Friesen Drillers marks 125 years of innovating and growing
universal plate attached to top of well cap to mount VFD drive, (expansion tank included). Also connections for pressure transducer, pressure relief valve, and pressure gauge
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Serving the Canadian Ground Water industry for 44 years.
Friesen Drillers marks 125 years of innovating and growing
Undercutting is still an issue in Canada’s water well drilling industry
ON THE WEB:
Trees to decontaminate polluted ground water, soil
A four-year natural decontamination project by the City of Montreal and the Université de Montréal is using willow trees to rehabilitate former industrial brownfields. The Halifax Chronicle Herald/Canadian Press reports.
New B.C. drinking water guidelines could carry hefty price tag New proposed guidelines for drinking water that aim to reduce exposure to lead and copper in drinking water could have costly implications for communities along the B.C. coast, Pique reports.
All they ask
The people behind our associations do the work because they enjoy it, know it’s important and know it needs doing.
by Colleen Cross
This column was conceived while sitting in view of the lake at our cottage association’s annual meeting, amid a relaxing, warm June breeze.
It was inspired by those people who carry the brunt of the workload when it comes to organizations, volunteer or paid, how gracefully they do it and how easy they make it look.
Our little association is made up of half a dozen committees (committee = one person), all of whom play a part in keeping our somewhat remote enclave habitable, accessible, safe and pleasant.
A few of these folks stand out from the rest because they have worked so long to handle essential functions like road maintenance and non-potable water supply, and to make sure there is money for all this upkeep. They do these thankless jobs cheerfully, and go beyond what’s expected, for the good of the whole – their neighbours.
Membership and attendance at some association events is not what it once was – and not what it could be.
At the yearly meeting, the president corrals members, the secretary records what we discuss, the security committee reports on potential or real breaches, and we all contribute to potlucks on assigned dates. In this compartmentalized way, everything gets done, with minimal burden on each individual.
Our 70-year-old association is a miniature example of what happens in your provincial associations. Everyone pays their dues, comes to the meetings, and pitches in when needed on the bigger jobs and issues.
This is what should happen. While the industry is strong, with many contractors in it for the long term, membership and attendance at some association events is not what it once was – and not what it could be.
The good news is, there is a fix: membership. To keep these associations healthy and working for you, all you have to do is be a member. If you want to go further, attending the annual general
meeting, taking training and enjoying social events planned for your benefit by organizers are three easy ways to get involved. Making time to do these simple things will help you stay up to date on new standards and legislation that may affect your business, get answers to your questions, find out what everyone else is charging per foot, and learn about the latest products.
It also will make you part of a unified voice to governments on issues relating to ground water. With ground water a resource of national importance, it is crucial this industry be at the table whenever it is discussed. Your newly forming Canadian National Ground Water Association is forming to help make that happen and to address other important shared issues.
Your newly elected board – Simon Masse, Jason Friesen, Chris Gerrits, Blaine Matuga, Mike Lamont, Bill Tuytel, Paul Conrad, Kevin Constable, Mario Beauregard, Israel Cormier, Dwayne Graff and Rick Cronin – will meet via conference call to talk about association objectives, and the first AGM will take place during the NGWA’s Groundwater Week in Las Vegas in December. The CNGWA will be open to both companies and individuals. I urge you to contact a board member and find out how to join. If you’re feeling moved to volunteer your time to help launch this much-needed association, contact organizer Craig Stainton at executivedirector@ogwa.ca.
The hard-working people behind our associations do the work because they enjoy it, because they know it’s important and, frankly, because it needs doing. Their motives are genuine. All they ask is that you take them up on the good things they offer.
1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE CANPIPE SUB-FACTORY
One year ago, Canpipe was selected as a Grundfos sub-factory for the assembly of 6” submersible pumps.
There was a joint recognition that the market needed to be serviced faster to get large volume wells back producing water. Our partnership delivered.
- Submersible range: 85 to 300 GPM with 1-1/2 to 75 HP
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INDUSTRY NEWS
MOSS THAT CAN REMOVE ARSENIC FROM DRINKING WATER DISCOVERED
Researchers from Stockholm University in Sweden have a moss capable of removing arsenic from contaminated water.
The removal happens quickly: in just one hour, the arsenic level is so low that the water is no longer harmful for people to drink, the university said in a news release.
The study has been published in the journal Environmental Pollution.
The aquatic moss Warnstofia fluitans, which grows in northern Sweden, has the ability to quickly absorb and adsorb arsenic from water, the university said. The discovery allows for an environmentally friendly way to purify water of arsenic. One possible scenario is to grow the moss in streams and other watercourses with high levels of arsenic.
In the northern part of Sweden, water from mining areas is often contaminated by arsenic.
“We hope that the plant-based wetland system that we are developing will solve the arsenic problem in Sweden’s northern mining areas,” said Maria Greger, associate professor at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences at Stockholm University and leader of the research group.
“Our experiments show that the moss has a very high capacity to remove arsenic. It takes no more than an hour to remove 80 per cent of the arsenic from a container of water. By then, the water has reached such a low level of arsenic that it is no longer harmful to people,” said research assistant Arifin Sandhi, who conducted the experiments.
In 2004, the use of arsenic compounds in wood products was banned, but arsenic still reaches ground and water systems due to mining. This happens because the ground and bedrock in certain parts of Sweden naturally contain arsenic. As a result, the drinking water and water used for the irrigation of crops also contains elevated levels of arsenic. The plants absorb the arsenic from the soil, and it eventually ends up in the food that we eat. In Sweden, this applies to wheat, root vegetables, leafy greens, etc. In other countries, there are high levels in rice, for example.
“How much arsenic we consume ultimately depends on how much of these foods we eat, as well as how and where they were grown. Our aim is that the plant-based wetland system we are developing will filter out the arsenic before the water becomes drinking water and irrigation water. That way, the arsenic will not make it into our food,” Greger said.
For more information, read the article, “Phytofiltration of arsenic by aquatic moss (Warnstorfia fluitans)” in Environmental Pollution.
OCOT, SKILLS ONTARIO TO PROMOTE APPRENTICESHIP
The Ontario College of Trades and Skills Ontario have committed to work together to raise awareness and attract people to careers in the skilled trades.
George Gritziotis, Ontario College of Trades (OCOT) chief executive officer and registrar, and Ian Howcroft, Skills Ontario chief executive officer, have signed a memorandum of understanding that focuses on enhancing outreach activities to promote careers in the skilled trades. The target audiences include youth, parents, educators, government, labour and employers/sponsors.
This memorandum of understanding (MOU) was introduced, in part, to address concerns about Canada’s shortage of tradespeople, OCOT said in a new release. The college cited recent research by Workopolis that suggests the shortage will hit one million by 2020 and is fuelled by baby boomers retiring.
“Working in partnership built on shared tools, resources, and objectives this MOU will help direct our efforts to encourage more young people to pursue the skilled trades, which can provide a rewarding and well-paying career,” Gritziotis said.
“I look forward to continuing to build on our constructive co-operation in the interest of enhancing the skilled trades in the province,” Howcroft said.
For more information on trades in Ontario, go to collegeoftrades.ca and skillsontario.com.
STRAUSS NEW NORTHERN SALES REP FOR CANPIPE
Canpipe recently welcomed Ryan Strauss to its team, who relocated to the Barrie area upon the arrival of his son Luke.
Strauss, who assumes the role of Canpipe’s northern sales representative, is a 2012 graduate of Georgian College’s environmental technology program. He completed his Well Technician Class 3 and 4 designations with five years’ experience as a pump installer and video technician for large municipal wells across Ontario. He plans to maintain this licence through ongoing education at college and at
OGWA-hosted training sessions.
“As part of the Canpipe team, Ryan can support our industry in a unique fashion. Bringing his knowledge of pumps, technical skills, and in-field application of industry products, he will be able to effectively assess, determine, and implement solutions quickly to serve our customers with quality and efficiency,” said general manager Rob Martini in the company’s May newsletter. “We look forward to offering our Canpipe customers Ryan’s professional, technical and focused customer service.”
INDUSTRY NEWS
NASA SATELLITES REVEAL MAJOR SHIFTS IN WORLD’S FRESHWATER
In a first-of-its-kind study, scientists have combined an array of NASA satellite observations of Earth with data on human activities to map locations where freshwater is changing around the globe and to determine why.
The study, published in May in the journal Nature, finds that Earth’s wet land areas are getting wetter and dry areas are getting drier due to a variety of factors, including human water management, climate change and natural cycles, NASA said in a news release.
A team led by Matt Rodell of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., used 14 years of observations from the U.S./Germanled Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) spacecraft mission to track global trends in freshwater in 34 regions around the world. To understand why these trends emerged, they needed to pull in satellite precipitation data from the Global Precipitation Climatology Project, NASA/U.S. Geological Survey Landsat imagery, irrigation maps, and published reports of human activities related to agriculture, mining and reservoir operations. Only through analysis of the combined data sets were the scientists able to get a full understanding of the reasons for Earth’s freshwater changes as well as the sizes of those trends.
The successor to GRACE, called GRACE Follow-On, a joint mission with the German Research Centre for Geosciences, launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on May 22.
YOUNG SISTERS HONOURED FOR WATER WELL FUNDRAISING WORLDWIDE
Three young sisters from Dallas, Texas, who raised more than $1.5 million to provide clean water to children in developing countries have been given a prestigious award for their philanthropy.
Isabelle, Katherine and Trinity Adams, aged 14, 12 and 8, respectively, were given the Carter Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The award honours young people with a proven record of exceptional generosity who demonstrate outstanding civic and charitable responsibility and whose philanthropy encourages others to engage on a community, national and/or international level, the association and consulting firm Carter said in a news release.
Isabelle and Katherine began the project because they wanted to help other girls in countries who didn’t get to go to school because they have to spend their days hauling unclean water into their communities. The girls decided to sell origami ornaments to raise funds to build a water well in Ethiopia.
The girls’ original goal was to raise $500, but the ornaments sold out in just one night, the release said. After two months, the sisters had raised over $10,000, and they continue to use origami to generate funds and awareness for clean water education and funding.
Isabelle and Katherine are co-presidents of Paper For Water, which was formed in 2011, and Trinity, their youngest sister, joined recently as director of marketing. The sisters have dedicated more than 4,000 hours of their time to supporting the organization. They have raised over $1.5 million and completed over 160 water projects in 15 countries, including the United States. They have also spoken to thousands of people to increase awareness of water poverty issues around the world.
Over 48,000 individuals now have access to clean water due to the ef`forts of the three sisters. In those communities now with access to clean water, the infant mortality rate has decreased and in places with Ebola, the disease’s transmission rate has also decreased due to the health and sanitation training that is implemented prior to well placement. Thousands of children are now going to school – and playing like children should – instead of hauling water, and adults too now have more productive hours to grow food, start businesses and other activities.
In 2013, the sisters had the opportunity to travel to India and visit communities where there were projects that Paper For Water had funded. Isabelle and Katherine met school children whose attendance was greatly improved because they were no longer sick from unclean water. This opportunity inspired Paper For Water to continue their mission.
The 2013 trip and several other short trips inspired their eight-month trip around the world in 2017. The girls visited projects in South America and Africa and had the opportunity to go to some amazingly remote locations where the indigenous residents had never seen a white person. Despite there being over 14,000 NGOs working on the world water crisis, there is still immense need. “We got to see that it’s not just access to clean water, but sanitation and access to bathrooms that can have immense impact on the health of a community,” Isabelle said.
“It’s remarkable to think these three incredible sisters have already made such a profound impact on our world – and have touched so many lives – at such an early age,” said Steve Higgins, CFRE, president of Carter, a consulting firm that helps nonprofits.
For more information on Paper For Water, visit paperforwater.org.
REELING IN THE YEARS
Friesen Drillers marks 125 years of innovating and growing
When Ground Water Canada talked with Friesen Drillers in 2003, it became clear the Manitoba company was rooted in innovation and a strong work ethic, and growing – even after 100-plus years.
by COLLEEN CROSS
The Friesens management team: Peter, Kim, Jason and Michael Friesen.
Fifteen years later, those strong roots are still there, but there have been significant changes: both of the sad, life-changing kind, and also of the inspirational kind.
Back then Friesen Drillers had 22 staff, 10 rigs, and about 40 pieces of equipment, including generators, test pumps, water servicing units, auxiliary air machinery and hammers. They drilled 450 wells per year. It was owned and operated by brothers John Jr. and James Friesen, and brother-in-law Ryan Rempel.
These days, Friesens has about 65 staff, 39 rigs in total, 13 water trucks, 53 transports/ trailers and over 100 pieces of auxiliary equipment. The number of wells drilled hasn’t changed significantly, partly due to a general slowdown in demand for new domestic wells. However, the workload is as heavy as ever,
with much work happening on commercial, municipal wells, and on the servicing side. The new owners are John’s children Kim, Jason and Michael, and James’ son Peter (their cousin). I catch up with brother and sister Jason and Kim Friesen at the company’s relatively new 132,000-square-foot headquarters in Steinbach, Man., 40 minutes southeast of Winnipeg. The good-natured siblings begin by reliving last July’s 125th anniversary open house. “It went very well,” Kim says. “It all started out as a dream to build a museum, and we wanted to make sure we had this museum finished off for our 125th anniversary. We started off with a 1890s wooden cable tool drill rig that we restored in house and that we have on display here. We’ve also got a 1936 Chevy pick-up truck that our great-grandfather used to use as a work, or service, vehicle.”
The museum showcases some of the tools and equipment they used over the years from some of the bigger projects they’ve done. They have drill bits used when Friesens cable-tool drilled some of the first municipal wells in Steinbach.
It’s all displayed on a timeline wall that chronicles company growth from 1892 to the present day, she says. “It gives a history with pictures and information about what we’ve done and who we are.”
Jason says the company’s large office and shop facility just outside of Steinbach, where they moved in May 2007, used to be an implements dealer. “For 10 years we had this open showroom with nothing in it. . . . We decided, we’ll build a space with some old junk we have lying around,” he says with a laugh.
“It gives people in Steinbach a chance to come down and take a look at part of their history as well,” Kim says, adding that the company’s history parallels that of Steinbach and its earliest settlers.
They estimate 600 to 800 people came out to the party. “The community sure showed its support for us,” she says.
The yard area was set up to display their rigs “to give people a chance to look at some of the larger equipment close up because it’s not something most people are familiar with, so they get a better understanding of it,” she adds.
FIVE GENERATIONS
In addition to residential and commercial water wells, Friesens now do specialized pipe piles, ground loop heating and cooling systems, river bank stabilization and other projects, well rehabilitation, aqua flushing, down-hole video inspections and hydrogeological engineering, and myriad other jobs.
Kim and Jason give me a rundown of the company’s ownership, and it’s clear they are well versed in family history. Great-grandfather C.K. Friesen, a blacksmith by trade, started making wells at age 15 using a pick and shovel.
Intrigued by the water well drilling process, C.K. Friesen (1877-1953) started drilling wells in the Steinbach area and southeastern Manitoba in 1892.
In 1926 he took out an American and Canadian patent on an artesian
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well drilling tool, which Jason and Kim describe as a kind of squeezable packer that is turned from the top to expand the rubber and make the most of water pressure in pipes. It is still used today in the oil industry, they say, and the patent and blueprint are on display in the museum.
“He was a very smart man, and curious, and I think it [drilling] really intrigued him,” Kim says.
In 1946 his son John Sr. took over the business. As the first president of the Manitoba Water Well Association, John Sr. became a key figure in the industry. “He was the one to bring that to life,” Kim says. She adds that their grandfather, who passed away in 1994, was also the one to switch from buying cable tools to mud rotary.
Kim, Jason, Michael and Peter are the current owners since July 2014, when John Jr. died suddenly at age 63 as the result of a motorcycle accident. While mourning his premature passing, John’s successors quickly learned about leadership as they assumed ownership of the company.
For Kim, the biggest change was learning to work as part of a management team. For Jason, it was realizing that the buck stopped with him and the team. “When I had a question, I didn’t have my dad to turn to. I had to find the answer myself,” he says.
“We all get along for the most part,” Jason says. “We’ve always had pretty good family dynamics.”
They reflect on their father’s many contributions to the company and the industry. “Our father brought us to the next level, I think,” Kim says. “He had a lot of ambition and he really wanted to see something bigger happen with this company. He saw the potential to go a lot further and diversify. He basically grew the company out.”
“He expanded our abilities by purchasing a CR rig in 1998,” Jason adds. “That put us on step ahead of our competition in terms of drilling capability.”
Friesen Drillers has continued its expansion over the years, purchasing outside companies that operate independently but under the Friesen umbrella.
Beneath that wide umbrella is Andrews & Sons Well Drilling in Regina, your business. our policy.
Sask., which brother Michael took over when it was acquired; Paddock Drilling in Brandon, Man.; Mel’s Well Drilling in Emo, Ont., and Downrite Drilling of Chilliwack, B.C. In March, Downrite, which specializes in geotechnical and environmental drilling, became the latest to join the Friesen Drillers family. The company continues to be run by Bill Tuytel, who established it in 1988.
“We wanted to explore, geographically,” Jason says of the recent purchase. “We did a little bit of research and they seemed fairly busy in the B.C. area, so we thought it was a good fit.”
“The businesses are all independent, so to speak. Still run the same way they were because they were successful,” Jason says. “We may expand upon them.”
All told, the company has about 65 staff. Friesens and Paddock each have about 20 employees, Andrews and Sons about 10, Mel’s has three and Downrite Drilling another dozen.
As office manager, Kim specializes in the financial and administrative side of the business, handling finances, administration, human resources and safety for Friesens and overseeing these functions for Andrews & Sons, Mel’s, Paddock and Downrite. Jason is operations manager for Friesens and oversees operations for the other businesses. Michael heads up Andrews & Sons. Field technician Peter spearheads training across the company.
“We do a little of everything, but in the end, we’re all responsible for everything,” Kim says.
Indeed, they have most aspects of
the well drilling business covered, including their own hydrogeology department, run by hydrogeological engineer Jeff Bell, who is also president of the Manitoba Water Well Association. Bell specializes in engineering projects, municipal, farms, and other projects out of Manitoba.
“We do work alongside Paddock, Mel’s, Andrews and Downrite,” Jason says. “We’re in constant communication with all of the companies on a regular basis. So, if Michael sees something that would be better suited for us, then, absolutely, we’ll look at it, and vice versa, for everybody.”
“We can handle some jobs from start to finish, including licensing,” he says.
A high proportion of their budget goes to staff and equipment maintenance. They replace service trucks every one or two years and stagger the upgrading of other vehicles and equipment.
CROSS-COUNTRY JOBS
They have done work in different areas of Canada. One job, doing 12-inch dewatering well projects in Labrador, was memorable. “Everything came back red, our guys came back red,” Kim says of the iron ore. They remember reports that the ground was very red – stained by iron ore. It was difficult to get supplies up there. “There were definitely some challenges,” he says. They transported some by ferry and some by barge – a barge they built for the purpose, preferring to build or buy outright as opposed to renting. “There’s nothing we won’t do,” he says with a laugh.
If there’s an opportunity to expand, they are prepared to take it, Jason says. “We would like to be across Canada. We’d like to continue with their family tradition. That’s our goal.”
A FEW GOOD PEOPLE
Friesens staff come from various backgrounds, but the company tends to attract young people who want to get into a trade straight out of high school –locals who want a job, Jason says.
They have participated in career days at the local high school, once taking their VersaDrill V100 to the school grounds. Usually two staff attend these outreach sessions. They also advertise in the newspaper.
The ideal employee is someone who is self-motivated and has a good attitude – but that can be hard to gauge from an interview, Jason says. They’ve been known to let a prospective employee come and watch the drillers at work to get a feel for the job.
Some drillers are specialists and others become all-around operators – some faster than others, he says. “Certain guys can run any rigs; others only run certain rigs.”
“Hiring is one of the biggest challenges we have in our industry,” Jason says, adding that they like to train new people on the job over an extended period. “Depending on the person, it could take two to four years before you have a capable equipment operator.” Why is it hard to find the right people for the job? “It’s not the most glamorous job,” Jason says.
A dedicated staffer who is certified by the Certificate of Recognition program, or COR, carries out on-site safety training for the entire company.
They have three dedicated maintenance people at Friesens and two at Paddocks.
COMMUNITY MARKETING
Friesens’ marketing efforts include print and radio ads, and posts on social media channels Facebook and Instagram. But they find the best way to spread the word is indirectly through community involvement. To stay in touch with Steinbach and surrounding area, they attend events and support local charities.
Continued on page 28
A timeline wall at Friesens’ head office in Steinbach, Man., chronicles company growth from 1892 to the present day.
Validating your customers
Validation is about reassuring customers they made the right decision when they chose you.
by Shep Hyken
Many people think of customer service as a department. My belief is that customer service is a philosophy, not a department. It should be embraced by every employee, regardless of their job and how long they’ve been there.
With that said, the focus within this topic is on what many consider to be the customer service and support department – the people who have contact and interaction with the customer.
Does your company validate the customer’s decision to do business with you?
Direct interaction can come in many forms. It can be the traditional customer service team who fields questions and complaints. It can come through a customer simply calling, for any reason, to connect with someone inside the company. The customer may reach out to the company through social channels, a website, a text message – really any interaction with the company.
DOES YOUR CUSTOMER FEEL YOU WERE THE RIGHT CHOICE?
So here is the big question to ponder: Does your company just answer questions and manage complaints, or does it validate the customer’s decision to do business with you?
In other words, when the interaction with the customer is over, does the customer think, “I love doing business with this company”?
Now, that makes common sense, but here is where some companies get it wrong. They focus on metrics – or should I say, the wrong metrics. Metrics, or measurements, are important, as they can tell a big part of the story. If one of your
key goals is to get the customer off the phone as quickly as possible, however, you could be shortsighted.
The best customer support does several things. First, it answers the customer’s question. Second, it gives an opportunity for the service provider to make suggestions, answer future questions the customer may have (but, doesn’t know it yet), and more. The best customer service doesn’t happen if you’re trying to rush a customer off the call.
CHANCE TO PROVE YOURSELF
Customers will call for help and support – and even to complain. And, this is when the company gets to prove itself. Through an employee’s knowledge, communication skills, patience, willingness to help and ability to build rapport, he or she can ensure the customer is not only happy but also has made the right choice.
In other words, validate the reason a customer chose to do business with the company in the first place. But, that can’t happen if efficiency is how you measure success. Instead, the focus should be on the customer’s level of delight and willingness to want to do business with you the next time they need whatever it is that you sell.
Validation needs to be a part of the customer experience. It creates confidence, and that can lead to loyalty!
Shep Hyken is a customer service expert, keynote speaker and New York Times bestselling business author. For information, visit www.hyken.com. For information on The Customer Focus customer service training programs, go to www.thecustomerfocus.com. Follow on Twitter: @Hyken.
STILL FIGHTING THE PRICE WAR
Undercutting is still an issue in the industry
In a 2011 story in Ground Water Canada, undercutting was identified as a big issue across the country. Back then, we were told by some in the industry that undercutters charge less because they need more work to make a living, because they are taking shortcuts, or because they don’t plan to be in the business over the long term and therefore don’t need to cover the future costs of replacing drilling equipment and vehicles
by TREENA HEIN
Competition is good because it keeps everyone in line, says George McAllister of McAllister Drilling in Lloydminster, Sask., but “it would be nice if we could have provincial regulations that get everyone more on the same playing field in terms of well standards.”
We’ve now checked in with a mix of previous and new interviewees to see if the extent of underpricing has changed, and if so, whether the reasons for it are still the same.
First let’s look at underlying factors, like degree of competition. Work is much scarcer nowadays in Ontario compared to a few years ago, says Ontario Ground Water Association executive director K.C. Craig Stainton, but that doesn’t mean competition is fiercer. “In recent years, the ‘Provincial Policy Plan’ has been to basically forbid development ‘off grid,’ ” he says, “which, in their terms, is [off] municipal water and sewer.” Stainton notes that this has caused
some drillers to leave the business entirely. In his area north of London, Ont., for example, there used to be four local well drillers and now there are none. Two firms travel in for the remaining business from farther afield. Competition, however, is stronger in Alberta right now, says George McAllister, director with the Alberta Water Well Drilling Association and partner at McAllister Drilling in Lloydminster, Sask., which services customers in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. He believes competition will intensify in future in Alberta, as the government increases pressure for development of subdivisions that use only piped water.
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McAllister does think competition is a factor in price undercutting being at the same level as it was in 2011, but also links it to drilling firms that owe the bank and need more work and to drilling firms that aren’t in business for the long term. Provincewide, however, it’s hard for him to say how much business is being lost in Alberta to price-cutters. “It depends on the area, how much competition there is and how aggressive others are,” McAllister observes. “For us, I’d say we lose about 40 per cent of potential business to those offering a lower price.”
In British Columbia, Kathy Tixier says the domestic drilling market is steady, with housing starts doing well in rural areas such as Vancouver Island and Okanagan Valley. “In the Fraser Valley, some communities are tying into expanding municipal water systems, but this hasn’t been identified as a problem for water well drillers,” notes the general manager at the B.C. Ground Water Association. Tixier adds that where there are a small number of drilling companies serving a particular region (for example, Vancouver Island and Fraser Valley), price cutting is not an issue, as their rates are all very similar. But where there are more drilling companies, old and new, big and small, serving a larger area (for example, northern B.C. and the Kootenays), there are more reports of price cutting. “Many of the more established firms don’t play the costcutting ‘game’ because they rely on their salesmanship, reputation and experience
to win jobs,” she says. “They argue that there is more to bidding a job than price, but admit that it takes courage to ‘stand your ground.’ ”
“Many of the more established firms don’t play the cost-cutting ‘game’ because they rely on their salesmanship, reputation and experience to win jobs.”
–Kathy Tixier, BCGWA
PRICING
In B.C., prices currently vary from about $43 to $50 per foot, including casing. When bidding on a job, Tixier says most companies give a footage price (which factors in fuel, equipment wear, operator wages, etc.), but list mob and demob, and other “add on” items (for example, surface seals, K-packers, screens, well caps) separately. Most also specify an hourly rate for standby and travel time, and a per diem for out-of-town jobs.
In Alberta, McAllister Drilling charges
about $40 a foot for typical residential drilling (drilling and casing only). He says cost estimates in Alberta usually also include pumps, screens and so on, depending on the area.
In Ontario, Stainton says his research indicates that drilling with six-inch casing is $48 per foot, a four-foot stainless steel screen is $1,500 installed and the provincial environmental package is $1,000. “A pumping system is generally $4,000 within 40 feet of the house/building,” he reports. “In Muskoka and some other areas, it is common practice to quote just one price with a guarantee of water. With this method some clients pay less than they should and some more, but the driller looks at the average and the year. I’m not sure this is my favourite approach, but I can certainly see where it would mean easy sales.”
Stainton believes that “when you consider capital equipment costs, maintenance, replacement, labour costs (hourly rates, WSIB and benefits), insurance and the costs of meeting regulations (proper compliance) and then the costs for goods for the well and profit margins, the well drilling prices per foot are too low.” He thinks that in order for drilling businesses “to get anywhere today at the current prices,” they must drill every day and consider the profit on the whole season as opposed to per well. “The guys who are making money on every well and are driving the prices down,” he observes,
“are those who are not following the provincial regulations about testing, disinfection or grouting.”
MacKinnon Well Drilling just outside Pembroke in eastern Ontario services a region that straddles the Ontario and Quebec side of the Ottawa River, often drilling into the bedrock of the Canadian Shield. Most of the competition in the region offers similar prices, says co-owner Rob MacKinnon, but there is still undercutting by some firms. MacKinnons charge $27 a foot for drilling and $17 a foot for casing, plus $1,200 for the required provincial environmental package and $300 for a pumping and recovery test. Because only a small amount of drilling is often required, the MacKinnons have a minimum $4,500 fee in Ontario, and it’s more in Quebec due to the regulations there. MacKinnon says they will try to avoid a fuel surcharge this year if fuel prices increase, but they may have to add one. He thinks that a 40 per cent profit margin above costs is adequate for long-term business success but also believes some firms aren’t calculating their costs correctly.
EXTENT OF PRICE DIFFERENTIAL
McAllister believes that in Alberta there will always be price undercutting because “you will always have the people who aren’t planning on replacing equipment and who aren’t in it for the long haul.”
Competition is good, he says, because it keeps everyone in line, but adds that “it would be nice if we could have provincial regulations that get everyone more on the same playing field in terms of well standards. That would level out the costs, but it’s been over 12 years since I was told that would happen and we haven’t seen any movement yet.”
Stainton echoes the thought. “Until the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change inspects every well,” he says, “there will be no level playing field and prices will not be at the level they should be.” For his part, while Rob MacKinnon doesn’t believe there is anything they can do to change the
price cutting going on in their area of eastern Ontario, he also notes that “these companies charge so much less, about 40 per cent less, that I think they sort of shoot themselves in the foot because some potential customers will just avoid them.”
In Tixier’s view, drillers need to be good business people, “and should be prepared to explain to their clients why jobs cost as much as they do.” McCallister agrees. “It’s the consumers who need to hear that they are not paying enough,” he says. “The drillers know, they’re living it, but until all Ontario’s drillers get on the wagon, [undercutting] will never change. It is too bad. There are more and more drillers retiring, less and less drillers around, and the day will come, I predict, when it will be hard to find a well driller in Ontario. And what will the prices be like then?”
Treena Hein is a science writer based in Ontario.
For more on drilling issues, see “Nobody wins the price war,” in Ground Water Canada, Fall 2011, and visit groundwatercanada.com > Drilling
TRUCK ENGINE REVIEW
REVIEW: FORD 3.0L PS DIESEL
Ford’s new quiet diesel engine is making noise
Quiet. That word describes, perfectly, the new 3.0L Power Stroke diesel just introduced by Ford. I’ve driven it, stood beside it while idling and floored it uphill while towing – it is eerily quiet.
by HOWARD J ELMER
When towing and driving with payload, the engine is quiet and without vibration or harshness. The torque comes on as soon as you start to roll and pulls strong and straight through the gears.
Quiet. That word describes, perfectly, the new 3.0L Power Stroke diesel just introduced by Ford. I’ve driven it, stood beside it while idling and floored it uphill while towing – it is eerily quiet. This trait, plus the power it makes, now available in the F-150, makes this introduction a true milestone in the history of the F-series. And, as of today, you can order this diesel engine in your new half-ton – a first in the 70-year life of the brand.
If you do, here is what you’ll be getting.
This new engine (under development for several years now) uses V6 graphite/iron block architecture, a variable geometry turbocharger, and 29,000 psi injection fuel rail and aluminum pistons. It displaces 3.0 L and makes 250 hp at 3,250 rpm and 440 lb. ft. of torque at 1,750 rpm. It uses DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) along with
a particulate filter and high-pressure cooled exhaust gas recirculation technology to reduce emissions.
Ford’s SelectShift 10-speed automatic transmission is the other half of this new powertrain. It’s already in use with several of Ford’s engines and has been getting good reviews. This non-sequential transmission is also part of the fuel economy improvements that Ford is seeking. This effort also includes the auto stop/start feature that is now standard on all F-150s: gas or diesel.
Ford is claiming a fuel consumption number of 10.8 L /100 km city and 8.0 L/100 km on the highway for the 3.0L. So, while these numbers are light, the capabilities of this diesel-equipped truck won’t be. To start with, the published torque number is currently best in class, as is
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the towing (up to 11,400 lb.) and the payload (up to 2,020 lb.). With this new Power Stroke in the stable, the F-150 now gives customers an unequalled choice of six engines.
The recent first drive of this diesel was as impressive as the numbers suggest. I found it strong, efficient and very well paired with the SelectShift transmission. I towed with it and drove it with payload – the quiet, as I already mentioned, was impressive. So was the lack of vibration and harshness. The torque comes on as soon as you start to roll and pulls strong and straight through the gears. The strength here is evident, not just from the feel but also from how the transmission handles the power. With 10 gears you might expect the tranny to hunt or drop several gears when the accelerator is mashed. Not so. Even during floorboard acceleration it drops, at most, two gears – most often just one. It’s that strong. As for back pressure, it too is even, quiet and strong, holding just about any gear while coasting down long grades. As for the fuel numbers, I beat them. Driven gently this engine can easily best the numbers that Ford is claiming.
brand (like me) have been pestering Ford about bringing in a small diesel for years. Normally, in trucks, they lead in the trends. First with an aluminum body; first with a 10-speed transmission; first with a flat rear floor; first with an integrated tailgate step; first with a factory trailer brake controller; and the list goes on.
Yet in this one area they let Ram, GM and even Nissan do it first. Those companies have been offering small displacement diesels in 1500-series trucks for several years now and doing very well with them.
Even during floorboard acceleration it drops, at most, two gears – most often just one. It’s that strong.
Overall, this introduction and my first drive of it was a smileinducing success. I suspect that the truck-buying public will also feel the same way about this newest F-150 engine option. So, while Ford’s new small diesel is certainly welcome, it does beg the question – what took them so long? Watchers of the
The F-series sold a total of 896,764 units in 2017 (everywhere). It’s the single most popular pickup truck in Canada for more than 50 consecutive years. Looking at just these numbers and even without knowing much about the auto business, you can easily see trucks are Ford’s bread, butter and dessert. So, why take so long to bring the small diesel to market?
My personal opinion – EcoBoost. After its introduction in 2011 Ford repeatedly said that the “future” was all about EcoBoost. They felt that this high-compression, turbo-heavy, gas engine technology would set them apart. Well, yes, EcoBoost has its place, but as they have now finally acknowledged, so does diesel.
On the other hand, this late arrival may have more to do with the long journey this engine has had to make. For starters it’s built in England and also shares a design history Jaguar/Land Rover.
Ford’s Dagenham plant, outside London, has produced more than 10,000 million cars and 37,000,000 engines since Edsel Ford turned the first spade of dirt beginning its construction back in 1929.
Today its primary business is building engines, which includes a contract with Jaguar/Land Rover (once owned by Ford but sold to Tata Motors in 2008). This 3.0L F-150 diesel started out as a clean-sheet design that would power vehicles from both companies, then owners changed and times changed. In the end, speculation aside, it’s a story that ends well. This new engine is impressive.
If, like me, you’ve been waiting for Ford to join the new age of small diesel, you may well decide to head down to your dealer and order one. However, as the rollout begins, the new diesel will be available only as part of the more expense trim packages.
Customers can choose this engine option for 2018 F-150 Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum edition SuperCrew trucks with either a 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed configuration, and SuperCab trucks with a 6.5-foot bed. Pricing, with this restriction in mind, will then start at $51,449 and walk up through $77,979.
Now for Fleet customers, 3.0L Power Stroke diesel engines will be available on all F-150 trim levels with SuperCrew 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed configurations, and SuperCab trucks with a 6.5foot bed. That means the entry price for Fleet will be $36,749.
Howard J Elmer is a truck and ATV writer living in rural Ontario. He penned this review for Ground Water Canada.
Fiable.
Bad vibrations, part 2
The data, sampling and provincial policies of well interference.
by Bill Clarke
In the previous article ( Ground Water Canada, Spring 2018), I summarized the experiences of the private well owners in rural Chatham-Kent, Ont. In this article, I will present the relevant data, sampling challenges and the provincial policies as they relate to well interference.
For most projects concerning ground water contamination, the initial water quality parameters are defined. For this project, there was no indication as to what parameters would be indicators of low-frequency vibrations from either pile driving or wind turbine operation.
As a result, several well owners agreed to a full set of chemical parameters. This database has characterized the ground water in the North Kent 1 area, and the analytical results will serve as a reference for any changes in ground water quality in the future.
The excessive turbidity is physically blocking the water in the filters and/ or the pressure tanks. By any definition, this is well interference.
It was imperative to obtain ground water samples prior to any construction, in order to obtain background conditions.
During the winter of 2016, and then into 2017, there was a rush to sample as many wells as possible prior to any pile driving. This was complicated by the fact that specific construction dates and locations were revealed with a minimum lead time. This meant that ground water sampling had to be modified to reduce the costs, have more residents involved and obtain as many samples as possible in relatively short periods of time “before construction.”
Sampling was simplified to turbidity, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity. Three samples were taken at each well.
When a change in water quality occurred
after construction was completed, the owners noticed cloudy water and/or dark particulates. I was notified and sampled the well water.
In retrospect, I would have devised a way to sample wells nearest active pile driving locations and then sampled the same wells after pile driving was completed. But that requires willing participation by all parties. Under equitable conditions, the wind tower developers would have initiated this type of monitoring program to support their assumptions.
As a result of the sampling schedule, three wells showed indications of elevated turbidity during pile driving ranging from double to 10 times. In an effort to define the presence of Kettle Point black shale in the well water, samples were submitted to a lab that uses a scanning electronic microscope. The sample with the greatest turbidity increase also showed 47 black shale particles before pile driving, in comparison to 681,939 black shale particles in the same well water after the pile driving was completed. This leads to both questions and serious concerns.
Another investigation was initiated to assess the role of biofouling in private wells. Biofouling is bacterial activity that results in organic “sludge” and often a “rotten egg” smell. Wells with biofouling were treated with a commercial bactericide, and the water quality improved significantly; the presence of black shale was also verified. This investigation continues.
In any event, the excessive turbidity is physically blocking the water in the filters and/or the pressure tanks. By any definition, this is well interference.
The Ministry of the Environment and Energy document “Water Management: Policies, Guidelines, Provincial Water Objectives” states that “The policies and guidelines in this
1494 Bell Mill Road, P.O. Box 456, Tillsonburg, ON, Canada, N4G 4J1 P.O. Box 2663, Buffalo, NY, USA, 14240-2663
This article presents the relevant data, sampling challenges and provincial policies as they relate to well interference. In this case, interference is looked at in relation to pile-driven construction of wind turbines in the Chatham-Kent area of Ontario.
publication are based on the important principles such as the protection, preservation, and sustainability of the province’s water resources for future generations.” This would imply that the existing Chatham-Kent wells fall under these principles.
Section 1.4 goes on to state that “The water management policies and guidelines supporting Provincial Water Quality Objectives are the basis for establishing acceptable limits for water quality and quantity, consistent with the protection of the aquatic ecosystem and the ground-water(sic).” It goes on to say, “A project may have to be altered or scaled down to achieve the appropriate protection of all media.”
Would it not be reasonable to expect the Ministry to apply the “intent” of these guidelines to this type of development?
I was unable to locate a policy, procedure or guideline that dealt with ground water quantity interference problems. Even “Procedure B-9-1: resolution of groundwater quality interference problems,” revised in 1993, does not address ground water quality issues as a result of vibrations. Obviously, wind tower construction and operation need to be examined in the context of various hydrogeological settings. Throughout this process, there seems
to be one assumption that is prevalent (although never stated out loud): that there is a conspiracy by many private well owners in the Chatham-Kent area to show that their wells were visibly damaged contemporaneously, as a direct result of the wind towers. A key assumption of this theory is that ALL of these people had grossly defective wells before the wind towers were constructed, and that these same people saw the perfect opportunity to get together to place the blame on the wind tower construction and operations. It is the only way to explain the disregard for and dismissal of continued cries for help from 21 families!
Bill Clarke graduated with an Honours B.Sc. degree in geology in 1976 from the University of Waterloo. He worked at the Ontario Geological Survey until 1978, and then returned for a masters degree in hydrogeology from U of W. Bill was hired as Conestoga Rovers & Associates Ltd. (now GHD) in 1981. He became an independent hydrogeological consultant in 1986. In 2009, his company Waterloo Geoscience Consultants Ltd. merged with MTE Consultants Ltd. Bill is currently in semi-retirement so that he has time for his five grandchildren and opportunities to teach Nature Connection skills at the Guelph Outdoor School.
NEW PRODUCTS
SPECPAK SIMPLIFIES
MULTI-PUMP SPECIFICATION AND INSTALLATION
Franklin Electric recently introduced the Inline 1100 SpecPAK pressure-boosting system to provide a simplified way to select a packaged system for boosting water pressure in applications requiring more than one pump.
The Inline 1100 SpecPAK connects easily to nearly any commercial, industrial, or large residential plumbing configuration. Instead of choosing individual components within the system, contractors may simply determine how much water flow needs to be boosted to achieve the desired constant pressure output, the company said in a press release. The system comes ready for installation virtually anywhere and is small enough to be hung in a small utility closet.
The system also makes it easy to expand the quantity of pumps after the initial installation should a building expansion or any other increase in water usage arise.
The pump itself, the Franklin Electric Inline 1100, is a quiet, all-in-one constant water pressure system that
contains the pump, motor and drive in a compact package for easy and versatile system integration when designing water systems. As water volume needs increase, the pump instantly accelerates to the proper speed to ensure the water pressure stays constant throughout the application. Each unit provides up to 60 pounds of additional pressure, so when sized properly within the Inline 1100 SpecPAK, it will ensure the pressure typically doesn’t vary by more than one or two pounds per square inch.
As a result of this simplicity and the standard components, the Inline 1100 SpecPAK is easy to service should the need arise and requires less training for new installers.
franklinengineered.com
LITTLE BEAVER EARTH DRILLS ADDRESS AGING WORKFORCE CHALLENGES
Little Beaver’s Towable and UN-Towable Hydraulic Earth
Drills are designed to provide safe drilling and hassle-free transportation to make it easier for both veteran and inexperienced operators to be productive.
Both drills are easy to operate and require minimal experience, making them ideal for use in a variety of industries, the company said
in a news release.
“The Towable and UN-Towable units are perfect for individuals who need the power of a hydraulic earth drill without the operating weight and transportation challenges that can be associated with traditional units,” said Mike Hale, Little Beaver sales manager. “The drills’ weight is balanced over the wheels, allowing operators of any age or experience level to easily pivot them into place.”
That design helps prevent the sprains, strains and tears and other injuries that occur on jobsites. The company designed the Towable and UN-Towable drills to lessen the toll on workers’ bodies. Their balanced design and easy manoeuvrability enhance operation and minimize downtime by reducing injuries.
The UN-Towable has a 9-horsepower Honda engine while the Towable unit has an 11-horsepower Honda engine, resulting in as much as 22 per cent more power than competitive drills. The hydraulic systems generate pressures ranging from 2,500 to 2,700 psi and operating speeds of 150 rpm.
Both drills are easily transportable on and off the jobsite. They feature an auger lock and 16-inch semi-pneumatic tires for easy mobility with minimal effort from the operator. The drills pivot into digging position without causing damage to delicate lawns and turf. The 34-inch width allows the drills to fit easily through tight spaces, such as gates, to enter drilling locations that are inaccessible to skid steers and tractors.
Merrill Manufacturing Company has added to its lineup stainless steel Venturi adapters with rope lugs made of 304 stainless steel for durability.
These are stronger and more competitive than the same product in no-lead brass, Merrill said in a press release, adding that the rope lugs provide easy access to the rope from the top of the well.
The adapters feature a plastic pipe to male iron pipe connection.
They are available in 1 in. and 1-1/4 in.
For more information contact Merrill at 800-8316962. merrillmfg.com
SOLINST REDESIGNS PERISTALTIC PUMP
Solinst Canada has redesigned its Model 410 Peristaltic Pump. Built for fieldwork, the pump is ideal for vapour or water sampling from shallow ground water or surface water. Its upgraded design makes it even more durable and handy for use in the field, the company said in a press release.
The new pump head is clear,
allowing quick, convenient inspection of the pump head tubing before and during operation. The pump head cover is easy to remove for faster cleaning or replacement of the tubing.
The pump also features a new easy-to-reset circuit breaker, which protects its electronics.
The Peristaltic Pump is simple to operate using a single control that enables reversible flow and various speeds, with rates from 40 ml/ min. to 3.5 L/min.
It is effective to depths up to the suction lift limit, which can be as much as 33 ft. or 10 m. The pump simply connects to a 12 V power source to operate solinst.com
QED’S SNAP SAMPLER COMBINES ACCURACY AND LOWER COSTS
The Snap Sampler system from QED Environmental Systems is designed to provide high sampling accuracy while reducing sampling program costs.
The system, which holds US Patent 7,178,415, recently won the National Ground Water Association’s Equipment Design Award for safety, efficiency and ease of operation. It employs a doubleended bottle design with “snap” sealing caps that captures a
NEW PRODUCTS
sample under in-situ conditions using a simple mechanical or pneumatic trigger at the surface. The integrity of the sample is maintained all the way through analysis at the laboratory without exposure to air or potential contaminants. Samples are representative of ground water chemistry using a simple passive sampling technique, eliminating well purging labor and purge water management.
QED, a subsidiary of Graco Inc., recently acquired the Snap Sampler passive ground water sampling technology from ProHydro.
“QED is pleased to be able to offer the Snap Sampler technology to our customers,” said David Kaminski, senior vice-president of QED and
product manager for its line of ground water and soil sampling products. “The Snap Sampler provides the highest quality passive samples for the widest range of applications while saving valuable field time. It’s the best fit with our proven Well Wizard and Sample Pro low-flow sampling bladder pump systems that have been used by our customers for over 35 years.”
Sanford Britt, Sampler owner of ProHydro and inventor of the Snap technology, said, “I think that existing Snap Sampler customers will benefit greatly from QED’s wide range of solutions, resources and strong customer service reputation.” snapsampler.com qedenv.com
They did more outreach than usual in 2017 because of their anniversary, including the company party, golf tournaments, and a popular event staged by the local radio station. Every Wednesday in July and August, the station hosts a barbecue on the closed-off main street. Businesses contribute food, supplies and services. Friesens has a booth and contributes more than 72,000 bottles of water, which for the anniversary carried the Friesens logo. Proceeds go to a different charity every week. This commitment to charity runs across the Friesens family of companies, Jason says, giving as an example, Mel’s Well Drilling’s support of local hockey and car racing in their cottage-country town.
Following in many family footsteps, including those of father John, and uncles James and Ryan Rempel, Jason is heavily involved in its provincial association. Jason has been a Manitoba Water Well Association board member for four years and now also serves as a representative for the newly formed Canadian National Ground Water Association.
“Jason Friesen is a “chip off the old block,’ says Inez Miller, executive director of the Manitoba Water Well Association, which holds four regional meetings a year. “His late father, John Friesen, was a man of integrity and courage. He passed these values on to his children. These values are reflected not only in the drilling business sector, but in everyday community life.”
No doubt, those values will live on in the fifth generation of Friesen Drillers. The future bodes well for this family business, with the younger family members now in the mix. Kim’s son Mason, Jason’s daughter Ashley and Mike’s son Colton all work in the company. Ashley is a service technician who services pumps and does well development. Mason is starting to drill. Mike’s son Colton just started at Andrews in an assistant role.
Like C.K., they are all hard workers, Jason says. Their goal is “to see what our great-grandfather, grandfather, and our father and uncles, have done for this company and the work they put into it. We tried to follow that same philosophy of working hard to get where you want to be.”
Drill rigs catch the sunlight in the yard at Friesen Drillers. The Friesen family of companies has acquired 39 rigs in total over the years.
BCGWA CONVENTION FEATURES PUMP INSTALLERS TRAINING
The B.C. Ground Water Association’s annual trade show, convention and AGM, held a bit later than usual from April 4-5 in Langley, hosted about 130 attendees – up from 110 in 2017 – who came to shop, network and learn. The location played a role in the healthy turnout, general manager Kathy Tixier told us, pointing out the Valley is in reach of many of the nearly manufacturers suppliers exhibiting and/or sponsoring.
A big draw was a pump installers course offered by member Dave Mellis of PSI Pump Systems Inc. with the focus of helping to prepare candidates to challenge the ITA Well Pump Installer certification exam, Tixier said. This was the first time such training has been available since the Canadian Ground Water Association held courses. Twenty-six people attended the training and 10 pre-approved candidates wrote the exam.
Day 1 was given over to government and regulatory talks, including a workshop led by senior ground water data specialist Lindsay MacFarlane on the GWELLS search tool under development by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
“We saw some great ministry-industry interaction and people gave feedback on web-based tools,” Tixier said.
Day 2 focused on flowing artesian wells. One highlight was a speaker series on practical and technical matters relating to flowing artesian wells. These are a big issue, especially in B.C., Tixier said. Mike Piechowski, principal hydrogeologist with Robinson Noble in Washington state, compared notes on his experiences with drilling and managing artesian wells from across the border.
In his presentation, Piechowski touted the importance of keeping honest, accurate well logs, looking for clues, being prepared, and checking well logs, maps, artesian advisories
and other publications.
“Fixing it after the fact is a LOT harder to do,” he noted in the presentation.
“It was interesting to hear how policy differs in Washington state and what quality of data is available to them before they go drilling,” Tixier said.
“Planning for and Managing Artesian Well Conditions,” a talk by Robert Stadeli, rotary manager for Holt Services, covered flow and pressure, planning an adequate seal, as well as rig, fluid, casing advance and well-killing capabilities.
Other educational highlights included a discussion by engineer Wally Wells on asset management, and a talk by Water For Life representatives encouraging drillers to provide professional knowledge, technology, field experience or funds to their work providing wells to communities in Benin, West Africa.
Next year may see the event held in Langley or Penticton, Tixier said.
Some 130 attendees came to the BCGWA convention and trade show in April to shop, network and learn.
The changing well
by Jeff Wahl
The drilling of a well is a welcomed act for many people as it provides the necessity of water for their home or cottage. In Canada we are fortunate to have an abundance of ground water that can provide a reliable, year-round source of water for many municipalities and rural owners.
Provincial well regulations indicate what is required including the depth, well casing and well yield, recommendations for the pumping rate and pump size. Wellhead protection is completed to ensure that surface contaminants do not enter, and proper disinfection procedures are performed. There is no debate over this process and regulations clearly spell it out. Once the well tag is installed, records are given and water is flowing, the owner is left to their own responsibility for the well water quality.
How can an owner be sure that the water in their well is safe? The options include routine bacterial testing at the local public health unit for bacteria, water sampling with an accredited laboratory or sampling by a qualified water treatment professional. More recently there has been the advancement of do-it-yourself test kits available for purchase. All these options provide a snapshot of a specific time and are not indicative of ongoing water quality.
Experience has shown that the costs for laboratory testing and the inconvenience of collecting and delivering a water sample to the health unit or water treatment company often deter many people from doing it at all. This is amplified in rural areas where access is limited, and time constraints and distances are increased to submit a sample. Often sampling is conducted only when there is a noticeable change in water quality or when a real estate transaction occurs.
THREE SCENARIOS
Consider the following analogy: Five drops of arsenic are deliberately placed in a water sample bottle prior to submission. (This would be intentional and for the purpose of illustration only.)
• The sample is taken to a health unit for bacterial testing. It passes, as no arsenic test was conducted.
• The sample is taken to an accredited laboratory. Arsenic is detected, as it was tested for.
• The sample is taken to a water treatment company. Tests for hardness, iron, sulphur, total dissolved solids, pH and manganese do not detect arsenic, as no arsenic test was conducted.
It is easy to substitute arsenic with any contaminant that may enter a ground water source and ultimately flow from a consumer’s tap. Even with “common testing” the contaminant may never be identified, as it was never tested for. No water source remains in a constant state of quality without fluctuations due to seasonal changes, changes in the surrounding environment, human influences and changes in ground water flow patterns.
Given the vast uncertainty of any ground water source over a calendar year, it is critical that a homeowner be given the information necessary to make an educated choice by a qualified source. The idea of “one test a year and my water is safe” is an antiquated one that does provide a snapshot of water quality but not of ongoing changes. The need for properly installed water treatment devices is no longer one of perceived need but one of necessity to ensure the safety of water for the consumer. This article originally appeared as Volume 2, Issue 3, of Wahl H2O – Educating Through Awareness
Jeff Wahl has 20 years of experience in the water treatment industry. He is the chief executive officer of Wahl Water and a water educator. For more information, contact Jeff at jeff@wahlwater. com.
Once the well tag is installed, records are given and water is flowing, the owner is left to their own responsibility for the well water quality.
Get On The Right Track for More Business
CME has a track-mounted rig for virtually every drilling application. Whether you need a self-contained, powerful, all-terrain drill with big carrying capacity, or a compact machine for limited-access jobs, we’ve got the rig that’s right for you.
The CME-850X is the ultimate all-terrain drill. Ground bearing pressure is only 2.9 psi. The steel grouser tracks can get you and your drilling tools to job locations inaccessible to truck or even ATV-mounted drills. The CME-850XR rough-terrain drill has rubber tracks and won’t damage most pavement so you can also use it anywhere you might use a truck-mounted drill.
Both rigs feature 14,925 foot pounds of torque and 28,275 pounds of retract force and are capable of drilling holes up to 14 3/4 inches in diameter using hollow stem augers.
If you need a more compact machine for tight working spaces, the remote-controlled CME-300 tracked carrier is available with your choice of several different CME drills mounted on it, including the CME-45C and the CME-55. For low clearance operations, you can choose the CME-55LC or the CME-55LCX, which puts out an impressive 12,162 foot pounds of rotary torque.
Since we design and build our carriers specifically for our drills, there are no compromises. Weight distribution and center of gravity are optimized for maximum balance and stability. And a single engine power source means lower maintenance costs.
All of these rigs are available with the optional features you need to maximize your drilling and sampling efficiency. They can be equipped with slide bases, auger racks, toolboxes, a hydraulic rod holder/breakout wrench system, an SPT hammer, and much more.
Give us a call to find out how CME track-mounted drills can increase your business by allowing you to take jobs others can’t get to. After all, our track record is second to none.
