This Newsletter is published quarterly, March, June, September and December by the B. C. Ground Water Association. For more information please contact: Secretary Treasurer, Joan Perry, 1708 - 197 A Street, Langley, B. C. V2Z 1K2 Phone or Fax: 604-530-8934

Archived Newsletters:

Click here for the BC Government Document: NEW STANDARDS TAKE EFFECT FOR PRIVATE WELL OWNERS

Click here to download the PDF file BCGWA Okanagan Region Regulations Forum Penticton Lakeside Resort - 7 Dec 2005

Click here to download the PDF file of an important update on Ground Water Protection Regulation (GWPR) from the BC Ministry of Environment.

MARCH 2007 Newsletter

President’s Address

CONVENTION COUNTDOWN to March 28th.

If you haven’t registered yet, you had better get at it. The booth space is sold out, the workshops are almost full, the hotels are booking up, and Foremost is planning to have a brand new DR-12 on display. This conference and trade show is shaping up to be the best since CanWell 2004.

You may have noticed that our annual get together has moved from the first week of March to the end of the Month. This was done mostly to avoid conflict with the Geo-Exchange Association who held their 2nd biennial international conference in Vancouver March 8th and 9th, but this change may also make it easier for our Northern members to participate. I attended this conference and manned the booth for the BCGWA. It is amazing to see the increase in the utilization of this technology, and the interest from people wanting to harness geothermal energy. This interest extends from private residential to commercial and public buildings to “for profit” utilities that want to provide eco-friendly heating and cooling for whole neighborhoods and city blocks. Many of our members are already working in this industry, some even having booths at the Geo-Exchange show. These included Nor-West Drilling, Tundra Sales, Ground Force Systems, EBA Engineering, and Sonic Drilling. This industry is set to go ballistic. It is the only heating method that is MORE than 100% efficient. So if you ever wanted to give 110%, this may be your only chance.

To promote this Geo-Exchange technology is a rare opportunity to do something positive for the planet and your children’s future while taking advantage of a golden business opportunity. The rising cost of energy plus the “green” push by both our Provincial and Federal governments, makes this a no brainer for drillers, pump installers, engineers, and many homeowners. There is a lot of science in Geo-Exchange, so don’t go into it without being fully informed. There is plenty of information available, and lots of knowledgeable people working in the Province, many of who will be attending our conference.

I would like to publicly thank the Ministry of the Environment for the support that they continue to provide to this Association. We have some very committed people working for us in Victoria. This includes Mike Wei, Vickie Carmichael and Tammy Blair to
name a few. They are making every effort to keep the data base up to date, to provide us with relevant brochures and fact sheets, and sponsor the production of workshops and the new Ground Water Protection Regulation Field Guide and Hand Book, which should be ready for distribution at the coming conference. We also have some excellent Ground Water Protection Officers who are responding to complaints and helping with compliance. I have only heard one negative comment that suggested that one Ground Water Protection Officer must have Velcro on his chair, since he cannot be pried from the office. Please let me know the good and the bad so that I can keep score and pass the results on to those who can initiate change. My email is dslade@telus.net, or you can contact me via the BCGWA office.

Almost all of you know Joan Perry. She is the secretary and anchor woman for the BCGWA, and the glue that has held us together for the past 10 years or more. Her husband Walter is very ill, and likely to be in the hospital in Vancouver for many weeks. In spite of this, Joan is insisting on getting the newsletter out, and is continuing to do the legwork to help Gilles put our conference together. Thanks Joan, our thoughts and prayers are with you and Walter.

Finally I would like all of the committed drillers out there to take the time to send in one or two samples of cuttings from any drill hole. Rock and overburden are needed from across the province for the Driller Training Workshop. One large freezer bag of each sample should be sent to the BCGWA office at: 1708 197A Street, Langley, BC V2Z 1K2. Via Purolator collect. Account # 1900271. We need samples to arrive before the drillers workshop on March 28th.

We look forward to seeing you all at the conference March 29th and 30th in Langley or at the workshops on the 27th and 28th. Plan to attend the Annual General Meeting being held from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on March 31st. This is your chance to learn, connect, and to catch a glimpse of what the future holds in technology, opportunity, and regulation.

Be wise. Be there.
Best wishes to all
David Slade

2007 BCGWA CONVENTION – AGM
LAURIE DESILETS MEMORIAL FUND

Further to the article in the December 2006 Newsletter:

Background
The Executive and Board of Directors wishes to formalize the unofficial “Laurie Desilets Memorial Education Fund “created at the 1996 AGM for the purpose of receiving and disbursing donations to further the education and training of BCGWA members.

Members wishing to obtain financial assistance from the BCGWA for the purpose of advancing their education and training may do so by applying to the Executive of the BCGWA in writing, outlining the educational and/or training program assistance they seek. The Executive will review all applications and reject or award a sum of money for the purpose of the request. Members and others may donate to the “Laurie Desilets memorial Education Fund” and receive a receipt from the BCGWA. Fund activities will be reported by the Treasurer at every AGM.

MOTION
Made by: Bruce Ingimundson, Treasurer
Move:
That the membership of the British Columbia Ground Water Association formally create the “Laurie Desilets Memorial Education Fund”, to be used
by the BCGWA to assist in furthering education and training for members, as seen fit by the Executive of the BCGWA.
Seconded by:
Date: March 31, 2007

Vancouver Island Regional Meeting

The meeting was held on December 9th in Nanaimo and was attended by President David Slade with a cross reference of drillers and pump installers.

Sylvia Kenny from the Ministry of Environment was a guest speaker and did an excellent presentation on current and future regulations. Discussions centered mainly around future enforcement of regulations and ways to ensure compliance for a variety of regulations on such things as licensing, tamper proof seals and surface sealing materials.

Thanks to David Slade and Sylvia Kenny for taking time out on a Saturday to attend.

Paul Anderson
Regional Island Director

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Langley Township
Advisory Committee

The Langley Township would like to invite a representative from BCGWA to participate on the stakeholder advisory committee for the Township of Langley’s Water Management Plan. The Water Management Plan will have legal standing and it will be an attempt to provide better protection for our local groundwater resources (including surface waters that interact with groundwater). We don’t know exactly what measures will be included, but some examples of things that we’ll be looking at are: aggressive water conservation among all water use sectors; water allocation (licensing); permitting; mandatory water metering and pricing; innovative agricultural irrigation and industry water use technologies/incentives; water audits; wellhead protection measures; water quality targets…the list of possibilities goes on.

Groundwater is important to professionals working in the drilling and pump installation industry and we feel your input from your industry’s perspective would be very valuable and insightful. The first of 3 (or 4) workshops is scheduled to be held on March 22 from 10 am to 4 pm. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Workshops will be held between March and June. I would greatly appreciate hearing back from you regarding BCGWA’s willingness to participate and who the designated individual would be. Please call Antigone Dixon-Warren for more information. Ph: 604-532-7320.

For more information on the plan go to Township of Langley website.

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Membership Dues!

Please remember to have your membership dues paid up before the March 31st Annual General Meeting. If they are not paid you will not be able to vote on important issues that may come up at the meeting. The deadline for all membership dues is April 30th.

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Australia Cracks down as “big dry” drags on

Australians are being hit by drastic new measures to curb the profligate use of water amid the worst drought to hit the country in more than a century.

Residents caught wasting water in the state of Victoria will have their supply reduced to a trickle. This will make it impossible for people to have a shower. The pressure in the taps will be barely enough for a glass to be filled.
“Water Police” will patrol the drought-ravaged state, doling out severe penalties. Instead of receiving 40 litres a minute at maximum pressure, they will get two litres a minute. The reduced supply would last for two days and offenders would have to pay a fee to restore their water pressure. Homeowners who continue to flout restrictions could be leftwithout water for weeks or months.
The drought, which in many parts of Australia has lasted six years, has devastated farmland and dried up the reservoirs that provide water to the major cities, such as Melbourne and Sydney.

Daily Telegraph

Come and Join Us!

I really want to invite you to our 2007 convention. A lot of effort has been put to schedule practical and informative presentations and events.

We are fortunate to have drilling expert Edd Schofield, the NGWA 2007 William A. McEllhiney Distinguished Lecturer. Schofield's 90-minute presentation is titled, "Water and Oil—They Really Should Mix." The oilfield industry that began in 1859 in Titusville, Pennsylvania, depended upon the history and technology of the water well industry for the majority of its technology. In his lecture, Schofield makes the case that it is now time for the water well industry to adopt and benefit from various new techniques and practices developed and refined by the oil and gas industry.
Lecture topics include, but are not limited to:
? The challenges of environmentally demanding drilling site locations
? The drilling rigs of today—and tomorrow
? Drilling fluids vs. mud
? Well completion casings, material selection, and connections
? Alternative well screen designs and completion techniques
? Cements and grouts
? Filter pack selection and placement technologies
? Well development practices and procedures
? Coil tubing rigs and well redevelopment.

We then have 4 sessions. The first session will focus on “GUDI” wells, where Groundwater is
Under Direct Influence of surface water. This topic is becoming more and more important as treatment requirements are more stringent when wells supposedly extracting “clean” groundwater are found directly connected to surface water.
The second session will deal with community wells and the need and benefit to properly understand how they work and what they can safely produce without stressing the groundwater resource. A large part of the session will address the risks and liabilities of administrators and directors of such communal systems and what should be known to operate and manage community wells.
A very informative presentation on earthquakes in BC will take place during lunch, on Thursday. You will be asked when you last checked your survival kit (just kidding!).
After the third session you will know all what needs to be known on water pumps. The new technologies such as Variable Frequency Drives will be presented.
The last session will provide information on what is being done in the Canadian groundwater world and it will also present news on the implementation of Phase 1 of the Groundwater Protection Regulation as well as what is coming (Phase 2).

Each session will end up with a panel to have plenty of time to ask questions and engage in discussions.

Please come and spread the word so that as many people from our industry or relying on groundwater can come and benefit from the information which will be presented.

See you in Langley.
Dr. Gilles Wendling
Managing Director
Upcoming Events

March 23-24, 2007
Saskatchewan Ground Water Association
Annual General Meeting and “Mud School”
Ph: 306-244-7551

March 28-31, 2007
B. C. Ground Water Association Convention
& Trade Show
Coast Hotel & Convention Centre
Langley, B. C.
Ph/Fax: 604-530-8934

April 11-12, 2007
Water Supply Association of B.C.
Spring Workshop
Holiday Inn
2569 Dobbin Road
Westbank, B. C.
Contact: Cheryl Halla Ph: 250-809-8548

April 12-14, 2007
Alberta Water Well Association Convention
& Trade Show
Celebrating their 50th year as an Association
Contact: Carol Larson, Ph: 780-386-2335

June 1-2, 2007
The Ontario Ground Water Association’s 55th Annual Convention
Ambassador Conference Resort, Kingston, Ontario
Contact: Nicole Constable
Ph: 519-245-7194 Fax: 519-245-7196

May 14-17, 2008
CanWell 2008
Shaw Conference Centre
Edmonton, Alberta
Contact: 780-386-2335

Membership Changes

Drilling Contractors:

Cascade Drilling
new e.mail address: drill@telus.net

Furey Contracting
Box 4039
Golden, B.C. V0A 1H0
Ph: 250-344-1272
Fax: 250-344-5729

Terra Therma Drilling Ltd.
PO Box 546 Stn Main
Kamloops, B. C. V2C 5L2
Ph: 250-574-4651
Rep: Greg Sleasman

Pump Supplier & Installer:

Ateknor Enterprises Ltd.
1101-6th Street, PO Box 843
Invermere, B. C. V0A 1K0
Ph: 250-342-2800
Fax: 250-342-2804
Rep: Norman Gasatek

McLean & Higgins Ltd.
6440 Walker Road
Port Alberni, B. C. V9Y 8W8
Ph: 250-724-4488
Fax: 250-724-4013
Rep: Mike Wolff

Union Pumps
23191 Fraser Highway
Box 12006, RPO Murrayville
Langley, B. C. V3A 9J5
Ph: 604-533-3727
e.mail: pumps3@telus.net

Y&R Water Sales & Services
Box 488
Grand Forks, B. C. V0H 1H0
Ph: 250-442-5537
Fax: 250-442-5547
Rep: Richard Yemm

Geothermal Drillers:

Ground Source Drilling Ltd.
(Formerly Faase’s Video Pipe Scan Ltd.)
Plaza 33, RPO Box 23037
Kelowna, B. C. V1X 7K7
Ph: 250-762-2519
Fax: 250-762-2519
Rep: Lori Faasse

Mud Bay Drilling Co. Ltd.
Unit A, 18509-96th Avenue
Surrey, B. C. V4N 3P7
Ph: 604-888-2206
Fax: 604-888-4206

M&S Division

Delta Irrigation Ltd.
444 Chilcotin Road
Kamloops, B. C. V2H 1G3
Ph: 250-372-9424
Fax: 250-372-3111
Rep: Robert (Bob) Strate

Heron Instruments Inc.
2031 James Street
Burlington, Ontario L7R 1H2
Ph: 800-331-2032
Fax: 905-634-9657
e.mail: mjones@heroninstruments.com
Rep: Michael Jones

Western Drilling Tools Inc.
#24-4216-54 Ave SE
Calgary, Alberta T2C 2E3
Ph: 403-203-0826
Fax: 403-203-0807

Professional & Technical:

City of Prince George
1100 Patricia Blvd
Prince George, B. C. V2L 3V9
Ph: 250-561-7600
Fax: 250-561-7724
Rep: Dave Smith

EPCOR Water Services Inc.
#102-1440 George Street
White Rock, B. C. V4B 4A3
Ph: 604-536-6112
Fax: 604-536-3412
Rep: Greg Hogge

Hemmera
Suite 250, 1380 Burrard St.
Vancouver, B. C. V6Z 2H3
Ph: 604-669-0424
Fax: 604-669-0430
e.mail: rnorth@hemmera.com
Rep: Reg North

Westland Insurance LP
400-10428-153 Street
Surrey, B. C. V3R 1E1
Ph: 604-953-2700
Fax: 1-866-775-6859
Rep: Jonathan Luiten

Associate Members:

Tammera Kostya
EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd.
Unit 6, 151 Industrial Road
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2V3
Ph: 867-668-2071 ext 63
Fax: 867-668-4349

Vince McCormack
Red-Kee Servcices Inc.
619 Kelly Road
Victoria, B. C. V9B 2A6
Ph: 250-478-6231
Fax: 250-478-6201
Richard Milne
Red Williams Well Drilling Ltd.
Quathiaski Cove, B. C. V0P 1N0
Ph/Fax: 250-285-2893

Stephen Munzar
Hemmera
Suite 250, 1380 Burrard St.
Vancouver, B. C. V6Z 2H3
Ph: 604-669-0424
Fax: 604-669-0430

David Nadler
Cantest Ltd.
#1104-4464 Markham Street
Victoria, B. C. V8Z 7X8
Ph: 250-382-6112
Fax: 250-382-6364

Daniel St. Laurent
Wellmaster Pumps & Water Systems
7983 Simpson Road
Saanichton, B. C. V8M 2H3
Ph: 250-656-7474
Fax: 250-652-7915

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Newsletter Format

There has been a lot of talk recently regarding the format of the Newsletter. Different ideas for example are going to a magazine style publication, offering an e.mail version, and publishing every month.

In talking to publishers, it seems that the practical break point for magazine style publications is 1,000. We are less than one half of that. An e.mail version is an option, but many of our rank and file members are not very computer savvy, and may of us who do tolerate computers still like to feel the paper in our hand.

Publishing every month would mean that we would need a lot more material submitted. Our Newsletter is admittedly low budget, but for now I think that is part of its charm. I do however encourage everyone to forward stories, articles, reports, events, jokes, tall tales, or anything of interest in our industry to the office. Joan is always looking for material.

David Slade, President

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Registration

Please do your best to pre-register for the convention. It gets you through the line up a lot quicker! A registration form and the updated schedule have been included with this newsletter just in case you have misplaced them under a pile of papers. The workshops are filling up quickly and don’t forget about the free GPS units for all members attending the Drillers Training Workshop.

We have sold 30 booths, and will be having some in the main hallway this year. If any M&S member needs to order anything extra from Levy Show Service Inc., please call Scott Greene at 604-277-1726.

BC Ground Water purchased a booth this year to set up at the various trade shows that we attend. We would like to add some action drilling or pump pictures underneath our logo. If you have any such pictures please e.mail them into the office and we can have them printed. If there is a person in the picture, please send his name along as well.

We will see you in Langley for the show.
PS. Don’t forget your wife!

Joan Perry
BCGWA
Secretary

Advertising Prices

¼ page ad $ 25.00
½ page ad $ 45.00
full page ad $ 90.00