BCGWA Newsletter / December 2002 This Newsletter is published quarterly -- March, June, September and December by the B. C. Ground Water Association. For more information please contact: secretary.bcgwa@shaw.ca ~ In This Issue ~ President's Message CGWA Report CGWA Editorial Ground Water Advisory Board History of BCGWA Membership Changes Calendar Position Available ~ President's Message ~ Well lots is happening at this end of the pipe, hopefully this is true for you too. Firstly, we are moving ahead with the planning of CanWell 2004, with Dean Anderson and Dave Mellis co-chairing the team. We have the Okanagan Grand Hotel and the Skyreach Centre booked for the main venue and trade show respectively. We are also planning a golf tournament, wine tours and other events. The intent is to have something for the whole family, so bring the kids. Dean and family along with Joan and Walt Perry will be at our booth at the NGWA Convention in Las Vegas in early December. I also hear that some of the Slade clan and Jim Fyfe with family will be attending. I would love to be there but romantic duties require me to be in Hawaii at that time. The sacrifices we make for our spouses, eh guys! Closer to the present, we have set up the 2003 BCGWA Convention, also in Kelowna, the first week of March. We are holding a somewhat mini-convention with no formal supplier show, but will have display tables for the M&S members to be there to talk about the newest and best of their wares. We are planning a shorter event starting Thursday evening and ending Saturday afternoon. We hope to catch a WHL Hockey Game on Friday night and have an informal dinner for those who stay over for Saturday night with a fun "Olympics Contest" being held. In related news I was dismayed recently to discover the disparity in footage rates between what some of our driller members charge on Vancouver Island in comparison to elsewhere. I was recently involved in a rock well drilling project (10 domestic wells) where the bids were between $12 and $15 per foot for the three bids requested. A week earlier, I was working near Whistler and for the same type of well, the footage rate in rock was $19 to $21 per foot bid. You guys in the Valley need to take your fellow members on the Island aside and give them a good shake. I moved to the Island in 1974 and my guess is that the footage rates here then were probably not much less if at all. In consulting, we have increased our rates by more than double in the last 25 years and the market has borne that increase quite well. So get with it guys, you can't make a living at those rates and the public is getting an undervalued product that you provide. In closing, I want to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas, prosperous New Year and a joyous holiday season. Bruce Ingimundson, President, BCGWA ~ CGWA Report ~ On the CGWA front we have finalized the arrangement with Petro Canada for rebates on gas and fuel purchased. The info will be coming back to the executive of every provincial association because there is an opportunity for the executives to direct the rebate. I indicated to some of you that there was a sale in the works for my companies. I have been in the process of selling and now it is official. I thought that a short note may be in order. After 20 years in the water well drilling business, I am very happy to say that I am moving on to other endeavours. As of October 31, 2002, Mullen Transportation Ltd. has bought out both of my drilling companies. Anderson Water Wells and Anderson Air Drilling and all assets of both companies are now part of the Mullen group of companies. Mr. Simon Wolford will be staying on as manager and most of the original crew remains enact. Any and all contact for Anderson Water Wells/Anderson Air Drilling will be at: Box 6383 Fort St. John, V1J 4H8 e.mail: aww@awink.com. My address will be: SS#2, Site 12, Comp 73 Fort St. John, B.C. e.mail: hdean@ocol.com I do wish the industry all the best and will help out with whatever I can. I am staying on for the short term as the BC Director for the CGWA and continue to help out for CanWell 2004. Most of my time is now focused on my welding and fabricating business as well as my Van and Steamer company. Dean Anderson ~ CGWA Editorial ~ The Canadian Ground Water Association (CGWA) has appointed Wayne MacRae as its new executive officer. The announcement was made at the CGWA annual general meeting during CanWell 2002 in Toronto last June. MacRae officially took office at the end of July from Earl Morwood, the executive manager of the Ontario Ground Water Association who oversaw the position on an interim basis while the board searched for a full-time candidate. The position had previously been held by the late Maurice Lewis. In an interview with Ground Water Canada magazine, MacRae said it is a tremendous honour to work for the CGWA in this capacity and will continue the work Lewis had begun in advancing the association's programs for members across the country. He will be working with an assistant, Valeri Rodgers, and is in the process of establishing posted office hours and a web site. We are communicating with the board as often as possible. I have traveled to Red Deer, Alberta, (the CGWA's previous office) and with the help of Gayle Woollard and Diane Lewis sorted through the stored materials remaining and shipped the kept material east Note: The CGWA office has officially moved to Nova Scotia. The new permanent address is - 1600 Bedford Highway, Ste 100-409 Bedford, Nova Scotia B4A 1E8 Ph: 902-845-1885 Fax: 902-845-1886 e.mail: cgwa@ns.sympatico.ca ***** Biography Wayne MacRae is a graduate of Acadia University and the Technical University of Nova Scotia, specializing in water quality. He has also completed 14 Nova Scotia Civil Service courses, including bookkeeping, budgeting, management, computers and public speaking. MacRae currently works for the Nova Scotia Environment and Labour Environmental Monitoring and Compliance Division as an on-site administrator. He has spent 29 years with the Nova Scotia government as a well inspector and chief well inspector. He has taken several water well rehabilitation courses including well design, well testing and mud drilling., and has also worked directly in the ground water industry since 1969, including four years as operations manager for a well drilling company. He is involved in several professional organizations including the National Ground Water Association, the United States Trotting Association and the Canadian Trotting Association. He is also the vice-president of his local Lions Club and is an active member of his community helping with fundraising events and charity auctions. MacRae and his wife, Jacquie, have two daughters; Andrea and Pamela. Ground Water Canada, September 2002 ***** Director Position Available for CGWA The B.C. Ground Water Association is looking for a B.C. Director for the Canadian Ground Water Association. This person needs to be an active participant in the groundwater industry and we would like to have someone lined up for the 2003 Convention. Please call the office or the Director in your area if you have someone that you would like to nominate for this position. ~ Expert Board to Strengthen Ground Water Protection ~ An expert advisory board has been appointed to provide technical advice on groundwater regulations and standards being developed as part of the government's $16-million drinking water action plan. "Our New Era commitments include passing strong legislation that ensures clean, safe drinking water for the people of British Columbia," said Water, Land and Air Protection Minister Joyce Murray, who announced the appointments in September. "Included in the government's drinking water action plan are strong measures that provide source-to-tap protection for ground water. The board will comment on these measures and help government develop the new groundwater regulatory framework which was to be introduced this fall." The six-member advisory board will examine groundwater issues and make recommendations on current standards for well design, well construction, well siting, well flow tests and ground water sampling. The board will serve for up to 24 months and will start by reviewing draft regulations for well construction, as well as qualification requirements for well drillers and well-pump installers. Recommendations provided by the board will help the government establish an effective, science-based approach to ground-water protection. The board members include water experts with extensive knowledge of well drilling, pump installation, small water systems operations, hydrogeology and ground-water research. Congratulations to Jim Fyfe, Dave Mellis and Bruce Ingimundson who have been confirmed as selected members of the MWLAP's Ground Water Advisory Board (GWAB). The Board will also include Al Kohut, Alan Dakin and Diana Allen. Although these members are not on the Board as representing BCGWA, it is understood that they will work towards the betterment of the groundwater resource and all of those who work in that field, which will obviously consider the BCGWA members. I see this as being a big feather in our (BCGWA) cap. Victoria MWLAP ~ How the BCGWA Came into Being ~ The more people that get involved with the Ground Water Association, the more successful the Association can be in returning benefits to its members. For many years British Columbia was the only province in Canada where the Water Well Drillers were not united by some form of Association. There are a number of reasons why this is so: Government regulations of ground water was non-existent which is practically so to this day. There was an abundance of surface water and few people found it necessary to dig or drill a well. Most domestic water supplies could be satisfied from simple open dug wells where creeks or lakes were not accessible. Many people considered well drilling a very risky venture and engaged a well driller as a last resort. To some extent this was justified because in the early years well drillers were not very skilled and high failure rates were not uncommon. In the forties, fifties and sixties there was scarcely enough work to support more than ten contractors province wide. This began to change in the sixties when rural life style became more popular and the general public became more aware of water borne diseases. It was not uncommon for drillers to establish businesses near centres of population which gave them year around employment without having to venture very far. Communication between competing drillers was practically non existent, it was more an atmosphere of benign toleration. No one shared their well information much less their drilling secrets and only grudgingly their tools. Everyone conceded that a drilling association would be a good thing if it could somehow get started but no one would stick their neck out. Government really did us a favour by introducing Bill 43 into the legislature in the spring of 1970 which stated that no wells would be drilled in B. C. without first obtaining a permit. Well drillers all over the province were furious, how dare government intrude on our freedom to ply our trade which we had enjoyed for so many years. Pat Carroll, from the Pump & Equipment Co. in Seattle provided the catalyst when he rented a room at the Villa Hotel in Burnaby on the 17th of June 1970 and invited every driller he knew in the Province to attend. 26 people attended that meeting, not all being drillers but all had interest in the well drilling industry. For the first hour or so there was a strong silence among all those present until the guest speaker, Jay Lehr arrived, who was the Executive secretary for the National Water Well Association. Jay addressed the gathering and congratulated all those present for showing an interest in establishing an Association because it is the most effective way we know of, of finding solutions to common problems. He went on to explain that a strong Association with active members gave us an effective voice in shaping legislation by government that effect the well being of the drilling industry in British Columbia. After his address, the British Columbia Well Drilling Association name was chosen, and an Executive and a Director for four regions were elected. The Executive: Laurie Desilets, President; Harvey Henderson, Vice President; Arnold Hamelin, Secretary; and Robert (Buck) Nelson, Treasurer. All got to work immediately and for a time met almost every week until a Constitution and By-Law was written which would be acceptable to the B.C. Registrar of Societies and registered. There was a lot more detail work which had to be done but the next big hurdle was organizing our first convention and with the unceasing help from our wives we organized and held our first Convention at the Astor Hotel in Burnaby. It was a success with about 130 men and their wives (no girl friends in those days) attended and we were all impressed. Since it was first organized the B.C. Well Drilling Association has pursued the objective as stated in the articles of incorporation namely; Place the water well contracting business on a scientific and business like basis. To maintain an organization to assist, promote, encourage and support the interest and welfare of the Water Well Industry in the Province of B.C. To foster and promote scientific education, standards, research and techniques in order to improve the methods of water well construction. To promote and encourage harmony and co-operation between members and Government Agencies relative to the proper development and protection of the underground water supply and to generally advance the mutual interest of those engaged in the water well industry in their own and the public interest. Some of the advice given us by Jay Lehr at the organizational meeting in June of 1970 is no less true today than it was then. It all goes back to how we as individuals feel about ourselves as well drillers in our chosen occupation. If we will all join together and become involved to make the Association strong we can accomplish infinitely greater benefits for all members than if we were to idly stand by and allow only a few dedicated members bear the burden. At the Annual General Meeting on March 6th, 1993 it was voted to change the name of the Association to: The British Columbia Ground Water Association as it was felt this more accurately described the objectives of the Association. This was written some years ago by Laurie J. Desilets. Laurie was President of the BCGWA in 1970 and 1978/79. He was the Managing Director for the Association in the early 1990's and passed away in 1995. ~ New Members ~ Professional & Technical: Rutland Waterworks District 160 Highway 33W Kelowna, B.C. V1X 1X7 Ph: 250-765-5218 Rep: Bruce G. Wilson ***** ~ Changes in Membership List ~ Contractor Members: Dan-Gare Drilling Ltd. 1199 Mountain View Road Armstrong, B.C. V0E 1B8 Ph: 250-546-3480 Toll Free: 1-888-549-3130 Fax: 250-546-3603 Mud Bay Drilling Co. Ltd. 16507-40 Avenue Surrey, B.C. V3S 0L2 Precision Service & Pumps 1254 Riverside Road Abbotsford, B.C. V2S 7P1 ***** Manufacturers & Suppliers Members : Effective Immediately: Pumps BC has changed their name to Sego Industries Ltd. Ph: 1-800-565-8430 Fax: 1-800-465-2740 Ward Watkins Insurance Brokers Ltd. Fax: 604-576-0132 e.mail: wardwatkins@radiant.net Rep: Ray Butchart ***** Employee Members: Derek McGladdery 1199 Mountain View Road Armstrong, B.C. V0E 1B8 Ph: 250-546-3480 Toll Free: 1-888-549-3130 Fax: 250-546-3603 ~ Dates to Remember ~ Dec 8 - 11, 2002: National Ground Water Association, Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada www.ngwa.org March 6-8th, 2003: BCGWA Annual Convention The Coast Capri Hotel, Kelowna, B. C. Contact: Joan Perry Ph/Fax: 604-530-8934 April 10 - 12th, 2003: Alberta Water Well Drilling Association Convention, Edmonton, Alberta Information: 780-386-2335 April 21st - 24th, 2004: Canwell 2004 The Grand Okanagan, Kelowna, B. C. Contact: Joan Perry Ph/Fax: 604-530-8934 CANWELL 2004 Happenings Plans are well under way for CanWell 2004 which is being held at the Grand Okanagan Hotel in Kelowna, B. C. The Trade Show is being held at the Sky Reach which is just adjacent to the Hotel. There will be ample room for indoor and outdoor displays.Technical speakers are being arranged and there will even be Delegates coming from the French Consulate. Other events are being planned as well including a golf tournament. If you have any suggestions or ideas that you would like to pass along, please contact the office.