggest competitors for manpower, as employees for both require very similar training.”
As Bill explains, “Our clientele is primarily agricultural and residential,
and this results in a very different pay structure than what’s offered in the patch. What we can charge our customers for services means we are unable to compete with oil and gas wages.”
To tackle this challenge, M & M devised a retention strategy that includes offering staff as many benefits as possible, including an excellent health-care plan, company picnics and campouts, ongoing incentive programs and year-end bonuses.
“It’s also important to us that we try to create a family atmosphere within the company,” adds Bill.
Trying to stay on top of all the operational regulation changes that affect the water well drilling industry and the workforce – including transportation, health and safety, and environmental rules – is another ongoing challenge.
“It’s very frustrating at times because we spend a lot of time and effort to track regulatory updates and then implement changes to our operations to remain in compliance, only to have more changes
Jeannette and Bill Murray in front of the family business.
Photo courtesy M & M Drilling Company Ltd.
introduced in a short period of time,” says Bill. “To stay on top of it all, we’ve had to hire additional office staff – a health and safety officer and office assistants – to track, implement and report.”
From an industry-wide perspective, Bill is concerned about aquifer pollution. “A lot of old water wells were developed using a well pit as opposed to pitless adaptor systems and over the years, these well pits have deteriorated substantially,” he explains. “They now pose a threat in terms of polluting the aquifers.”
He notes that the same hazard is found at old, abandoned well sites. “Regulations need to be enforced that would require all well pits to be converted to a pitless system (or eliminated entirely), and all old water wells to be ‘retired’ correctly. There’s no one to enforce these regulations at the present and that’s a big problem.”
M & M fully supports the MultiAquifer Completion Program, an initiative being developed through Alberta Environment and industry participants. “This legislation will
regulate the use of multiple aquifers in one well and how these wells need to be developed,” Bill says. “Right now, lots of wells are developed by inter-mixing aquifers in one bore hole both inside and outside of the casing and this in time could cause quality, quantity and contamination issues for the aquifers
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involved.” The proposed legislation would likely require bentonite to be used on the outside of the casing and sealed just above the aquifer.
One of the challenges this program must address is determining a maximum gallons-per-minute rate that can be taken from multiple aquifers in order to
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The M & M logo is a familiar sight in a community the company gives back to. Photo courtesy M & M Drilling Company Ltd.
create a functioning well for the client.
“I’m also concerned about how these regulations will be implemented, given all the types of equipment – rotary, cable tool, casing hammer and boring – used to drill wells,” Bill says.
Unequal construction standards for private and commercial water
wells is another issue that Bill feels should be addressed. “If all wells were completed to the highest standard –which is the commercial level – this would help address future pollution and contamination issues.” He admits, “I also struggle with the intrusion of government-sponsoremdwater pipelines
in areas where active aquifers exist, as this creates an unfair competition for water well drilling companies.”
In the years ahead, while tackling these challenges and remaining an active industry participant, M & M will continue providing the best quality of service to their customers at an honest and competitive rate.
“We pride ourselves on being hardworking, innovative and willing to make the extra effort when it comes to the customers we serve,” Bill says. He notes that his father, Don, was “always one to take on challenges head-on” –and complete a project whether or not money was made. “He always put the focus on providing quality service for his customers, and always looked for new and inventive ways to complete a job,” recalls Bill. “These are traits that I have tried to instil in myself and I can only hope that in years to come, I will be described similarly.”
Treena Hein is a science writer based in Ontario.
No one is more serious about your job than we are.
When you’ve been around for over 70 years and invented a lot of the t�ools that are industry standard worldwide, you tend to develop a certain amount of confidence in your product. We offer over 40 models of swivels, handling tools, and other drilling equipment made with high-quality heat-treated steel alloys and tested in our own 300,000-square-foot facility. It’s a serious business, and no one is more serious about it than we are. Got a tough job ahead? Bring it on.
A bird’s eye view of equipment at M & M Drilling.
Photo courtesy M & M Drilling Company Ltd.
the world of pump S
association update, industry news and new products.
tiger woods pumps fists. you pump water. each signals victory: a golf ball rolling into the cup or water rolling from the tap. unfortunately, only one will lower your handicap.
by LAurA Aik E n
The Canadian Association of Pump Manufacturers (CAPM) combined the two activities quite well recently, meeting for golf and pump talk at Galt Country Club in Cambridge, Ont.
w hat’s C oming down the pipe
The morning meeting brought up a number of items you should have on your radar. Here’s a summary of points delivered in a presentation by Kevin Wong, executive director of the Canadian Water Quality Association:
• British Columbia – Manufacturers will need a recycling program for pumps by July 1, 2012, under new stewardship rules mandated by the province’s greenleaning government. Pumps headed for the landfill after that date should be disposed of according to the program
incoming leader
CAPM donated $1,000 to Habitat for Humanity. The cheque was presented to nicole Hrinco, national manager of corporate partnerships for Habitat, at the spring meeting.
established by the equipment’s maker.
• Ontario – If you aren’t familiar with the Water Opportunities Act, you can get quite a few details online at www.ene.gov.on.ca/enmvironment/en/ legislation/water_mopportunities/index. htm. Essentially, the act is designed to facilitate Ontario’s aim of becoming a North American leader in water conservation and treatment. The act piggybacks on the Water Technology Acceleration Partnership (WaterTAP) which is focused on commercializing innovative technology. The government has billed the Water Opportunities Act as a job creator for the water industry that will call for more standardized planning and efficiency from
left:
Stuart Saville of Zoeller, right, presented outgoing president Todd Sutherland, national sales manager for Pentair Canada, with a plaque of appreciation from the association.
Photo courtesy CAPM
right:
Photo courtesy CAPM
municipalities and stakeholders.
• Government priorities – Greywater harvesting and source water protection are hot buttons. In Ontario, the Great Lakes and St. Laurent bodies of water will be recipients of more segments of their source water protection strategy. Some municipalities, such as Guelph, Ont., have initiated a Residential Reuse Pilot Program (http://guelph.ca/limving. cfm?itemid=77268&smomcid=2338).Look in your next issue of Ground Water Canada for an article on greywater strategies by Wong.
• U.S. – A lead reduction act was passed, effective January 2014. Concern was raised at the meeting that Canada could become a dumping ground for noncompliant parts.
g ood C auses
The CAPM adopted Haiti as a worthy cause for last year’s donation. This year the association awarded a $1,000 donation to Habitat for Humanity. Nicole Hrinco, national manager of corporate partnerships for Habitat, delivered an engaging presentation on the power of the charity to transform lives through its philosophy of a hand up rather than a handout. A number of CAPM members indicated they had volunteered on builds before and found it to be a rewarding experience.
If you’re into bikes (the motorized variety), you may want to check out the Ride for Habitat sponsored by CIPH and HRAI. The charity ride runs Aug. 20 with a fee of $50. Check out www.rideforhabitat.cmomfor registration info.
Changing of the guard
Todd Sutherland, national sales manager for Pentair Canada, stepped down after a long tenure as association president to make way for incoming leader Stuart Saville of Zoeller. The association presented Sutherland with a plaque in recognition of his contribution to the group.
o n the tee
The CAPM got lucky for their afternoon foursomes with a sunny break in the ludicrous number of days befallen by rain in May. A beautiful course and some post-round munchies and beer wrapped up a successful day. The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 27 at Guelph Lakes Golf Club.
i n the news
After a few years and hundreds of thousands of miles travelling around the United States, Grundfos’s Pumps on Tour truck is travelling north of the border for a nine-week tour across Canada. The 53-foot-long tractor-trailer has been specially built to fold
Continued on page 19
p entek i ntellidrive
Pentair’s new Pentek Intellidrive constant pressure controller offers an increased range of application possibilities. The Intellidrive utilizes a variable-frequency drive, which allows the motor to run as fast as required to keep up with fluctuating demand. The drive also provides a soft start/coast to stop solution and o fers pump protection. The drive also allows for the use of a small pressure tank, freeing up space where a large tank would otherwise reside.
The single-phase output drive (PID-6) is now compatible with three-wire motors up to 2.0 HP, and two-wire motors up to 0.75 HP. The three-phase output drive (PID-1) is now compatible with submersible motors as well as above ground motors up to 3.0 HP. www.pentair.com
a quavar solo
The Aquavar SOLO family of variable frequency drives for 0.5 to 5 HP pumps has a new single-phase input, single-phase output model: 1AS15. The existing single-phase input, three-phase output models (3AS20, 3AS30 and 3AS50) are designed for new installations. Now the 1AS15 offers the advantages of variable frequency drives for existing installations where the end user desires a constant pressure system. In installations with a failed large storage tank, the cost of the 1AS15 is partially offset by the lower cost of the small tank used on a VFD system. The 1AS15 gives homeowners with installed two-wire or three-wire systems the advantages of constant pressure without the expense of a new pump and motor. www.ittfpc.ca
Convertible v ersaJet p ro
Taking versatility to a deeper level, the Convertible VersaJet Pro from Franklin Electric fits a variety of pressure and flow needs, in both shallow and deep well applications. The new series features a high service factor, A.O. Smith motor, cast iron pump and Noryl hydraulics. The dual voltage motor can be set to run at either 115 V or 230 V and a built in drain plug makes for easier winterization. This pump also features four different suction flange options for difficult replacement jobs. The Convertible VersaJet Pro is designed to ensure quality, reliability and performance. www.franklin-electrmic.com
by kE n Hu GO
n oi Sy data?
sometimes
our data
just doesn’t look the way the textbooks say it should
every driller has done a pump test and measured water levels to determine well performance. o ften, especially for long tests, pressure transducers are used to collect the water level data. the water level is easy to graph and the textbooks say the pump test data should look something like f igure a . But for some reason our water level data often looks like f igure B.
We understand that aquifers are not flat-lying beds that extend infinitely in all directions, and variations in aquifer properties will lead to deviations from a nice smooth curve, so perhaps that’s part of the problem. However, let’s consider other factors that are not related to the aquifer that may give us noise like this. Firstly, we often get a lot of noise when we have little change in water levels during the test. The first graph shows a change in water levels during the test of about 40 metres, the second shows a change of about two centimetres. When one looks at the accuracy of a data logger, it’s quoted as a certain percentage of the data logger’s range. For instance, a data logger that can read a 100-metre range in water levels may have an accuracy of around five centimetres. An instrument with a five-centimetre accuracy may not be much good when we are looking
for water changes of a few centimetres. Every reading can vary by five centimetres from the last reading and will still be displaying the same water level.
One solution is to use a data logger that has a smaller range. Of course, this is difficult because you may not know what the range in water levels will be before the test, or you may have no desire to acquire a collection of data loggers. Another solution may be to take readings at a less frequent time interval. What else causes variations? Pumping from nearby wells that obtain water from the same aquifer may also interfere with the water levels in our well. Typically domestic wells will be pumped on an infrequent and short-term basis. The result may show up in your well as noise during the pump test – higher water level drops observed in your data when your neighbour’s well is pumped,
left: Figure A right: Figure B
lesser drops or even buildup when your neighbour stops pumping.
Sometimes there appears to be dropouts in the data – time when no readings are collected. This is often seen in the pumping well and is possibly due to electrical interference effects between the pump and the transducer.
Pressure transducers do not measure water level directly, but measure (obviously) pressure. The pressure of water is due to the height of the water above the transducer and the density of the water. We typically don’t worry too much about the density, because usually that does not change much. Water wells can produce gas and gas going into and out of solution can change the density by a fair amount. So if the well produces gas, the water level data may reflect this. A difference in levels may even be observed between levels collected from a pressure transducer and those collected using an electrical sounder.
will cause quite significant changes in water levels, so regular checking of pump rates during a test is a good idea.
Slight variations in pumping rates will cause quite significant changes in water levels, so regular checking of pump rates during a test is a good idea.
The above effects are man-made – real, but not related to any natural conditions. There are also some natural effects that can give us noise. Typically these items do not cause short-term noise that looks like the second graph shown above, but
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may account for long-term waves in the water level data. Some of these factors are as follows:
• Barometric: where confined aquifers are not directly exposed to the atmosphere, but the water in the well is. As a result, a change in atmospheric pressure can result in a few inches’ change in water levels. The amount of change is variable and depends on characteristics of the well and the aquifer (termed the barometric efficiency).
• Atmospheric: One can measure the air pressure during the test with a separate atmospheric (or barometric) transducer and compensate for changes in the well test software. If an atmospheric reading was not collected during the test, the Environment Canada website does report air pressure readings on an hourly basis for Calgary and Edmonton.
• Tidal: Galileo did not understand how tides worked. He thought
it was related to the rotation of the earth. Not until Newton explained gravity could one understand that the gravitational pull of the moon can affect water levels in the ocean. This same attraction can affect water levels in wells. No tidal effects are found in shallow, unconfined aquifers in unconsolidated formations, but one to two centimetres of water level fluctuation on a six- to 12-hour cycle may be found in deeper aquifers. This fluctuation is not high enough to be observed during the pumping portion of the test, but may be seen in some tests if the data loggers are left in the well for a long buildup period and the water levels have achieved “static” conditions.
• Seismic: It’s been reported that changes in water levels may indicate earthquake activity (or may even predict earthquake activity). To see these effects one has to
be close to the epicentre of the earthquake, which is not a common phenomenon. Earthquakes also generally last less than 30 seconds, so a data logger that reads at very short intervals (every 30 seconds or more often) would be required to observe this effect.
• Precipitation: In a shallow, unconfined aquifer with the water table close to the surface, a heavy rainstorm may raise the water levels during the test. Depending on the porosity and other factors of the aquifer, a good rain of a few inches in a day may raise the water level in the aquifer by several inches.
• Recharge / discharge: Water levels in aquifers may change slowly over time due to long-term climate trends. While we do not see these changes during a pump test, wells that measure water levels continuously over several years can show fluctuations related to
yearly cycles (i.e., a rise in water levels during the spring or early summer, a decline throughout the rest of the year). Long-term drought conditions may also show up as continued drop in the water level in a well.
The textbook illustrations of pump tests show nice, smooth curves and assume homogenous aquifers with no boundaries and 100 per cent well efficiency with no well bore storage conditions issues. These ideal aquifer conditions are often not the case, and with the factors mentioned above it is not surprising to see variations in water levels, which, with enough knowledge and data, can be shown to be related to real physical causes.
ken Hugo is a hydrogeologist and specializes in ground water assessments and ground water supply investigations. He works with property developers and municipalities on their ground water supply needs and can be contacted at khugo@levelton.com.
A SSO c IATIONS
59th annual ogwa S how
fun, learning and networking.
the o ntario g round water a ssociation ( ogwa ) hosted our industry for three days of work and play at their 59th annual convention and trade show.
Kingston, Ont., provided a lively and scenic backdrop for the events unfolding at the Ambassador Conference Resort from May 26 to 28. The show kicked off Thursday morning with a round of golf at Westbrook Golf Club and an evening wine and cheese. Friday’s trade show offered the best possible admission price: Free. A variety of manufacturers and suppliers turned out to meet and greet with contractors strolling the floor. Technical seminars were ongoing.
Over 100 people boarded a big boat Friday night for a scenic cruise around the Thousand Islands. Cool weather didn’t stop the laughter from rippling through the ship as industry members and their families enjoyed the merriment of Irish music from driller Johnny Wilson, a roast beef buffet and a steady flow of adult beverages.
Saturday morning may have come a little early for some after a night of whooping it up, but people were smiling into their coffees by the time the association division meetings kicked off at 8:30. Ground Water Canada sat in on the drillers and environmental/geotemchnical drillers and the manufacturers and suppliers (M&S) division meetings. The drillers had a number of positive comments about the trade show while the M&S brought some big ideas to the table in their meeting to increase attendance when the show runs again in 2013. Next year’s gathering of industry in Ontario
by LAurA Aik E n
will be CanWell 2012, May 23 to 26 in Hamilton. The drillers’ industry concerns included the exposure of competitive business information through online well records that will be available soon and the need to increase communication because the public is more educated. The importance of having a health and safety manual was raised, as was what to do if detectable methane gas is detected (report to the Ministry of Environmental as soon as possible). The ongoing
problem with unlicensed drillers was raised with the association’s full support for members to report these contractors to the association and they will handle it from there while keeping the member’s anonymity. Dialogue was opened on how to move forward in requiring geothermal drillers to have the same licensing requirements, as this remains high on the association’s agenda.
Last year the OGWA contributed supplies and cash to Lifewater Canada to
Left to right: Alex Wegenaar of The Drilling Depot, Vicky Toon of Heron instruments and Brice Hietkamp of Geokamp Services.
assist in Haiti. The OGWA’s fundraising goal was $20,000 and this was exceeded, with a total of $24,200. This money helped with well construction for Haitians, who in turn named four of the
the world of pump S
Continued from page 14
out into a mobile trade show and training facility. The trailer includes more than 300 square feet of demonstration and display areas, featuring working demos of almost all of Grundfos’s line of pump offerings. The back of the trailer also includes a 30-seat training theatre where visitors can participate in some of the company’s technical training courses.
Visitors can meet with knowledgeable Grundfos staff and network with some of the company’s local distribution partners.
The scheduled tour days left at press time are:
• July 12 in London, Ont.
• July 14 in Barrie, Ont.
• July 18 and 19 in Oakville, Ont.
• July 21 in Toronto
• July 25 in Ottawa
• July 28 in Moncton
• August 2 in Truro, N.S.
• August 4 in Halifax
Lunch and refreshments will be served to all registered visitors. Seating is limited for all training sessions. Visit www.pumpsontour.com to register for an event in your area.
wells OGWA wells.
The annual general meeting followed the division meetings, and was eagerly adjourned by rumbling bellies just past noon for lunch and an afternoon of
either a tour of the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes or a Haunted Pub Walk. The convention was capped off with the evening’s president’s banquet and awards, silent auction and western dance.
kevin Constable representing CanWell 2012 (left) and Bill Morrison of Morrison Environmental Ltd.
Johnny Wilson of John B. Wilson & Son Well Drilling Ltd.
G ROUND WATER
p ipeline S and wellS face off
government-sponsored pipelines are a controversial solution creating unfair competition for well drillers.
regional water pipelines are putting water well drillers out of business, says canadian ground water association (cgwa) first vice-president and ontario director Kevin constable. he says water well drilling business has dried up in a large chunk of ontario. by
“Almost all of southwestern Ontario is pipeline-fed and more and more pipelines are being installed all over southern Ontario. Based on some studies that were done in poorly constructed subdivisions with shallow wells and inadequate septic systems, it’s virtually impossible now to create new subdivisions with wells – they must be located next to a community and be served by municipal water and sewer services.”
The issue is about more than the loss of business for water well drillers. There are many reasons water pipelines can be a poor solution when compared to the use of ground water. However, there are also many reasons pipelines receive strong government support.
“Water from pipelines is perceived as safer,” Constable explains. “It is also a seemingly ‘easy’ solution to the problem of water needs in areas with growing populations.” It’s also very much about esthetics.
“Ground water can look orange-ish and municipalities that use it have people calling all the time with concerns and complaints. Lake or river water is clearer, it’s soft – doesn’t contain iron –but just because it looks better doesn’t
at all mean it’s safer. It could contain any number of pollutants, especially when it’s drawn from industrial areas. We’re putting a lot of faith in large water treatment plants to deliver safe water to enormous numbers of people.”
Dr. Bob Patrick, an assistant professor with the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Saskatchewan, agrees that there are many issues surrounding the use of water pipelines. “Taking an inter-basin pipeline approach may only address the symptom of the problem and not the root cause of the problem,” he says.
to pipe or not to pipe?
Communities facing water quality or quantity issues may decide to transfer water from an adjacent jurisdiction to accommodate population growth, but this is not a sustainable approach.
“[It] may result in the town or city paying less attention to source protection, not restricting development, or not enacting land use restrictions to mitigate the original problems at hand.” This sort of temporary solution raises one big question for Patrick: “What happens if that source of transferred water, such as a Great Lake, becomes
at risk from pollution, climate change, other development pressure?”
Another problem is the fact that surface water is not as reliable as ground water, says Alberta Water Well Drilling Association (AWWDA) director George McAllister. “In addition, it usually takes time to drain a pipeline, do the maintenance and refill the line – maybe two weeks.” There’s usually just two days’ worth of water in a typical pipeline reservoir. This raises the possibility of a serious water shortage during maintenance.
The pipelined community of Leduc, Alta., confronted this issue head on in April. Work on the lines forced the town to haul water in on tanker trucks after the reservoir ran dry.
Cost is another big concern. A little background: McAllister says about 10 pipelines have been installed in Alberta (mostly from rivers) over the last 20 years. Currently, there is a pipeline from Edmonton to Vegreville that the province wishes to extend from Vegreville to Lloydminster. Another one is planned from Vegreville north to the Saskatchewan border and these proposed pipelines are more than 340 kilometres combined. The upkeep on these
pipelines linking distant communities could be problematic going forward.
“In terms of paying for the ongoing maintenance of the pipeline, there is a serious issue here because no money has ever been set aside for this and these areas are sparsely populated,” McAllister says. “We have already seen this scenario play out three or four times in the recent past, where the governments originally tried to pay for maintenance by charging only the people using it, but it wasn’t nearly enough money. Then they were going to charge everyone in the counties in the area of the pipeline whether they use pipelined water or not, but that was still not enough money.”
McAllister warns that in the case of these two new pipelines, there are even fewer people per square kilometre than in these other past cases. “Those who don’t use the water but have the pipeline crossing their property are charged a maintenance fee and you have no ability to refuse the pipeline, this yearly fee, or dispute how it may increase in the future. Everyone in the province will end up paying for these financially
Pipelines are hard to financially sustain in rural communities.
unsustainable projects.”
He adds that people in areas with pipelines are not allowed the choice to use a well or a pipeline – they have to use the pipeline.
If water pipelines are unsustainable in terms of the cost to Albertans, and if they put residents at greater risk from contamination and water quantity reliability, then why is the Alberta government proceeding with pipelines? The province sees it as job creation, says McAllister. “It also appears that the more pipelines there are, the more the government also gains control over water and is able to raise money from the use or the transportation of water.”
The AWWDA feels that the decision making process should be changed before more pipelines are given the go-ahead.
“We’ve talked to the county representatives in meetings and we’ve had meetings with the provincial government in the last few years and no one is listening,” says McAllister.
“We are going to talk to a local MP in the near future and with the majority federal government, maybe we can make some headway.” He says it’s frustrating
What happens if that source of transferred water, such as a Great Lake, becomes at risk from pollution, climate change, other development pressure?
because no one at the local level is up to speed. “We go to speak to counsellors at the County of Vermilion River and they have no answers.”
AWWDA technical director and consulting hydrogeologist Ken Hugo
explains that there are cases where pipelines make sense. But, he says, “Most of the impetus behind pipelines is from people who want to make money from pipelines. Pipeline companies say that aquifers are not sustainable and they also are at risk of contamination from oil field activity.”
In Hugo’s opinion, both claims are bogus.
“The government’s Groundwater Observation Network shows there’s no indication that aquifers are drying up. There have been cases of a little local contamination here and there, which happens, and some local cases where, for whatever reason – people pumping from their wells too much – aquifers have dried up temporarily, but aquifers are a sustainable resource.”
There are other concerns out there. Treating river or lake water to serve large numbers of people is quite expensive. Homeowners on water pipelines may have scarcity issues. For example, they may not be able to have a
shower while running their dishwasher.
Hugo says the trouble is that pipelines are being automatically looked to as an answer to water woes. Instead, the need for a pipeline should have to be proven. In the last year, Hugo has attended a couple of presentations during which government personnel have discussed doing a “master development plan” to address land-use planning for the next 40 years. Hugo hopes that this planning will lead officials to take a closer look at water sustainability.
h ow the provin C e sees it Alberta has a long-term water management plan with three main goals: safe, secure drinking water; healthy aquatic ecosystems; and reliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy. The 2003 Water for Life plan sets out to achieve these goals through knowledge and research partnerships, and water conservation.
“Under the Water for Life strategy, Alberta Environment supports the use of regional water lines where they make sense to ensure a safe, secure water supply,” says Carrie Sancartier, a public affairs officer with Alberta Environment. “They are a cost-effective, long-term solution for small communities. That said, it is up to each community to decide the best way to supply their community with water.”
Once a community decides that a regional water line is the best way forward, a feasibility study is required. Funding for the regional water line and the feasibility study is available through the Alberta Municipal Water/ Wastewater Partnership, which is administered through Alberta Transportation.
“Alberta’s role is to ensure that our laws are followed once a community decides the path forward, whether it’s a regional water line, surface water or ground water source,” says Sancartier. “This includes having the necessary authorizations in place. In any instance where an approval is required or amended under Alberta’s legislation, 30-day public notification is required to allow those impacted to submit their concerns. In addition, the municipality may also have a mechanism in place to
allow the public to provide input.”
When asked to respond to the concerns mentioned above about the costs of ongoing pipeline maintenance being unsustainable, Sancartier says, “In the long term [decades], a regional water line can be cost effective compared to numerous single operators [municipalities] that would have to cover their own water infrastructure and program costs. That said, it would depend on variables that are specific to
a line, such as how many municipalities are connected, the distance between them, etc. That’s why a feasibility study is so important to the process. At the end of the day, it is up to the municipality to decide based in its own unique circumstances.”
The pipeline problem isn’t a new one for the industry. Wayne MacRae, CGWA executive director, says water pipelines are an issue that has come up off and on over the past 10 years or so. As the pipelines extend their reach, the association is wrestling with the best way to respond.
“We’re going to talk about it at the next full board meeting to try and find out what’s happening across the country,” he says. Directors from each province will provide thumbnail sketches of the issues in their jurisdictions.
Stay tuned!
Treena Hein is a science writer based in Ontario.
The Alberta government sees how regional water lines can be cost effective in the long run.
a successful succession
by Bruce Roher
Just as moving into a new life stage requires careful preparation, so does transitioning your business.
at some point, water well contracting businesses have to consider an exit strategy, which may include the transition of the business to the next generation, or sale to an employee or a third party. The following case study will outline some of the key issues that can arise when considering succession planning.
Joe is the owner of a successful water well drilling operation that has been a family business for two generations. Joe acquired his shares from his father about 40 years ago. Joe’s son and one of his two daughters are actively involved in the business. Anthony is in charge of operations and Elena is responsible for sales. Joe’s other daughter Emily is married to Robert, an investment advisor. Joe, age 70, is not ready to retire, as he still enjoys coming into work and does not know what he would do if he were not working. Joe’s wife, Arlene, would like him to retire so that they can travel together and enjoy life with less stress. Arlene is concerned about how much money they will need in their retirement years and how they will manage.
When it comes to choosing a successor, Joe’s vision has always been that Anthony will take the reins. While Anthony, age 45, did not go to university, he has been involved in the business longer than Elena. Joe acknowledges that Anthony has a temper that sometimes puts people off, but he thinks Anthony will be able to overcome this trait as he matures. Anthony and his wife have three children, ages 10, eight and five. Elena, age 38, is an MBA who worked in sales for a geothermal energy contractor for four years before joining the family business. She is much more outgoing than her brother, is well liked and has excelled in growing the company’s sales. However, she does not have experience on the operations and finance side of the business. Elena is married to Scott and they have one young child.
Anthony and Elena do not own shares of the business.
All major management decisions are made by Joe. He does discuss certain issues with Anthony and the chief financial officer, Richard, but ultimately, Joe makes the decisions. Richard has been with the company for five years and wishes to have an ownership interest.
Joe decides it’s time to arrange a meeting with Bill, a family business advisor. During the meeting, Bill helps Joe outline points to consider in his business succession plan. They include the following:
● Meet individually with Joe, Richard and each member of the family, including those not working in the company (such as Arlene, Emily, Robert and Scott) to learn their vision for the business, as well as their values and their goals. As business advisor, Bill will do the following:
○ Create a strategic plan for the business with input from Joe, Richard, Anthony and Elena. A key point will be discussing Elena’s interest in focusing more on geothermal technology.
○ Determine Joe and Arlene’s income needs, including how to fund this income, and to establish Joe’s role in the business going forward.
○ Obtain an independent assessment of the skill sets of Anthony and Elena to recommend who would be the most appropriate successor. This may include retaining an interim manager to improve and/or assess the skills of possible successors.
○ Develop a governance system that will define management roles and responsibilities, and consider establishing a board of directors. Prepare employment agreements.
○ Consider an equitable allocation of
legacy, will help strengthen renewable energy scholarship in Canada and help kick-start a renewed industry focus on building Canadian innovation.
On Sept. 23, 2010, the CGC board of directors created bursaries for students involved in postgraduate studies in a field related to ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems. Five bursaries will be awarded in 2011 and four in 2012. Each CGC bursary is co-funded by an industry-leading company.
To apply under the CGC Bursary Program, applicants must be studying or planning to study in a university faculty that provides the opportunity to engage in a research project with the potential to remove or reduce industry barriers or allow for Canadian ground source heat pump industry advancement. Such barriers can be financial or technical. Fields of study include economics, finance, pure and applied science, and related fields.
The Canadian GSHP industry expanded at a rate of 40 per cent in 2005, followed by three years’ growth over 60 per cent in 2006,
2007 and 2008.
“The Canadian GSHP industry’s strong performance raised the level of R&D interest both in universities and in the private sector,” says Denis Tanguay, CGC’s president and CEO. “It is our goal to help catalyze this research momentum and build linkages between our universities, government labs and the industry’s own R&D and commercialization activities,” he added.
CGC itself actively pursues R&D activities, particularly on computerassisted design tools and financial analysis instruments. Thanks to a unique database developed while certifying GSHP systems under the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes, as well as other financial assistance programs from utilities and provincial governments, CGC staff has also initiated in-house research on market behaviour and economics of ground source heat pumps in Canada and the United States. CGC is also sharing market information with some provincial ministries for research and documentation purposes.
For more information, visit www. geoexchange.ca.
MayoR SayS yUKoN G ovERNMENT MUST RES poND To TowN’S DIRTy waTER woES
By Chuck Tobin, Whitehorse Star
Whitehorse – The Yukon government has failed to respond to concerns about drinking water that looks like raw sewage, says the mayor of Watson Lake.
Richard Durocher said the community of 1,500 people needs some assurance but has heard nothing from the territorial government.
When staff flushed the system recently, a fire hydrant poured out dark brown water for about 15 minutes.
The sight was so disturbing that staff posted a video on YouTube and Durocher has sent a copy to Premier Dennis Fentie, who is also the town’s MLA.
Community Services Minister Archie Lang has been sent a copy, as has premier-designate Darrell Pasloski, who will be sworn into office later this month.
But nobody has responded, Durocher said.
“For me as a municipal leader, this is absolutely unacceptable,’’ he said.
“We know the Building Canada Fund is there, and we know the funding is at a certain amount and we know through our community sustainability exercise, water is our priority issue.’’
The premier’s office did not return calls about the water issue this week.
Matt King, a spokesman for the Department of Community Services, said officials have met with Watson Lake representatives as recently as May 18 to assure them work is in progress to resolve some of the water issues.
Continued on page 27
get in the loop
Install a loop system today that’s designed to meet tomorrow’s needs.
by Stan Marco
when it comes to geothermal installations, there are two things that just make good business sense. One is to select the right-sized equipment and loop systems to maximize heating and cooling efficiency. Two is to install loop systems designed to meet not only today’s needs but those in the future as well.
It’s not rocket science. Regardless of the size or type of heat pump they feed into, geothermal loop systems are made to last. The sturdy high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe that winds through the open and closed loop systems used in our industry carries warranties of up to 55 years. That means 30 or 40 years from now, when a home or business owner wants to upgrade to a newer heat pump, they should be able to do so with the confidence that their existing loop system will be able to support what will surely be a more efficient pump given our ever-evolving technology.
As contractors, drillers and installers, we should all take pride in making sure we’re designing the right system for the business or homeowner from the outset. This includes ensuring that the systems we design heat the entire home or business, and that they also take future heating and cooling needs into consideration.
Consider the open and closed loop systems used in geothermal installations. Regardless of where someone lives or works in Canada, the average home or business experiences a heat loss of about 60,000 BTUs and therefore requires a five-tonne geothermal system to heat or cool the entire building. The size of the equipment and the characteristics of the property help determine whether an open or closed loop system is used.
o
pen loop system
Open loops are often the system of choice on properties that have an existing water well. The key determining factor is quantity. It’s important that the water well have the capacity to support a geothermal system beyond the existing domestic requirements of the building (the water used for
drinking, flushing toilets, showering, washing clothes, etc.). Open loop systems need two gallons per minute of water per nominal tonne. That is, a five-tonne geothermal system will need 10 US gallons per minute over and above domestic water requirements at peak times. If the average household uses eight gallons of water per minute for domestic uses, then the well would need to supply 18 gallons of water per minute to be effective in an open loop system. With the installation of an open system, it’s not unusual to have to upgrade the building’s existing pump and pressure systems. This is done to accommodate the additional load generated by the geothermal system. This type of loop system generally calls for a licensed ground water specialist to drill a second well. In this type of two-well system, ground water is drawn from an aquifer through the supply well and then pumped into the heat pump. Discharged water from the heat pump is redirected into the second well and back into the same aquifer.
Closed loop system
Where an open loop system isn’t feasible, a closed loop system can be used instead. In a closed loop system, a continuous geothermal loop is placed in the ground. This may be done either horizontally or vertically, depending on the expanse of the property. Heat transfer fluid recirculates through the loop with both ends connected to the heat pump in the building, absorbing the natural heating and cooling properties from the earth.
A five-tonne horizontal closed loop geothermal system would require a minimum of 5,000 square feet of ground space. In this case, a continuous loop of pipe is buried five to six feet below the ground. This is an ideal system from a cost and simplicity standpoint. When that much land space isn’t available, a vertical loop system can be used instead. Given the type of drilling equipment needed to install a vertical loop system, this approach
is more expensive than the horizontal loop system. Depending on the property conditions and available equipment, a five-tonne geothermal system would require between 900 and 1,200 feet of drilling to accommodate about 1,800 feet of continuously looped HDPE pipe. The ideal approach is to drill two 455-foot holes to maximize heat transferability from the ground to the pipe. Allow five feet for hookup. Generally speaking, this would have more heat transfer value than drilling 10- to 90-foot holes and is less invasive to the property.
I prefer to install one-and-a-quarterinch pipe in vertical loops because it provides greater heat exchange. However,
Continued from page 25
He said $3.5 million is available under the Building Canada Fund to do the work this year and next year.
But a recent analysis of the town’s water and sewer infrastructure identified $17 million in essential repairs.
This past winter, one of the town’s two working water wells that supply all the water shut down, leaving Watson Lake with just one source, Durocher said.
He said the second well has been restored for now, but the town has also been warned about the danger of going into next winter with just one secure source.
There would be a serious threat to the water if any problems arise with the
I also appreciate that our GeoSmart DeltaBase 95GT drill rig is one of the few in the country capable of drilling 450-foot holes (900 feet of drilling). If the capacity of the drilling equipment available is limited or the terrain affects how deep you can drill, it may be necessary to drill as many as a dozen 100-foot holes (1,200 feet of drilling). In this case, use the smaller three-quarter-inch pipe to achieve the same heat exchange as the larger pipe.
The trend is moving towards longer loops that support the higher efficiency heat pumps hitting the market. As efficient as our geothermal systems are now, we know they’ll be even more so
one source because the system depends on a constant flow of water to keep from freezing up, Durocher said.
He said over the last 40 years, the water and sewer infrastructure has turned into a Band-Aid approach to delivering essential services.
Stephen Conway, the town’s chief administrative officer, said dark brown water pouring from the fire hydrant wasn’t an unusual sight.
It’s sometimes the same from household taps, he said.
The problem is associated with the heavy concentration of iron and manganese in the water supply, which builds up in the system, he said.
For years, Watson Lake has exceeded the national standards for the
in 30 or 40 years, so be generous when installing loop systems today.
The right heat pump, the right loop system and the right-sized pipe will meet the heating and cooling needs of the entire house or business both now and in the future. Ultimately, this generates proud and satisfied customers and reflects well on the industry.
Stan Marco is a well-respected geothermal knowledge expert and educator. He is an active member of the ground water community, a board member with the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition and a co-founder and CEO of GeoSmart Energy and GeoSmart Drilling Services.
two metals, though it’s currently not a health issue, Conway said.
Priority repairs recommended in the recent analysis include replacement of the town’s water treatment system, 800 metres of the water main and two kilometres of the sewer main.
Recommendations also included expanding the city’s water reservoir, which does not meet Canadian fire standards because it’s one third the size of what it should be.
Conway said the sewage lift station’s inability to handle the job means sewage sometimes bubbles out of a nearby manhole, forcing the town to park a truck on top of it to keep sewage from flowing into Wye Lake.
The Canadian Press
aR oUND Th E woR lD
Here’s a roundup of international ground water news.
Japan
Highly toxic radioactive strontium has turned up in ground water near the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. It is the first time the substance has been detected in groundwater near the plant’s No. 1 and No. 2 reactors said Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.
f inland
Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) has loaned 50 million Euros to Turun Seudun Vesi Oy to finance an artificial recharge aquifer project in the Turku region in Finland. The project includes artificial ground water recharging by water infiltration to the Virttaankangas esker. The process will require the use of fewer chemicals as the water will flow through the aquifer over several months. According to NIB’s environmental analysis, the use of the aquifer will lead to changes in the ground water quality of the area as artificial and natural groundwater mix over time. However, all groundwater resources will remain potable.
i ndia
The ground water level suddenly rose in the Olpad town in the Surat district of the Gujurat state. Water began spurting from borewells and overflowed from wells in the town. Interestingly, the occurrence was not just in one area, but everywhere in the town. Authorities are working to resolve and explain.
l as v egas
The feds are seeking public input on a pipeline plan that could allow the Las Vegas water system to pump ground water from northern Nevada and draw down the water table that extends into western Utah’s Snake Valley. After a 90-day comment period, the Bureau of Land Management may choose to take no action or decide among other alternatives, reports the Salt Lake Tribune. The study did not reveal which option the government is leaning towards.
California
The regional water board in Rancho Cordova is moving closer to approving permanent regulations that would require thousands of California farmers to monitor and clean up polluted ground water.
Continued from page 24
barb what size is dummied????
Joe’s assets, bearing in mind that Anthony and Elena work in the business and Emily does not.
○ Plan for income tax consequences of a sale of shares. For example, if the business satisfies the criteria for a Qualified Small Business Corporation, a sale of shares could qualify for a $750,000 capital gains exemption. If the business does not satisfy the criteria, it may be possible to implement a plan that would result in the exemption being available.
○ Obtain a current valuation of the business prepared by a chartered business valuator. A valuation will be required for a non-arm’s length transaction and to proactively
manage the value drivers of the business: contracts, rights and trademarks, suppliers and customers.
○ Prepare a shareholders’ agreement at the time Anthony, Elena and Richard become shareholders. A shareholders’ agreement will cover issues such as death, divorce, disability or retirement of shareholders, and provide a mechanism for dispute resolution.
After the two-hour meeting, Joe realizes there is a lot of work to do in order to properly plan for the succession of his business. By planning carefully, Joe can help make the process smoother for everyone.
Bruce roher is a partner in the business valuations practice at the Toronto office of Fuller Landau LLP, Chartered Accountants. He can be reached at broher@fullerlandau.com or at 416-645-6526.
NEW P RODU cTS
n ew manifold bra C ket and brass tank tees from m errill
This one-piece bracket is designed to easily mount level for a quality looking installation. All the installation bolts and lag screws are included. The bag of bolts contains parts for both 1-1/4inch and 2-inch manifolds. The Merrill bracket features exclusive anti-vibration cushions and cushion clamps to hold the manifold noise-free.
Merrill Manufacturing also recently introduced three new brass tank tees with a union nut. The union nut is NPT threaded for ease of use with any NPT pipe. These tank tees have a heavy-duty swivel nut o-ring seal tank connection. Each includes two FIP drain holes and has an overall length of four inches. Tank tees are available in 1-inch and 1-1/4 inch tank connections. For more information, contact your distributor or Merrill at 1-800-831-6962 or visit www.merrillmfg.com
s implify networking with the troll net hub
The TROLL net hub is a networking device capable of connecting either four
or eight instruments. Use the network for up to 16 devices connected with up to five hubs. You can customize a system for your application by attaching a variety of In-Situ sensors. This hub can be used for aquifer characterization tests, long-term monitoring, nested well monitoring, process control and remote site monitoring. For more information, call 1-888-742-3364 or visit www. ricerentals.ca or www.riceeng.com.
s oftware release from sC
hlumberger
Schlumberger Water Services released Hydro GeoAnalyst v.2011.1, a new version. Hydro GeoAnalyst is ground water and environmental data management software that combines a range of analysis, visualization and reporting tools with SQL Server database technology. Geoscientists have been using independent desktop software to analyze and visualize hydrogeologic data for many years. The challenge has been to gain a complete understanding of the subsurface environment where various data types are combined into a single graphical user interface,” said Ole Christian Meldahl, products business manager, Schlumberger Water Services. “With Hydro GeoAnalyst (HGA), users have a fully integrated software application that combines cross-section interpretation, log analysis, mapping, water quality reporting, 2D/3D visualization and advanced data management into a single program. In addition, HGA uses a completely customizable data structure that allows users to modify the database as projects evolve over time. Visit www.swstechnology.cmom.
n ew ele Ctromagneti C flowmeter
Designed to deliver highly accurate bi-directional measurement for water distribution and raw water pipelines, Hydreka offers the new HydrINS 2 Mini electromagnetic insertion flowmeter. Designed from Hydreka’s HydrINS 2, the HydrINS 2 Mini features a reduced sensor diameter for increased measurement efficiency. The meter fits pipe sizes from 80 millimetres to 300 millimetres, and offers accurate
measurement on low velocities (+/- 2% at 2 cm/s). HydrINS 2 Mini uses a threequarter-inch “hot tap” for installation under pressure without interrupting the flow. For more information, visit www.hydreka.com.
ametek pmt p rodu Cts laun C hes the level m ate iii
The Level Mate III features a rugged stainless steel submersible AMETEK hydrostatic sensor with cable, and a fully calibrated microprocessor-contmrolled digital meter within a rugged MENA 4X enclosure. All programming is done at the factory so users only need to supply AC power to the unit and place the sensor in water.
Standard features include a two-line LED display meter with configurable function keys, engineering units, programmable 3A Form C relays, analog output, alternating pump control, and 32-point linearization programs. Installed desiccants are included for moisture control. Options include AC and DC, lightning and surge protection, additional relays, a stainless steel support cable, and choice of multiple sensors. The system is backed by a twoyear warranty. For more information, visit www.ametekusg.com.
What if satisfying the customer was as easy as turning on the water?
Even when flow requirements vary, Goulds Pumps efficiently delivers constant pressure and reliability thanks to the new Aquavar-Solo Controller. The Aquavar-Solo provides the right pressure for showers, irrigation systems, washing machines and dishwashers, even when more than one appliance is in use. The controller is easy to install, features built-in pump and motor protection and has multiple pressure settings for varying comfort. Available for single- and three-phase applications.
