Glen Strandberg
Staff Writer

The search for water continues in Columbus as it will examine two more locations in hopes of finding an ideal well site.

At the Nov. 8 city council meeting, council members listened to City Engineer Larry Bohrer discuss two more areas where he believes an optimum water supply can be found.

ìWeíre looking for a site for two wells to be placed on the same site and this will be attempts No. 3 and 4,î Bohrer said when contacted after the meeting.

ìItís not unusual that you donít find an adequate water supply the first time.î

For the well site, Bohrer has a list of five criteria that he would like to meet in order to minimize expenses of providing water to the city of Columbus:

1. An area that is large enough for two wells

2. Located on city land or with a land owner who is willing to sell

3. Close to the watermain network

4. The two wells yield at least a combined capacity of 1000 gallons per minute

5. Low mineral content in the water supply

Bohrer explained that Columbus could likely find a source that supplies plenty of water, but if the mineral content doesnít meet standards, then the city would need to build a treatment plant to the tune of approximately $1.5 million.

ìWe donít want to compromise,î Bohrer said. ìWe want to find something that meets all of those criteria, and if we can find a site that meets all of those criteria it will be the lowest overall cost for that component of the water system.î

The first location is on the harness track property as part of the Plat process that gives Columbus the right to use it for water facilities.

ìI like it [the land] because the city doesnít have to pay for it.î Bohrer said. ìSo all things being equal, that would be the preferred site because we donít have to buy it.î

The second option is on what Bohrer refers to as the former Trout-Air property, which is owned by the Preiner family.

ìThere was a very significant well on the Trout Aire property that did show quite an appealing layer of sand and gravel which should be a good supply of water,î Bohrer said.

A motion carried to have Bohrer solicit quotations as well as move forward with the testing at the two wells for the lowest possible cost, not to exceed $50,000.

The harness track will be tested first and if that doesnít work, the company will move to the second site.

ìIf after test well three and four, if we donít find an adequate supply of water, that might give Columbus the reasonableness it needs to go to the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) and say...we want permission to drill deeper,íî Bohrer said. ìBut weíre not there yet. This is proceeding in a logical and diligent way.î

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