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THE APPRENTICESHIP ROUTE
Can these programs help protect the industry and secure its future? Part 2 in our series.
14
TRUCK REVIEW: CHEVY SILVERADO HD IMPRESSIONS
New models help drivers handle capacity and power.
18 GROUND WATER COLLABORATOR
B.C.’s Central Interior Pumps’ Blaine Matuga urges continuing education and communication within the industry.
22 NASHVILLE NETWORKING Groundwater Week provided many ways to learn, share and shop.
ON THE WEB:
Explorers find massive ice-age cavern beneath Montreal
Using a dowsing rod, explorers have just discovered a new underground passage, complete with stalactites and a lake, all buried beneath the city of Montreal.
Scientists home in on causes of high radium levels
U.S. Geological Survey scientists have shed new light on processes that cause radium to leach from aquifer rocks into ground water in the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer.
Let your stars shine
by Colleen Cross
Ever catch yourself shaking your head in frustration with a young person and saying, “Kids today…”
There may be a bit of a generation gap between values, but thankfully it does not apply to all young people and certainly not to the young people I’ve had the pleasure to meet while covering the ground water industry.
No question, ground water is an older industry. Many readers report there are not as many wells going in, the number of water well businesses is down and some provincial associations report membership is shrinking.
Ground water has been more in the public eye lately because of legislation like B.C.’s recent Water Sustainability Act and controversial watertaking issues that make the news. But let’s face it: this industry is not top of mind for young people choosing a career. It takes a special kind of person to do this work.
Pretty well every well drilling company I’ve talked to says finding and keeping good people is a challenge.
Make a New Year’s resolution to nominate a young person you think deserves kudos.
I find it encouraging, then, that the industry has so many shining stars. I’ve met many outstanding young people – drillers, pump installers, hydrogeologists, water well technicians and administrative staff – who have impressed me as dedicated to their businesses and their role as protectors of ground water. They show up eager to work, they pay attention, they are itching to take on more responsibility and they are confident they can make a difference for the company and for the environment.
They come to conventions, trade shows and educational sessions. They step up to their provincial boards.
Does this sound like one of your employees, co-workers or fellow professionals?
In this competitive job market, it’s more important than ever to recognize, reward and celebrate your staff. Young people appreciate knowing what’s expected of them and whether or not they’ve met or exceeded those expectations. They will be motivated by your acknowledgment
of their strong work ethic, leadership by example and efforts to grow the quality of our industry. Even if they don’t love the limelight, they will feel valued and energized by this tangible pat on the back.
Being known as a company that rewards employee achievement can go a long way toward helping you draw and retain talented workers.
Here at Ground Water Canada we are looking to celebrate Canada’s next generation of ground water professionals by shining a light on their talents, strengths and accomplishments in our first Top 10 Under 40 feature!
We need your help to do this! We are relying on our readers to tell us about the dynamic, hard-working employees who represent the next generation of the ground water industry.
Nominations can come from anyone involved in the industry. We will consider any candidates involved in the industry, including business owners, management, employees, well drillers, pump installers, geothermal contractors, water well technicians, administrative staff and the scientific community.
To be eligible, nominees must be aged 40 or under at the end of 2018 and someone who exhibits outstanding leadership, skill and dedication to the industry.
Make a New Year’s resolution to nominate a young person you think deserves kudos (they can be a family member).
Visit www.groundwatercanada.com/top-10under-40 to nominate someone online, call me at 519-428-3471, ext. 261, or drop me an email at ccross@annexweb.com.
Nominations close on June 1, 2018, so get your picks in early. This year’s winners will be featured in our Fall 2018 issue.
As I await the deluge of entries, I wish you and your families and businesses a happy and prosperous 2018 on behalf of the Ground Water Canada.
facebook/groundwatercanada @GroundWaterMag
NEXT ISSUE: Our next issue will focus on drilling. Don’t miss it!
CELEBRATE TOGETHER
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INDUSTRY NEWS
ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS IN GROUND WATER INDICATE CONTAMINATION FROM SEPTIC SYSTEMS
The presence of artificial sweeteners in rural ground water shows evidence of contamination by local septic system wastewater, researchers from the University of Waterloo have found.
Their study, which appears in the Journal of Environmental Quality, describes how the researchers tested private, rural ground water wells in the Nottawasaga River Watershed in Ontario for four artificial sweeteners as a way to detect ground water impacted by human wastewater being released by septic systems in the area.
Artificial sweeteners are ideal human wastewater tracers as they exit the human body essentially unchanged and are not completely removed by most wastewater treatment processes, the University of Waterloo said in a news release. Human wastewater contains relatively high concentrations of artificial sweeteners.
“Although the four artificial sweeteners we measured are all approved for human consumption by Health Canada, it is the other septic contaminants that might also be present in the water that could pose a health risk,” said John Spoelstra, first author on the study and an adjunct professor in earth and environmental sciences at the university. “As for groundwater entering rivers and lakes, the effect of artificial sweeteners on most aquatic organisms is unknown.”
Among other contaminants, septic effluent can contain
CANADIAN NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION FORMS
About 35 interested people met in Nashville on Nov. 7 during the NGWA’s Groundwater Week to discuss next steps for the newly formed Canadian National Ground Water Association.
Craig Stainton, executive director for the Ontario Ground Water Association, chaired the meeting. Stainton said the University of Windsor has agreed to provide a physical address for the organization. The articles of incorporation have been completed and will be submitted to the government.
A discussion centred on membership in the association and it was decided that memberships will be open to provincial associations as well as individual companies and other interested parties. The following individuals volunteered to assume founding director positions: 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.
bacteria such as E. coli, viruses, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and elevated levels of nitrate and ammonium.
In conducting the study, the researchers found that more than 30 per cent of samples analyzed from 59 private wells show detectable levels of at least one of four artificial sweeteners, indicating the presence of human wastewater. Estimates reveal between three and 13 per cent of wells could contain at least one per cent septic effluent.
The team also found ground water seeping out of the banks of the Nottawasaga River and found 32 per cent of samples tested positive for sweeteners. Again, this indicates that some of the ground water entering the river has been affected by septic system effluent.
Previous studies by the same group revealed the presence of artificial sweeteners in the Grand River as well as in treated drinking water sourced from the river.
“We were not really surprised by the most recent results given what we’ve found in past studies,” said Spoelstra, also a research scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. “Septic systems are designed to discharge effluent to ground water as part of the wastewater treatment process. Therefore, contamination of the shallow ground water is a common problem when it comes to septic systems.”
The Nottawasaga River Watershed in southern Ontario is located just west of Lake Simcoe, approximately 50 kilometres north of Toronto.
Other authors on the paper include former master’s student Natalie Senger and professor Sherry Schiff, both from the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Waterloo.
Funding for the study was provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada; the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; and the Natural Sciences and the Engineering Research Council.
The newly elected board will meet via conference call to discuss association objectives. The first annual general meeting will take place in Las Vegas next December in conjunction with Groundwater Week.
Interested parties looking for more information or wishing to volunteer may contact Craig Stainton at executivedirector@ogwa.ca.
INDUSTRY NEWS
LONGTIME OGWA OFFICE MANAGER RETIRES
Anne Gammage, who has been the Ontario Ground Water Association’s office manager since 2002, will retire from her position as of Dec. 31.
Gammage has worked with eight presidents, three bookkeepers and two executive directors. She shared a few memories of teamwork through the years, including how she began in a “trial by fire” one month before CanWell 2002 under Terry Marquardt’s leadership; made a major office move with the team during Allan Wright’s term; and helped organize CanWell together with Kevin and Nicole Constable. Along with Craig Stainton, Gammage weathered what she calls “the roller-coaster years”; worked with Greg Bullock on a CanWell event; pulled half-time executive director duty with Dave Gunn following Craig Stainton’s back surgery; helped Darren Juneau implement a wealth of ideas; and enjoyed working with Bryan Watson since he recently took on the role of president.
Gammage gave special thanks to Steve Bleizeffer and Rob MacKinnon for their dedication, and to executive director Stainton and accounts manager Debbie Stokovic, wishing them the best as they “pick up all the balls in the air.”
Asked about her future plans, she said, “I don’t have any plans except to learn how to make pottery and relax for a while!”
MERRILL MANUFACTURING ACQUIRES H2OPTIMAL
Merrill Manufacturing, headquartered in Storm Lake, Iowa, has acquired H2Optimal, a pitless unit business for the U.S. professional ground water market.
H2Optimal’s product line provides a patented all-in-one system for control at the water well. The system has a built-in pressure tank and also allows for mounting of constant pressure variable frequency drives within the unit. Those wanting more information on H2Optimal or other Merrill products, visit merrillmfg.com or call 1-800-831-6962.
OGA APPLAUDS ONTARIO REBATES FOR GEOTHERMAL, ENERGY-EFFICIENCY MEASURES
The Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is offering financial rebates for homeowners to install geothermal systems and make other improvements to reduce their carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency.
The Low Carbon Technology Incentives program is designed to encourage homeowners to invest in building envelope and HVAC upgrades, the Ontario Geothermal Association said in a news release. The focus will be on existing detached, semi-detached, and row town houses with rebate values covering 50 to 75 per cent of the installed costs.
Rebates for air source heat pumps will range from $1,900 for ductless air source heat pumps to $5,500 for ducted cold climate units, the association said. Rebates for geothermal systems will be $2,000 per loop ton for horizontal loop systems and $3,000 per loop ton for vertical loop systems, with additional incentives for adding de-superheaters ($750), domestic water heating ($1,500) and for systems that meet higher efficiency levels (an additional $1,500). Rebates for geothermal will be capped at $15,000 for horizontal systems and $20,000 for vertical loop systems. Additional rebates of $750 per loop ton will be available for replacing existing geothermal heat pumps for more efficient systems.
The OGA is working with Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada, GreenON, the Independent Electricity System Operator, Enbridge and other partners to promote the benefits of geothermal. The HRAI will administer contractor registration for the program and there will be training and certification requirements for contractors to be registered to offer each of the measures, the OGA said. For more information, visit https://greenon.ca/contractor-signup.
JAMES WHITE JOINS WELLMASTER AS SENIOR MANAGER
James White has joined the senior management team at Wellmaster Pipe and Supply Inc.
As senior manager of business development, White brings with him 20 years of private and public sector team management experience.
Before joining Wellmaster, James was senior advisor to Manitoba premier Brian Pallister. Prior to this, he served on a team that co-ordinated the formation of Manitoba’s government following the 2016 provincial election. James previously worked with the federal government as policy and regional affairs advisor to the minister of state for transport.
Before his employment in government, he worked in the private sector as a public opinion and market research consultant serving clients in telecommunications, banking and the federal and provincial governments.
As a youth, James worked on Wellmaster’s shop floor gaining valuable work experience that served him well throughout his career.
He has a bachelor of arts with honours from the University of Western Ontario and a masters of public administration at Queen’s University.
“James, his wife and their three boys, have decided to accept Wellmaster’s offer to return to private industry and relocate to Ontario,” Doug White said in a news release. “However, they remain steadfast fans of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and of course, the Jets.”
NEW MINAS, N.S., CONSIDERS RAISING WELLHEADS
The Village of New Minas, N.S., is considering raising its wellheads as one possible way to protect its well fields in the event of flooding caused by extreme storms.
The village is requesting proposals from professionals to provide design, construction and inspection services for the project, which aims to raise seven wellheads at four locations within the village.
The Cornwallis River, which borders New Minas on the north, poses a flood risk to low-lying areas adjacent to the well field, wellhead structures and transmission lines, the RFP says.
Flooding in these areas is anticipated due to higher tides, wind and overland flows augmented by climate change. Incoming tides do not allow overland flows to drain to the sea, thus magnifying flood concerns.
This project is intended to help ensure the water infrastructure is protected from damage due to floods and overland flows.
The idea is to prepare for a potential 100-year storm, said Gerard Hamilton, the village’s operations manager. “Not that it will come,” he said.
The project has been about three years in the making, he said.
In 2015, engineering consultant Tim Webster of Nova Scotia Community College in Middleton sounded a warning to the town’s planning department about potential weather effects based on data from the light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor he helped develop.
“It was a matter of ‘where do we go from here?’ ” Hamilton said.
Diking the wells was one option; raising the wells was another.
They called in engineering consultant Douglas Seamone,
N.S. GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION HANDS OUT AWARDS
The Nova Scotia Ground Water Association recognized outstanding well drillers, well diggers, scientists and pump installers with awards at its annual general meeting and awards ceremony in Dartmouth, N.S.
As reported in the association’s fall newsletter, John Drage, senior hydrogeologist with the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, gave a talk at the AGM in June on drought impacts to private wells in Nova Scotia.
Following the session, Drage was presented with the 2016 W.E. “Buster” Brown Founder’s Award. Jamie McDonald of Island Well Drillers was awarded the J.P Nowlan 2016 Driller’s Award. Kendall Veinotte of L.E. Veinotte & Sons was named the Wayne MacCrae 2016 Well Digger of the Year. The 2016 Pump Installer Award
who determined the seven wellheads needed to be raised by about 9.5 metres to accommodate the risk related to flooding due to climate change.
“I knew it had been done,” Hamilton said. “I had read about it in the Journal of the American Water Works Association.”
Hamilton and others met with government officials and proceeded to hire a project manager – Andrew McIntosh, senior environmental engineer with Allnorth Consultants of New Brunswick – and proceed with finding service providers.
The federal and provincial governments are providing funding under the New Building Canada Fund – (SCF).
As far as he knows New Minas is the only town taking advantage of the government funding for such a project. Funding is in the neighbourhood of $500,000, he said. There are time limits on these projects, he said. In the case of New Minas, they have committed to complete the project by March 2019.
Since the town doesn’t have lakes and pounds as sources of ground water, they rely heavily on the ground water wells.
The town has 11 wells in total, seven of which are near the river and potentially in jeopardy. While several are in the range of 250 to 300 metres deep, some sand and gravel wells are much shallower at 50 to 60 metres deep. Four of the wells were drilled in the mid-1990s and three were drilled more recently in 2006 and 2007.
The town has worked with W&R Drilling of Bear River and D.J.’s Well Drilling of Kingston among others in the past. They issued a request for proposals in September 2017 and applicants will come out and look at the area to assess what needs to be done at each of the wells. “Each well could be interesting,” he said.
Hamilton expects construction of the project to start in early spring of 2018 and be finished by March 2019.
went to Brian LeBlanc of Acadian Plumbing, Heating & Electrical.
In his first address as chair of the association, Jordan Rogers of Valley Well Drillers, thanked outgoing chair John Kidson for his years of service. Rogers announced two key events for 2018: the annual meeting and awards dinner in May 2018 and Atlantic Ground Water Association Fall Convention in Truro from Sept. 27-29.
Rogers also shared a recent success story. A letter recently mailed out by the association and Nova Scotia Environment to licensed plumbers in the province informing them that they are not legally allowed to install submersible pumps unless they are a licensed pump installer with the province seems to have resulted in Red Seal plumbers inquiring about writing the pump installers exam to obtain a licence, he said.
THE APPRENTICESHIP ROUTE, PART 2
Can these programs help protect the ground water industry and secure its future?
In part 2 of her look at apprenticeship programs, Carolyn Camilleri explores where they exist, where they don’t and the value they hold for the ground water industry.
by CAROLYN CAMILLERI
Alberta is the only province in Canada with an apprenticeship program for well drillers. British Columbia has what Kathy Tixier, general manager at the BCGWA, calls an “informal” apprenticeship program.
“Drillers wishing to become certified must accumulate 4,860 hours of drilling experience under the supervision of a certified driller, then pass a certification exam administered by the B.C. Industry Training Authority [ITA],” Tixier says.
ITA calls the process of acquiring on-thejob training and then writing an exam the “Challenge Pathway” to certification.
“The BCGWA assists in this process by vetting applicants wishing to challenge the exam, for example, contacting supervisors and references to confirm that they have the required hours of relevant work experience,” she says.
ITA also offers an “Apprenticeship Pathway” for water-well drillers, which involves technical training at Alberta’s Red Deer College, 3,240 hours of work experience and passing the ITA certification exam.
“Since I became involved in the vetting
process for the ITA in 2015, I have not seen a single apprenticeship application come through the system,” she says. And it may not be the best option for well drillers who want to drill in B.C.
“Due to our mountainous, glacial environment, drilling conditions in B.C. can be quite varied and challenging, requiring different drilling methods and approaches,” Tixier says.
“We could certainly use some ‘home-grown’ driller training here in B.C., like they have in Alberta [Red Deer College] and in Ontario [Fleming College].”
Ontario’s Fleming College does not have an official apprenticeship program, but instead offers a certification and licensing program that includes ongoing training. Fleming offers both a full post-secondary diploma program, as well as a 10-day basic program to meet minimum standards. In effect, the programs provide potential graduates with the educational background they need to be licensed under Regulation 903.
Jim Smith, a professor in Fleming’s drilling and blasting program, has seen how education has made for better drillers.
“After Regulation 903, an educational component was introduced for Ontario well technicians for the first time,” Smith says. “Since my involvement in Fleming College’s well technician training programs in 2006, I have personally witnessed an improvement in new technicians having a better understanding of their regulatory requirements, as well as an appreciation for ground water issues pertaining to well construction.”
He attributes that improvement to the requirement to have continual welltechnician training and the initial 10-Day Well Constructed Course implemented in Ontario. However, Smith feels there is always room for improvement and says that combining existing programs with an apprenticeship would improve ground water protection and enhance professionalism in the industry.
“The best form of education and learning environment, with the greatest impact, combines theory and experiential learning,” he says. “Apprenticeship programs fulfil both theory and handson learning. In order for apprenticeship programs to work, they need to be required – not voluntary – in order to receive your technician’s licence. As well, it requires widespread industry buy-in.”
At the Ontario Ground Water Association, that buy-in is there. Craig Stainton, OGWA’s executive director, believes Ontario needs a proper apprenticeship program. About a decade ago, Stainton worked on a committee with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities with the aim of bringing a driller apprenticeship program to Ontario.
“We had the outline done and were about to start working on curriculum when the Ministry shelved the whole thing,” Stainton says. “As it turned out, within the government, they had begun the process that came to be the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT).”
The OGWA met with the OCOT about the program, but it never went any further. Moreover, Stainton says the OCOT descriptions for well driller and pump installer are very out of date, despite efforts on the part of the industry to have them changed.
“There should be some kind of apprenticeship program and what is most important – and we had written it into
“The best form of education and learning environment, with the greatest impact, combines theory and experiential learning. Apprenticeship programs fulfil both theory and hands-on learning,” says professor Jim Smith, seen (second from left) here guiding students during a recent Well Constructed course at Fleming College.
the program we wrote – is that there are checks and balances that prevent bad habits from getting passed on,” Stainton says. “This is one of the issues I have with the current licensing program. Tell me how, in 10 days, can all of the bad habits picked up in 4,000 hours [of work experience] be identified and corrected?”
“Are the best drillers possible being produced by the current system? I think and bet not,” Stainton says. “So do we need a proper apprenticeship program? Definitely.”
Discussion leads to whether a program
“Students do better when they know the industry is interested in them.”
could or should be national.
Like Tixier in B.C., Smith believes it is best for technicians to understand the legislation in their home province but says it does present a challenge for the apprentices.
“Having different requirements makes it a challenge when it comes to well technicians’ ability to be mobile in their career and move from one province to another with the full understanding of the responsibilities and requirements of
that province,” Smith says.
“However, if the legislation and requirements were the same throughout the country, [consistency] would be beneficial and the standard would be nationwide,” he says. “Ground water does not recognize provincial borders. Issues that affect ground water are similar in every province. Therefore, the requirements should be made on a national level.”
A national apprenticeship program would allow well drillers to move around the country, and it would also allow companies to attract employees from different provinces.
Within Ontario, Stainton says, the situation is affected by the provincial government’s unwillingness to promote ground water.
“The provincial policy plan, which governs, among other things, development, says there shall be no one off grid. If you wish to create a development of homes all on septic systems and water wells, good luck!”
Infill is all that is allowed, Stainton says, with the exception of the occasional vacant lots within the designated boundaries of a village or hamlet without municipal water or sewer.
Additionally, it has become increasingly difficult to sever land, so fewer rural lots are available, and with
Continued on page 25
2018 CHEVY SILVERADO HD
New models help drivers handle capacity and power
Chevy recently partnered with John Deere at its world headquarters in Moline, Ill., to show off its newest version of the Heavy Duty Silverado pickup.
by HOWARD J ELMER
Today’s pickups, particularly the HD versions, have so much capacity and power that drivers need help in managing these loads. GM has built in several driver assist features to do just that.
The reason? A work-related backdrop is vital to understanding the needs of the HD truck owner and frankly what looks better than some spanking new construction equipment towed by shiny 2018 Chevy trucks.
So, while this setup created the right visual, the actual towing of up to 20,000 lb. highlighted not just power but also a new trend in safety that has original equipment manufacturers tying existing on-board technologies together electronically.
These are known as “driver assist features.” This is a new phrase that is becoming more common when describing the innovative electronic features found in today’s pickup trucks. I bring this up first when looking at the 2018 Chevy Silverado HD because the traditional newsworthy trifocal of towing, payload and power are fast becoming
secondary to this new headline – Driver Assist Features. I, for one, am just fine with that. Frankly, with the exception of a new hood scope design, the tin on the 2018 has not changed and yet the truck has changed so much for the better.
Today’s pickups, particularly the HD versions, have so much capacity and power that drivers need help in managing these loads. GM recognized that first in 2015 when they incorporated a cruise control system that stopped over-speeding on long downhill grades. At the time I wrote, “On the new 2015 the cruise control computer is also integrated with the exhaust brake, transmission shifter and trailer sway control. What’s that all mean? Net result – down a seven per cent grade the truck did not pick up speed; the brakes did not come and it never upshifted; all I did
was steer. So, don’t all HD’s do this? Straight up, no. GM is the first to pull all these systems together and have the computer take care of it all. And, this is what inspires confidence – the speedometer didn’t budge off 90 km-h even with all that weight pushing the truck downhill.”
The trend towards more electronic helpers continues, as does the quest for HD weight supremacy – after all that is still the name of this game.
Looking at the growth of these numbers, just in the GM family, it backs up what I’m saying – drivers need help managing these loads. In 2011 Chevy’s max HD numbers were: payload, 6,335 lb. (3,009 kg); conventional towing, 17, 000 lb. (7,711 kg); and for fifth wheel towing, 21,700 lb. (9,843 kg), up from 16,500 lb. on the 2010.
The next benchmark was 2015. Weight capabilities increased to a max payload of 7,374 lb. (3,345 kg). Conventional towing climbed to
19,600 lb. (8,890 kg). Fifth-wheel and gooseneck towing rose to 23,200 lb. (10,523 kg).
For 2018 the max numbers are once
“With the exception of a new hood scope design, the tin on the 2018 has not changed and yet the truck has changed so much for the better.”
again hiked. Now the max payload is 8,070 lb. (3,661 kg) while conventional towing has risen to 20,000 lb. (9,072 kg) and on the fifth wheel, again, up to
MANUFACTURER
23,300 lb. (10,569 kg).
So, for 2018 this last set of numbers demands a truck that can handle them – power-wise and, more importantly, safety-wise.
The new 6.6L V8 turbo-diesel has been redesigned with a new cylinder block and heads. Oil and coolant flow capacity has been increased and the turbocharging system is now electronically controlled. Horsepower has increased to 445 and torque now reaches 910 lb.-ft. Ninety per cent of both numbers is achieved at just 1,550 rpm. A new patent-pending feature is a redesigned air intake system. Using an integrated hood scoop (on 2018 HD Silverado and Sierra) this setup has a trap for snow, sleet and rain, allowing cool, dry air to get to the engine without clogging up the intake.
A new two-piece oil pan makes the Duramax quieter and also houses an integrated oil cooler with 50 per cent greater capacity than is found on the
The 2018 Chevy Silverado HD tows a John Deere 310L backhoe. It has a max payload of 8,070 lb. (3,661 kg) and a conventional towing capacity of 20,000 lb. (9,072 kg).
current engine. Of particular interest to Canadians will be the new Duramax cold-weather performance. With microprocessor-controlled glow plugs the engine requires less than three seconds to preheat in temps as low as -29 C. These new ceramic glow plugs adjust current to each plug based on outside temperature. This new engine continues to be coupled to the Allison 1000 six-speed automatic transmission, which has a stellar reputation.
The mechanical update to this Duramax diesel engine now officially starts it building sales into its second generation. The original Duramax sold more than two million copies since its
2001 introduction.
So that covers power – but moving loads safely requires all of the truck’s systems to work together “smartly.”
GM’s HD trucks get a number of system upgrades this year to build on the trend the company started in 2015. A new Digital Steering Assist improves road handling. A new tire pressure monitor system now includes a tire fill alert. All full Driver Alert Packages include Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Safety Alert Seat and Front and Rear Park Assist. GM’s longtime StabiliTrak stability control system has been updated to include rollover mitigation technology, a tie-in to the
trailer sway control and hill start assist. Visual help is found in the Chevrolet MyLink with an eight-inch-diagonal touchscreen. Of particular interest is the camera system that broadcasts on this centre-mounted touchscreen (now standard on all models with the cargo box). It shows reversing images that make hooking up easy – whether it’s to the bumper hitch or the in-bed fifth wheel. An around-the-truck view assists in parking manoeuvres. The signals now activate cameras in the mirrors showing images down the side of the truck, highlighting the blindspot. You can see right down the side of any towed trailer as well. Other improvements include an available Gooseneck/5th Wheel Trailering Prep Package with a spray-in bedliner. Electronic upgrades include wireless phone charging and remote locking tailgate.
These are the types of driver assist systems that I see coming into the mainstream. They will help prevent collisions and in general make the operators job that much easier, and that is the future. The OEMs have built a generation of highly competent HD trucks – load wise. Now they have to help make them easier to drive and safer in general. From what I saw, GM is well on its way to this goal.
Howard J Elmer is a truck and ATV writer living in rural Ontario. He penned this review for Ground Water Canada.
GROUND WATER COLLABORATOR
Blaine Matuga urges continuing ed, communication
by CAROLYN CAMILLERI
His dedication to all aspects of the water industry comes across strongly in conversation, but most importantly, it is demonstrated in his actions and the seriousness with which he takes his role in the industry.
He really walks the talk.
The motto of Blaine Matuga’s company, Central Interior Pumps of Kamloops, B.C., really says it all: “We’re protectors of ground water.”
Matuga got into the pump industry some 17 years ago, when he was running North River Plumbing and Heating. While the plumbing business gave him some background in water industries, he wanted to focus on pumps, and so he launched Central Interior Pumps out of Kamloops, B.C. The first thing he did that year was to join the B.C. Ground Water Association to find out what he needed to do to get certified. Eventually, he would be president of the association; he is currently past president.
“When I started looking into the association, they helped,” he says. “They were holding the Canadian ground water convention in Kelowna, so I went to Kelowna, where I met people from the industry and told them I had already started up my company and that we wanted to get certified. And there was just an incredible response from the B.C. Ground Water Association members that put me into the right direction to get certification.”
At the time, certification courses were offered under the now-defunct Canadian Ground Water Association. Matuga was certified first, followed by his team – guys that were trained from the ground up.
Blaine and Brenda Matuga, seen here at the 2016 BCGWA conference, make an effective team. Brenda runs the office while Blaine is out on calls with the installation team.
“I’m a firm believer that you need to take courses,” Matuga says. “You just can’t learn it by jumping on the internet. You have to actually go to these courses and talk to the professionals who do this.”
Central Interior Pumps does mostly municipal wells, but also commercial, industrial, and agricultural wells and works with farmers, homeowners, developers, First Nations, and others.
“When we started out, there was a need for a company,” Matuga says, explaining that his company completes the wells after the drilling is done, installing the pumps, vents, and seals – everything needed to ensure all ground water regulations are met. They also provide services for well
rehab, water filtration and rainwater harvest.
To ensure regulations continue to be met and that ground water is always properly protected, Matuga says it is critical that pump companies like his work together with drilling companies and hydrogeologists. That co-ordinated approach and process starts before the well is drilled.
“Everybody is actually working together. Right from the hydrogeologist to the driller, to the pump installer, so that the client knows he’s going to get a good well once we leave the site, and that we can be back there to assist if there are issues down the road.”
Those relationships – with other companies, members of the industry, and clients – are really important. Matuga’s advice: “First and foremost, be proud of what you do.”
As protectors of a resource as valuable and precious as ground water, pride in the industry helps educate the people who are going to use the water but also influences the other companies you work with.
“We want to make sure we’re doing things right, and that goes a long way with the companies you work with to ensure they’re going to do a good job,” he says.
“Our company only does the pump installing but we see the end result. Most of the time, once the driller is done, he never sees the well again unless maybe there has to be some rehab work done on it,” he says. “So we’re the guys customers are going to come back to, saying, ‘Hey, we got a problem with our pump. We got a problem with our well. How do we go about fixing this?’ We’re the guys that are going to get that ball rolling.”
Oftentimes, because they get that first call if there is a problem, they need to bring in a hydrogeologist. He believes a transition is happening in the States as well as in Canada, whereby well owners are now working with three people: the hydrogeologist, the driller and the pump installer.
“It’s not just about the hydrogeologist. It’s not just about the driller or the pump installer. It’s people working together,” Matuga says. “There has to open communication between three groups of people and the client. They need to work together.”
At the end of the day, everyone is working for the clients, he adds, and you have got to make sure you do a good job and that you are helping to educate people and explain their responsibilities.
“Anybody who is in the industry should promote to clients that clients also have to do a good job, because it’s their well – they need this for their community. They have to make sure that they’re educated on the proper care of a well.”
Matuga stresses the importance of ongoing education at an individual company level to ensure knowledge stays current and best practices are being used and passed along to clients and others in the industry.
“You need to go to these national shows and to your local provincial shows because that’s the best way to get educated on how to do these well rehabs, how to further the industry, and what’s out there that’s new and changing. You’re not going to learn it
“Well owners are now working with three people: the hydrogeologist, the driller and the pump installer.” –Blaine Matuga
anywhere else,” he says. “That’s why I go to the National Ground Water Association show [in the U.S.]. I try to go every year. That’s where I get my training.”
He says it is also critical for company owners to keep workplace communication
open and transparent.
“Include all your employees in the dayto-day stuff. Don’t hide anything from your employees or hide anything from those you are working with. It has to be an open table for everybody who is working together to get the job done,” he says.
“That’s important, whether you have a small company like us with six employees or a company that’s 15 or 20 people. Everybody should know what’s going on so there are no secrets. There’s no reason for it.”
Matuga acknowledges the industry-wide concerns about recruiting new people.
“On the pumps side of things in the industry, it’s still lacking in people coming into it,” he says. “It all comes from the commitment to bring a guy in and to pay him a decent dollar and get him trained up. That’s a problem.”
But it’s not the only problem; rather it is a combination of a couple of things, he says.
“We know for a fact that there are fewer drilling companies in the industry,” he says.
INSURANCE PROGRAM
PROUDLY SERVING THE GROUNDWATER INDUSTRY SINCE 1992: Lackner McLennan Insurance has made it their business to protect other businesses, and their specialty program for the groundwater industry has been making waves.
A liability program designed to provide you with defense costs arising from an employee dispute or issue with one of the Ministries. (Labour, Environment, Revenue)
Central Interior Pumps installs pumps, vents and seals, and provides well rehab, water filtration and rainwater harvest services.
“We’ve got drilling equipment out there that is drilling faster and doesn’t require as many people to do a well now. But mostly, there are not as many wells going in.”
Meanwhile, there is better awareness of the vital importance of ground water. In British Columbia, increased awareness is in large part due to the new Water Sustainability Act and Ground Water Protection Regulation. Matuga says it has only been a couple of years since it was brought into legislation, and there are some issues that need to be addressed, in particular, with respect to wording in the Ground Water Protection Regulation.
“And that’ll get done,” he says. “But overall, it’s brought more awareness to situations that we used to kind of slough off. It’s brought awareness that you have to follow procedures.”
“One hundred per cent, it’s getting better, for sure. People are starting to recognize that we can’t just have wells that are flowing artesian to just keep pumping water. We need to have proper well seals. We need to make sure that the ground water is protected. Some surface water as well as that ground water has to stay where it is.”
Matuga makes a point of giving credit to soon-to-be-retired Mike Wei, the head of aquifer and watershed science for the British Columbia Ministry of Environment.
“Mike Wei is very, very passionate about what he does. He is excellent for the
industry – just excellent,” Matuga says.
While provincially in B.C., progress is being made, Matuga says we have work to do nationally. “I am not happy with the demise of the Canadian Ground Water Association. I’d love to see it re-establish.”
A national organization would certainly help to bring the industry together and improve ground water protection across the country. But there is another reason it is becoming increasingly important to have a national association: the U.S.
Matuga says the American National Ground Water Association has opened its arms to Canada’s ground water industry. “I can’t say it enough about their association. It’s an amazing association,” he says.
The Canadian ground water industry would benefit from strengthening its relationship with NGWA. Matuga says working with the U.S. on ground water issues doesn’t mean reinventing the wheel. “We only need to work with them to protect our ground water. Just like they feel it is so important to protect theirs.”
Until recently, only national ground water associations outside of the U.S. could join the NGWA. Because Canada doesn’t currently have a national association, the NGWA changed its bylaws to allow Canadian provincial associations to join. The OGWA and the BCGWA have become members. Matuga has joined a handful of others – notably the Ontario Ground Water Association’s Craig Stainton, who is spearheading the movement and doing a
good job, says Matuga – to establish a new Canadian national association.
Matuga says provincial associations won’t be required to join the new Canadian association. In fact, he understands why some might hesitate to join. “But maybe once we get this re-established, they’ll look at it and see it is a good thing for us to have and to be a part of.”
One of the biggest benefits is especially valuable for the smaller provincial associations: access to a wealth of educational resources and training opportunities.
The name of the new association –the Canadian National Ground Water Association – has been registered and discussions are underway regarding next steps, including registering as a nonprofit society, getting people in place and obtaining funding to cover set-up costs. If there is enough support from within the industry, the new association will be in a better position to get federal attention.
And surely, the protection of a precious resource shared with the U.S. deserves federal attention.
“We have a border that separates us between the U.S. and Canada but water doesn’t care whether there’s a border in between,” Matuga says.
Water flows across the country and across the borders – re-establishing a national association in Canada is a call to action to take the protection of that water to national and international levels.
PHOTO
NASHVILLE NETWORKING
Groundwater Week let drillers learn, share and shop
There was plenty to see at this year’s Groundwater Week, including the latest drill rigs, well pumps, pipe, accessories and software to manage your business.
by ED COSMAN
The annual meeting of the National Ground Water Association marked its 69th year by putting down stakes in Nashville Dec. 5 to 7.
This year’s attendance for Groundwater Week and adjacent research summit was 4,331, including 216 Canadians. Fifty states and 33 countries were represented, and the number of contractors attending (1,715) was the largest to attend a non-Las Vegas show, said Thad Plumley, director of information products for the NGWA.
Visitors were able to educate themselves through the numerous technical sessions and workshops that ran both before the trade show and during show hours. The show floor had 279 exhibitors taking up almost 70,000 square feet.
The week started with the very popular Welcome Party on the Tuesday evening.
This event was sponsored by Franklin Electric and provided an opportunity for delegates and suppliers to mingle and catch up in a social setting ahead of the actual trade show. The hall was packed and the buzz of great conversations could be heard from afar.
The keynote presentation the following day was delivered by John Carter Cash, son of singing legend Johnny Cash. Carter Cash took us on a tour of music history as he chronicled his father’s life story from early days, through his two marriages and celebrity status. An excellent musician in his own right, he sang quite a few of his father’s hits during the presentation.
Afterwards, the show floor opened and the aisles were jammed as water well drillers learned about the latest products available for their trade.
Bryan Watson of G. Hart & Sons Well
Drilling in Fenelon Falls, Ont., commented that he enjoys coming to this event yearly because of the trade show with a large variety of products on display that you might not see at home.
“Being at the show allows you to ask questions of the booth staff and physically see the product as opposed to researching it on the internet,” Watson explained. He said he enjoys partaking in mix of business and educational sessions offered by the annual event.
The show wrapped up on the Thursday with another busy day on the floor. Plans are already in the works for next year’s event, which will be back in Las Vegas from Dec. 4 to 6, 2018.
The show floor had 279 exhibitors taking up almost 70,000 square feet.
DEVICES IMPROVE LIQUID, SOLIDS LEVEL MEASUREMENT
Krohne has a new line of liquid and solids level measurement products aimed at better measurement performance, enhanced software and an improved and more powerful signal processor.
The new products include both 24 gigahertz (GHz) and 80 GHz versions designed to improve accuracy and range of measurement on the devices, Krohne said in a press release. Antennas for each model are designed to meet applicationspecific installations.
New liquid level measurement devices include Optiwave 5400 (24 GHz) for liquids in basic process applications; the 7400 (24 GHz) for corrosive and agitated liquids; the 7500 (80 GHz) for liquids in narrow tanks with internal obstructions; and the 3500 (80 GHz) for liquids with hygienic requirements. These replace the Optiwave 7300.
Solids level measurement devices include Optiwave
6400 (24 GHz) for solids ranging from granulates to rocks and the 6500 (80 GHz) for powders and dusty atmospheres. These are new devices for replacing the Optiwave 6300 in the product line.
Current 6300 and 7300 devices will be phased out at the end of 2017, the company said. Spare parts will be available throughout 2018 and later.
Krohne also is providing an upgrade path that enables users with an older-style Optiwave 7300 to leave the radar antenna installed on the tank top. Users simply plug in new electronics – with no loss of hermetic seal between the tank top and electronics.
us.krohne.com
WATER LEVEL MONITORING ON ALL PLATFORMS
In-Situ’s Android smartphone technology for water monitoring
NEW PRODUCTS
is now available on all of the company’s water level instrument platforms.
The technology provides a streamlined, cost-effective way to access and manage water level and quality monitoring data from a mobile device, In-Situ said in a press release.
The idea behind the VuSitu mobile app is to provide accurate, repeatable and defensible data that is easy to access and analyze. Users can quickly find and recognize water level and quality monitoring sites, and instantly view, download, and share data from the office or the field.
“We’re excited to bring our industry-leading software experiences to all of our customers, allowing them to pair our rugged and reliable water level and quality instruments with a software experience that is second-to-none in our industry,” said Ben Kimbell, vice-president of research and design for In-Situ. “Whether you need to view live readings, set up logs via our easy, managed workflows, or configure your devices in any
way, you can now use VuSitu and our Bluetooth Wireless TROLL Com to do so.”
Both the VuSitu and iSitu mobile apps are free to download.
www.in-situ.com
PERMANENT MAGNET MOTOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO STANDARD INDUCTION
Franklin Electric’s MagForce six-inch permanent magnet motor is a high-performance alternative to standard induction motors, Franklin Electric said in a press release. It provides electrical cost savings through an efficiency improvement of 10 to 12 per cent (as indicated by field trial data) and a typical investment payback of less than one year in long- or continuous-run applications. It covers the nine traditional pump horsepower ratings from five to 60 horsepower in three distinct motor models.
www.franklinwater.com
NEW PRODUCTS
RUGGED WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE
Hoskin Scientific’s new Exo Go opens a Bluetooth portal between any Windows OS device and a submerged Exo sonde to allow wireless communication.
The portability of Exo Go frees up your hands in the field, the company said in a press release.
On-the-spot GPS co-ordinates and barometric pressure are viewed through the newest KorEXO Software running on both laptops and tablets. The rugged device is IP-67 rated and designed to withstand drops, drips and dunks.
The sonde may be kept in the water while users view their data in real time, download files or adjust deployment settings.
The portable KorEXO may be brought to any work site to
work in tandem with Windows OS portable devices.
The rechargeable battery lasts for up to 15 hours, the company said.
www.hoskin.ca
WATER LEVEL
TEMPERATURE METER FROM SOLINST
Solinst Canada has added the Model 201 Water Level Temperature Meter to its line of water level meters.
The new meter indicates static water level and measures water temperature.
It is ideal for profiling temperature in wells, tanks and surface water; detecting runoff, points of inflow or sources of thermal pollution; early warning of changes in water quality; monitoring and predicting changes in aquatic environ-
ments; and geothermal surveys, Solinst said in a press release.
The Model 201 Water Level Temperature Meter (WLT Meter) features a sturdy reel and frame and convenient features such as a brake, probe holder, tape guide and easy-toaccess battery tray. A standard 9-volt battery, providing 90 hours of on time, powers the electronics. There is an auto-off after eight minutes of inactivity and a single push button designed for easy operation.
www.solinst.com
ELECTRIC SAMPLING PUMP HAS LOW POWER CONSUMPTION
Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, a manufacturer of innovative environmental products and subsidiary of Graco, has available a new electric sampling pump featuring pumping technology designed to achieve simple operation with sophisticated control.
The Power Pro ESP pump combines the benefits of the two common types of electric ground water sampling pumps – the high-powered pump and the disposable pump – into one efficient unit, Q.E.D. said in a press release.
The company highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the two types of pump: High-powered pumps offer strength, with substantial depth capability, but need a heavy, bulky generator to run. Disposable pumps are
lightweight and easy to move, but they are not as powerful and can be expensive to repair or replace over time. QED developed an electric pump for low-flow sampling with low power consumption and smart sensor capabilities.
With other electric ground water sampling pumps, it is often necessary to measure the cable and tubing before lowering the pump to achieve the proper depth, the company said. The Power Pro ESP pump eliminates this inconvenience with its in-water sensor. A green light indicates when the pump has hit water and numbered hash marks on the cable allow for easy measuring past the water line.
www.qedenv.com
MONITORING SYSTEM SHARES DATA WITH DIGITAL DEVICES
The AqWiFi remote monitoring system continuously monitors well systems and sends real-time alerts to notify users of changes in operating conditions via smartphone, computer or tablet, according to a press release from Goulds Water Technology.
The system is compatible with the GWT Aquavar SOLO2 constant pressure system.
Wired into the Aquavar SOLO2, AqWiFi transmits live system data to a cloud server where it can be reviewed from any Apple or Android mobile device or computer.
Continued from page 12
large farms buying up many of the smaller farms, fewer small farms are available that would operate on a well and sewer system.
“People who wish to start farming can barely afford the capital cost let alone someone just wishing to build a house,” he says.
He compares what is happening in farming with what is happening with well drilling and sees other similarities, in particular, the cost of the business.
“Like farming, the capital cost of getting into the drilling business is so high that generally one would need to inherit the operation to be able to afford it. A million dollars would not set you up with all of the equipment required to open a well-drilling business; that is a lot of money for a young person of 25 to come up with.”
Additionally, larger drilling companies with newer equipment capable of travelling farther and faster are working in areas where smaller companies worked in the past. Stainton says these two factors – higher costs and fewer opportunities – mean that just as there are fewer new farmers, there are also fewer new drillers.
Desire to do the work is another factor to consider.
“Because let’s face it, well drilling is a
heavy job performed in the elements, and a good driller should want to be up to the challenge of bringing water from the ground,” Stainton says. “Not, I suspect, appealing to the average millennial.”
So while Stainton says an apprenticeship program is needed, encouragement for the next generation of well drillers is also needed, and “that encouragement will require access to capital to finance the enterprise.”
Employers can help encourage students by connecting with them.
“Students want to be connected with the industries they will potentially work for in the future,” Smith says. “Anytime employers can spend time – even five minutes – with students is beneficial.”
Opportunities for that connection include participating in the annual job fairs, posting positions through the career services department, teaching one-hour guest lectures and hosting co-op students.
“Employers can take on paid co-op students at various times throughout the two-year program for their summer break,” he says. “Students can – at no expense to the employer – do a job placement for a week, and gain insight into the business and potentially make connections for future employment. Credits are earned through the weeklong job placements.”
Industry support through equipment
and supply donations to Fleming’s program has introduced current, relevant technologies and helps students feel well trained and prepared for the industry and the work ahead, Smith adds.
“With these industry interactions, students feel optimistic about employment opportunities, and it drives them to be more engaged in the program in order to graduate and feel success as they seek employment,” he says.
In essence, students do better when they know the industry is interested in them. They may also do better if they understand the art and creativity in the industry.
“My dad always said there were well drillers and there were hole diggers. Anybody can drill a hole and go until they reach water. It takes a well driller, and a good one, to get the sweet water coaxed from Mother Earth at a shallow depth,” Stainton says. “I believe wells are not installed – they are created and a good driller is an artisan, an artist at getting water from Mother Earth.”
Let’s hope, no matter how education is delivered, that artisan awareness continues to be passed along to the new generation of well drillers.
Carolyn Camilleri is a Toronto-based writer, editor, and content strategist. She has been writing for consumer and trade magazines, as well as businesses and organizations, for more than 15 years.
AD INDEX
Total dissolved solids
by Jeff Wahl
If a glass of water is held up and it is colourless, crystal clear and has no odour would you think there is much wrong with the water? Total dissolved solids (TDS) are completely dissolved in a water supply and generally invisible to the human eye. They are not associated with a bacterial test and are not tested for at the public health unit when you submit a water sample. At certain levels they pose a risk and are not a recommended drinking water source according to the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines.
SCOPE
TDS is made up of of inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter that are dissolved in water. These are usually calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride, sulphate and nitrates. They can be found in drilled or dug wells and can be influenced where agriculture is predominant. Areas with excessive road salt usage can give rise to runoff in cases where salt makes its way into the ground water and elevates TDS levels. Please read the case study below for another example of extreme TDS in water.
CASE STUDY #4: WELL WATER AND A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION
A home purchased on Manitoulin Island in Ontario obtained its water from a drilled well on the property with an existing water softener and ultraviolet disinfection system. The realtor submitted a water sample to the local health unit for analysis as one of the requirements for the sale, the results were negative for bacterial contamination and the sale was completed. The new owner moved in and soon after noticed that the water left an extremely dry or “tacky” feeling and had a terrible taste. They contacted a water treatment company and a water analysis was completed for water hardness and total dissolved solids as a preliminary indicator of the well water quality. The results were astonishing, the hardness level was 468 grains per gallon with the TDS measuring 11,500 parts per million (ppm).
All testing was conducted by an accredited
laboratory. The Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines recommendation for TDS is less than 500 ppm. The water was not safe for human consumption and had passed the health unit test. The homeowner was left with no choice but to pursue alternative water sources.
E DUCATION
People will often investigate when the water has a foul odour or leaves stains on fixtures. They trust a health unit test as part of a sale or routine water testing and are often completely unaware of the potential for dissolved solids to be present at levels that are not recommended for consumption. The test for TDS can be done using a portable hand-held meter available for purchase through various retailers or by taking a water sample to a water treatment dealer who has more advanced meters for identifying the level in water. Water testing laboratories also will provide this service as a standalone test or as part of a drinking water analysis. One of the best ways to identify the presence of elevated dissolved solids levels is to freeze the water. Once frozen, the dissolved solids will appear as “white flaking” or as discoloured white ice. This is easily spotted in ice cubes as they will “shrink” in size and leave white flakes in the tray.
RECOMMENDATION
Total dissolved solids are primarily in ground water sources or surface water that is under the influence of ground water or runoff. They are not visible to the human eye. Consult a qualified water treatment professional for advice on testing and treatment equipment if you suspect they may be present in your water.
This article originally appeared as Volume 2, Issue 1, 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 director with the Canadian Water Quality Association. For more information, contact Jeff at jeff@wahlwater.com.
Magnetic Efficiency
It’s a no brainer. Our MagForceTM Permanent Magnet Motor is new to the submersible pumping industry, but rest assured, the technology behind it has helped power efficient motor-driven systems for years. Part of the attraction is that it’s proven to slash electricity consumption by up to 12%*. Continuous run-time applications often see investment payback in less than a year. With just 3 models fortified with SandFighter® construction, it covers the gamut of pump ratings from 5 hp up to 60 hp. This beast is built to handle any application, obstacle, or pumping need.
*Field trial data.
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.
