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:

BCGWA PLANNING SESSION SUMMARY REPORT - CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

LOW STREAM FLOW ADVISORY - THOMPSON/NICOLA - CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

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

NEW! Click here for the BCGWA response to the MOE WATER ACT Modernization - Discussion Paper.

NEW! Click here for the BCGWA memo regarding the acquiring of Continuing Education Units (CEU) and related issues regarding current Provincial government regulations.

June 2010 Newsletter

This Newsletter is published quarterly, March, June, September and December by the B.C.
Ground Water Association. For more information please contact: Executive Secretary, Joan
Perry, 1708 – 197 A Street, Langley, B. C. V2Z 1K2. Phone or Fax: 604-530-8934.
BCGWA Website address: www.bcgwa.org
BCGWA e.mail address: secretary.bcgwa@shaw.ca

________________________________________________________________________

President’s Report

Greetings fellow members of the BCGWA.

I have enjoyed the last two years as President and I am pleased to be back for another term. Honestly, the time commitment and duties are not that onerous, as we have a very competent Executive Board and Directors, as well as Joan and Bruce that collectively keep the organization running very smoothly. I perceive my role as primarily being a traffic cop and one who rallies the troops.

Our mandate for the year is certainly not new and not a vision that is solely mine. The objective is to continue with our strategic plan that was developed last year, with input from the Executive and Directors. The main points of the Plan that we are focusing on are as follows:

• maintain and build an active membership,
• enhance relations with Provincial Regulators,
• facilitate training, certification and continuing education for our members,
• support effective compliance with regulations, along with good industry standards and practices, and
• raise public awareness of regulations and the groundwater industry in general.

We are already off to a good start on many initiatives this year – as outlined in the message in this newsletter from our Managing Director, Bruce Ingimundson.

In addition to these organizational objectives that are handled by the Executive, I strongly encourage all members to continue to work in the best interests of the industry. In particular, I think we could all benefit from working more closely together and by encouraging each other to maintain the highest level of professionalism. The example I often use to make this point [ie, rally the troops], is a story about how it takes 3 people to kick a field goal – the centre who “hups” the ball, the holder, and the guy who kicks the ball. All have special skills and are necessary to kick a field goal. Furthermore, each would have a difficult time doing the other man’s job.

I relate these 3 players to three types of members in our industry, those being the driller, the pump installer and the hydrogeologist. Again, each are specialized and each would have a difficult time doing the other man’s job. As a hydrogeologist, I can say it took many years after leaving school for me to learn the practical things about the water well industry from drillers and pump installers – to the point where I could say that I knew what was going on. In fact, I am still learning. In turn, I try my best to explain the reasons behind the type and duration of pumping tests, water samples, etc, that are required to collect the information we hydrogeologists need to include in our reports. My point here is that we should all take the time to understand each other and in turn to communicate the big picture to the general public.

My hope is that you will take away two things from this message: the first is that we will all benefit from a higher level of communication and professionalism, and the second is that if you choose not to be part of the solution you may in fact be part of the problem.

I hope you all have a safe and prosperous summer. I am looking forward to seeing you in the fall at the BCGWA regional meeting in your area.

Regards,
Remi Allard


MARCH 2010 BCGWA NEWSLETTER ARTICLE, From the Desk of the Managing Director

Welcome to the first newsletter since our 2010 Conference and Trade Show in Kelowna last March. The event was successful with a total attendance (delegates and M&S) of 208. The talks were generally well received with a focus on the drilling and pump installation trades. A total of 23 attended the AGM on Friday, March 19. Reports from the Regional and Technical Directors as well as the President and Managing Director were read. Highlights included a decision by the attending membership that the BCGWA will create a new position entitled Geo-Exchange Director to our Board. This reflects the continuing rapid growth of this industry and relationship to our driller members. In addition it was decided to sub-divide the non-voting Associate members into two categories consisting of individual members and association members. This will allow us to be more attractive to small water resource organizations that cannot afford full corporate membership. A copy of the 2010 AGM Minutes was provided with your membership package.

Executive and director members and yours truly attended the MOE workshop on the Water Act Modernization (WAM) Program held in Nanaimo and Kelowna in March and April. BCGWA responded formally to the MOE with a Policy Paper on WAM dated April 30, 2010. Our priority issues were; science based regulation of large groundwater extractions in crisis designated groundwater management areas(GMA), lesser regulation of non- GMA areas, establish a permitted use for small groundwater extraction and enact and enforce the MOE Phase 2 regulations developed by the BCGWA supported Ground Water Advisory Board. In addition we submitted a list of 24 further suggestions for implementing groundwater use and regulation. A copy of our Policy Paper on the Water Act Modernization Program can be found elsewhere in this Newsletter.

It is of interest to note that the BC Water and Waste Association (BCWWA) requested that BCGWA provide a representative to assist their committee in development of their WAM submission. I was pleased to be designated as that representative and found the experience of working with BCWWA gratifying and useful in creating a closer working relationship between our two organizations.

I along with Mike Lamont, Dave Mellis and other BCGWA members attended the BCWWA Conference and Trade Show in Whistler in early May. Dave and I attended their President’s Dinner, hosted by Colwyn Sundeland out-going President and later in the Conference Mike and I met with the in-coming President Ted Molyneux. During the meeting with Ted, we discussed the historic relationship between our two organizations and how we can work together to protect and develop groundwater within our province.

In late May, I attended CanWell 2010 in Winnipeg along with directors Remi Allard, Jim Fyfe, Red Williams and Rick Cronin. Also attending was Ron Nelson who dove in at the last moment to replace an ailing Dave Mellis to teach the pump installation program. [Our sincere thanks Ron and to Mike Lamont for releasing Ron from his duties at Precision Service & Pumps to fly to Winnipeg at the last minute and conduct the courses. This was greatly appreciated by the CGWA and MWWDA.]

It was an interesting event with several varied technical sessions and a large trade show, both held at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. CGWA estimates approximately 600 attended, mostly from Manitoba, Ontario and Alberta. The program was a little different than recent CanWell events, in that it was a shared event between the Manitoba Water Well Drilling Association and the Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance. My observation was that geothermal drilling and water well drilling industries are somewhat entwined in Manitoba, unlike here in BC where they generally appear to be separate operations. Many Manitoba water well drilling companies undertake geothermal drilling as well.

While at CanWell I met with Wayne MacRae of the CGWA, whom Dave Mellis, Mike Wei, Lindsay Macfarlane and I had talked to earlier regarding our members concerns with the Continuing Education Units, which I will address later. I also had the pleasure of meeting leaders of the Ontario Ground Water Association who will be hosting CanWell 2012 in Hamilton. We will be attending a booth in Hamilton to promote our CanWell 2014 event here in BC.

On May 3, Dave Mellis and I attended a Conference Call with Mike Wei, Lindsay Macfarlane of the MOE and Wayne MacRea, CGWA Executive Officer on the subject of Continuing Education Units (CEU). In brief, the CGWA requires BCGWA members to supply proof of 14 hours of CEU related to their trade to remain certified in British Columbia. As there are three routes to registration with the MOE in BC; (Grandfathering {closed}, ITA Certification for Well Drilling Technician and CGWA certification for well drillers and pump installers), only the CGWA certification requires members to provide annual CEU proof. This has caused angst among some driller and pump installer members. Following our CC, I wrote a memo the BCGWA Executive, which has been re-printed in this Newsletter. If this is an issue with you, I recommend you read the attached memo. Work is still in progression on this issue, thanks to those directors who have responded to date.

Enough already. My best wishes to you all for a pleasant and prosperous summer and remember to take time to do some barbequing.

Bruce Ingimundson

For Sale:

3000 gallon tanker truck for sale, stainless steel tank on Western Star tandem truck
Sealed tenders in the range of $25,000 to $50,000 will be accepted up until June 30,2010.
For details to bid on the truck and view photos, please visit the Mill Bay Fire Department website at www.mbfd.ca (David Slade)

How to Stimulate the Economy

Just in case you get a cheque…

Sometime this year, we taxpayers will again receive an Economic Stimulus payment i.e. HST rebate. This is a very exciting program from the Ontario government. I’ll explain it using the Q and A format:

Q What is Ontario’s Economic Stimulus payment?
A It is money that the provincial government will send to taxpayers.
Q where will the government get this money?
A From the taxpayers.
Q So the government is giving me back my own money?
A Only a smidgen.
Q What is the purpose of this payment?
A The plan is for you to use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus, stimulating the economy.
Q But isn’t that stimulating the economy of Asia?
A Shut up or you don’t get your cheque.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the Canadian economy by spending your stimulus cheque wisely:

1. If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, your money will go to China
2. If you spend it on gasoline, your money will go to Saudi Arabia
3. If you purchase a computer, it will go to India
4. If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras or Guatemala
5. If you buy a car, it will go to Japan or Korea
6. If you purchase useless plastic stuff, it will go to Taiwan
7. If you pay off your credit cards, or buy stock, it will go to pay management bonuses and be hidden in offshore accounts

OR, you can keep the money in Canada by:

1. spending it at yard sales or flea markets, or
2. going to baseball or football games, or
3. hiring prostitutes, or
4. buying cheap beer, or
5. getting tattoos
These are the only wholly-owned businesses still operating in Canada.

Conclusion:

The best way to stimulate the economy is to go to a ball game with a prostitute that you met at a yard sale and drink beer all day until you’re drunk enough to go get tattooed!

Convention Highlights

What a turn out for our annual Convention and Trade Show! The workshops were well attended and thanks to Dan Watterson and Rick Cronin for finding such interesting speakers for the meetings. The booths were kept busy as well. Foremost Industries brought in a rig that was set up at the front of the Hotel for all to see.

The BCGWA, in celebration of our “40th”convention, put in a booth this year to feature a look back through the last half-century of drilling. Ron Nelson did an excellent job of manning the booth and providing the material. He also produced an excellent video called “Looking Back”. Copies of these can be purchased from the BC Ground Water Association at $10.00 per copy. Thank you Ron.

The Banquet was very well attended and gold pins were presented to retired members who have supported the Association over the years and a special gift for their wives. The recipients were:

Ken & Millie Fyfe Walter & Joan Perry
Bruce Ingimundson Max & Shirley Schibli
Ed Livingston Ken & Pat Slade
John & Cora Mankowski Terry & Cathy Thiessen
Dick & Zozenka McNichol Hank & Dot Unrau
Phil Miskulin Red & Isabel Williams
Honourable mentions went to:

Laurie Desilets Buck & Mary Nelson
Arnold & Ethel Hamelin Dave Walsh
Helen Miskulin

and we were pleased to see Dick Erdman who had provided us with a lot of drilling information and pictures from the good old days.

We had lots of entertainment and a “40th” convention cake finished off the evening!

Next years’ convention date is from March 7-11, 2011 at the Executive Airport Plaza in Richmond.

A Bit of History - The Driller & The Farmer’s Daughter

The year was 1951, and Ken Slade was working for Pacific Water Wells drilling a well for a farmer in the Duncan area on Vancouver Island. It was a deep cased hole of around 165 feet, and took over 2 weeks to complete since it was done with a cable tool and the ground was rough in places. During that 2 weeks, Ken who was in his early 20’s, made friends with the farmer’s 2 sons and started to take an interest in the “Farmer’s Daughter”. This pretty young girl was named Pat Barker, and was in her late teens just finishing high school. She would go on to graduate as an RN from St. Josephs’ School of Nursing in Victoria.

Ken and Pat had a courtship that included an engagement ring presented by Ken in a box that previously contained a bottle opener shaped like a horses’ ass. The box and the ring nearly got tossed out the car window by Pat while they were driving over a bridge in Victoria. Ken was obviously a well driller of high class, culture and charm, so Pat couldn’t help but marry him.

Ken’s mother-in-law, Blanche Barker always used to ask “What is Ken going to do for work when all of the wells were drilled?” while his father-in-law often said, “That darned well cost me $2,000, plus my daughter, and I’ve been paying ever since!”

Pat and Ken went on to buy an old 55 Speed Star drill rig from John Rainsford in 1965 when Pacific Water Wells moved to Langley. This was the start of Drillwell Enterprises. Seven children and 45 years later Ken, Pat and Drillwell are still going strong. With a fleet of 12 rigs and 30 employees, Drillwell has become one of the largest and longest operating well drilling companies in the Pacific Northwest.

Job Posting

Driller wanted – Chilliwack, B. C. – New Dual Rotary Drills
5 years minimum experience operating air rotary drill.
Class 3 with air brakes license, clean driver’s abstract.
Welding & equipment maintenance experience required.
Competitive wage and benefits.
Fax resume to 604-794-5545 or email: anhwells@shaw.ca

Thank you Manufacturer’s and Suppliers

Without the support of our M & S businesses we would not be able to enjoy such a fun and informative convention. Again, these companies provided us with a full evening of food, beverages and entertainment and more importantly all of the latest innovations in the industry. Please support these companies who work so hard each year to help make our convention so successful.
• Andrew Sheret Ltd.
• B. C. Ground Water Association
• Boart Longyear
• Caro Analytical Services
• CETCO
• Delta Irrigation Ltd.
• Eco Tech Laboratory
• Foremost Industries
• General Farm Supply Inc.
• Ingram Well & Pump
• Langley Welding & Machine Shop Ltd.
• Marwyn Sales & Supplies Ltd.
• Maxxam Analytics
• Merrill Mfg.
• Minister of Environment
• Performance Industrial Products
• Pinnacle Drilling Products, Inc.
• RST Instruments Ltd.
• Sego Industries Ltd.
• Sphere Drilling Supplies
• Talik Industrial Services Ltd.
• Tundra Sales Inc.
• Van Isle Water Services Ltd.
• Variperm Canada Ltd.
• Westcoast Drilling Supplies
• Western Drilling Tools Inc.
• WILO Canada Inc.

We would also like to thank the following companies for their donation to the Association to help with our convention costs:
• A & H Drilling Ltd.
• Cariboo Water Wells Ltd.
• Downrite Drilling Ltd.
• Langley Welding & Machine Shop Ltd.
• Marwyn Sales & Supplies/Monument Machine Shop
• Sego Industries Ltd.
• Western Drilling Tools Ltd.

Water Crisis

Veteran journalist Chris Wood’s latest book, Dry Spring: The Coming Water Crisis of North America (Raincoast Books, 2008), shows how climate change is already casting a long shadow over our water supply. Wood dismisses the concerns of many activists, who believe the United States poses a threat to Canada’s water. Instead, he argues the biggest threat to our water is how we manage it. Wood shared his views as the featured speaker at last summer’s Elmvale Water Festival. He gives Canadian Water Treatment a preview, in conversation with scientist and founder of the Elmvale Foundation, William Shotyk.

Canadian Water Treatment: One person in five on the planet doesn’t have access to clean drinking water. The Secretary General of the United Nations wants water at the top of the global agenda. What are the top three dangers facing our freshwater supply?

Chris Wood: People, people and people. Globally, man-made climate change is redistributing rain around the map and the calendar, causing trouble everywhere. Practical issues differ: Africa lacks basic infrastructure; rich countries mismanage the landscapes that collect our water. But our biggest challenge is psychological: our persistent pretence that water is so unique, so priceless, that we can leave it off the books when we do our economic accounting.

CWT: Major rivers no longer reach the ocean; droughts bring famine and conflict; industries have to cut back for lack of water. Can we feed humanity and maintain our standard of living with less water?

CW: It depends what you mean by ‘standard of living.’ All six billion of us can’t eat as much beef as North Americans do and still use less water. On the other hand, Danes enjoy a lifestyle a lot like ours using just one-seventh as much water per person. Even in many ‘poor’ places farmers grow more than enough food, but enormous quantities fail to reach hungry mouths. Enough water falls on Ethiopia - one of Africa’s most famine-prone countries - to feed five times its resent population, if it had better water and food-storage infrastructure. The United States has added 56 million people and grown its economy by half since 1985 without increasing total water consumption at all. So yes, I think we can do it. Will we? That’s something else.

CWT: Canadians like to think we’re water-rich. Yet one municipality in four has faced water shortage in the past decade. Many commentators say we need a new water ethic in Canada. Is it taking root?

CW: The short answer is no. But honestly, while a water ethic might be desirable, I doubt it’s achievable-or required. Where we really need to change is in the commercial economy that uses 90 per cent of our water. And monetary value - in a word, price -changes more business behaviour than high-minded idealism.

CWT: In Germany, water costs ten times what it does in Canada; per-capita water consumption is a third of ours. Is water too cheap in Canada?

CW: No question. Not only is it too cheap, but half our cities charge the same price no matter how much of it you use. Many industries pay nothing at all for enormous amounts of water. I understand why politicians don’t want to go there, but we need to pay more for water. And we should all pay for what we use, even well-owners like me.

CWT: But rain is free and weather doesn’t belong to anyone. How do we put a full-cycle price on water?

CW: The price will change from place to place. But let’s start by knowing where our water comes from, and what it will cost to preserve that source for as long as we’ll need its water, which we hope will be forever. Rivers and aquifers only deliver water from uplands that capture rain or snow, collect and filter water through spongy topsoil and vegetation. Mexico calls these areas water factories, and pays landowners there to maintain their productivity. We should do the same. Ecosystems downstream from our communities help clean up our wastewater. A full-cycle water price would pay to preserve such natural services, as well as to keep hard infrastructure in good repair.

CWT: You describe how melting ice caps are converting our greatest reserves of frozen freshwater to salt, and how some Canadian rivers have dropped by 85 per cent in summer from increasing evaporation. How much of the global water crisis can be attributed to climate change?

CW: Climate change is throwing us curves - wilder storms, heavier rainfall and longer than what we built our infrastructure to withstand. Climate’s role is bigger in Africa’s Sahel, southeast Australia, Spain. Human choices are more significant in North America (all-round waste), India (rampant over-pumping of groundwater) and China (over pumping plus widespread water pollution). But we need to keep both in mind: anticipating future weather while changing our choices.

William Shotyk is a professor of environmental geochemistry at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, and president and founder of the Elmvale Foundation.

Note: Chris Wood was a guest speaker at our 2009 Convention

Canadian Water Treatment-July/August 2009 Watertreatment.ca

Did you hear the one about the guy using his cell phone while driving?

Cell phone users top 10 excuses for talking while driving –

1. It was an urgent work call
2. I was stopped at a red light
3. I was just checking my voicemail-I didn’t make a call
4. I was holding it, but it was on hands free
5. But it was my mom
6. I didn’t know, I’m not from here, I’m from Maple Ridge
7. I drive better than most people-not like the ones that eat while driving
8. I was just setting up my hands-free device
9. But it’s my first time. Can’t I just get a warning?
10. It was my wife calling, I didn’t dare ignore her

More than 8,000 tickets have been issued to those violating B. C.’s ban on hand helds.

The Vancouver Sun

When Grandma Goes to Court

Lawyers should never ask a Mississippi grandma a question if they aren’t prepared for the answer.

In a trial, a Southern small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand. He approached her and asked, ‘Mrs. Jones, do you know me? She responded, ‘Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I’ve known you since you were a boy, and frankly, you’ve been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you’re a big shot when you haven’t the brains to realize you’ll never amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you.’

The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, ‘Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?’

She again replied, ‘Why yes, I do. I’ve known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. He’s lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. He can’t build a normal relationship with anyone, and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him.’

The defense attorney nearly died.

The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench and, in a very quiet voice, said, ‘If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I’ll send you both to the electric chair.’

Remembering

Even though it’s been 5 years that our dearest George Wall passed away (June 22, 2005), I was trying to get some information. Google and I ran into your Ground Water Association newsletter where you mention him, back in 2005!!

“At George Walls’ memorial service I got the opportunity to speak and listen to many people who genuinely loved and cared for George. There were many people I had not seen for years and it was a testament of George’s irrepressible personality that so many people came out to celebrate his life. There were many funny stories told about that “crazy German” that brought a smile and chuckle to everyone’s face but that didn’t cover up the fact that everyone liked, loved, respected and will miss the man. I know in speaking to Larry Field and John L’Henaff that a good friend and business associate will be sorely missed.”

I had the greatest blessing of becoming his Venezuelan wife and he became a father to my wonderful son Hibenobu (he was only 6 when they first met and fell in love with each other…you know, just made for each other like father & son). We had a beautiful, yet different life together as we had to travel a lot to see each other and for sure, different cultures to adapt and compromise to. Nevertheless, our years together were just precious and we were a very nice family!

We were not able to go to Canada for his memorial and nobody wrote to us (maybe it was too painful at that time) about his memorial service, so you can imagine how fantastic and heart moving it was to know that many people back there also loved him so much. I had the marvelous opportunity to know Larry, John, Debbie and his daughter and Melody and grandchild Jennyfer as well as some other very good friends to him.

So, THANK YOU for giving us a glimpse of how lovely it was to say farewell to one of the most fantastic human beings I had the fortune to know and share my life with. George was and continues to be a part of my entire family in Venezuela.

Best regards
Eglee Jaimes de Wall & Hibenobu Kinoshita (our son)

Keep Golfing!

Stand proud you noble swingers of clubs and losers of balls.
A recent study found that the average golfer walks about 900 miles a year.
Another study found that golfers drink on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year.
That means, on average, golfers get about 41 miles to the gallon.
Kind of makes you proud. Almost feels like a hybrid!

Upcoming Events

Canadian Water Resources Association
63rd Annual National Conference
June 15-18, 2010
Vancouver, B. C.
Contact: Eva Li

NGWA Ground Water Expo
December 7-10, 2010
Las Vegas, Nevada
Ph: 614-898-7791
www.ngwa.org/2010expo

B. C. Ground Water Association
2011 convention & Trade Show
March 7-11, 2011
Executive Airport Plaza
7311 Westminster Hwy.
Richmond, B. C.
Contact: 604-530-8934

Membership Changes/New Members:

Water Well Drilling:

Anderson Water Services Ltd.
Box 6099
Fort St. John, B. C. V1J 4H6
Rep: Cam Wiebe
Ph: 250-785-2285
Fax/cell: 250-785-2299
email: nack23@telus.net

Aqua Pro Drilling Ltd.
new email address: aquapro@xplornet.ca

Professional & Technical:

Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd.
Ste 200-4185A Stillcreek Drive
Burnaby, B. C. V5C 6G9
Rep: Mike Nolan
Ph: 604-294-2088

5 Tips on how to do business in rough times by getting back to basics

1. Make five extra calls a day. Five calls a day five days equals 25 calls. Multiply that by 50 weeks and you’ve made 1,250 new calls. If you close even 20 % of them, you’ll have 250 new clients annually.
2. Learn for life. Take a wine course, learn to sail, study Spanish…you never know when you’ll be able to use it in your business. Spend at least 3 % of your income on higher learning. Commit to lifelong learning.
3. Measure everything. And sweat the small stuff. One $10 courier bill isn’t a problem, but multiply that by a 1,000 in a large organization and you’ve got a $10,000 bill. No expense is too large or too small to be measured, evaluated and reduced.
4. Keep the lights on. Let your staff know what’s going on. An informed staff will work with you. Only a mushroom is capable of growing and flourishing in the dark.
5. Make the coffee-get the coffee. Leadership begins in the trenches. Nothing should be beneath you. Set the example for others to follow.

Remember to maintain a positive attitude and you’ll always be 100%.

Peter Legge

Granddad’s Dug Well

In 1889, my granddad was in the Oklahoma Land Rush for his farm near Covington, Oklahoma in Garfield County, Oklahoma. First, he built a dugout in the ground they shared with their horses. They obtained their water from a shallow spring near the dugout. This was their home and water source for several years. Eventually, they built their home, large barn, chicken houses, shop building, granary, storm cellar and dug well.

I can remember my Granddad Braithwaite tell me many stories about his farm living. I think my favourite was digging the dug well. The well was about 7-feet in diameter and 25-feet or 30-feet deep. The lower 20 feet of the well was dug in a semi-hard red sandstone.

When they could no longer hand the soil out of the well with a rope and bucket, they installed a tripod with a pulley over the well, and used a rope, a small barrel and a mule to pull the barrel to the top. Then my uncle would dump the bucket.

When they reached the sand rock, my granddad would use a long bar and jab it in the same spot, while applying small amounts of water. This was a basic form of cable-tool drilling. Once the hole was deep enough, he would place some dynamite and fuse in the hole and pack the top of the drilled hole with rocks. Granddad would light the fuse and climb in the barrel, then holler for my uncle to pull him to the top with the mule. Once the dynamite exploded, using the mule, my uncle would lower granddad back into the well to continue cleaning out the broken rocks, and then repeat it all again until they reached sufficient water.

Once when granddad lit the dynamite fuse and hollered for my uncle to pull him up, the mule balked. As timing was of the utmost urgency, my uncle hit the mule on the rear with a 2-by-4. The mule took off, pulling granddad and the barrel out of the well and off across the field just before the dynamite went off. Needless to say, that 2-by-4 was kept handy from then on until the well was completed.

Another time, my brother was playing with a basketball, and it fell in the well just as granddad was swinging the pickax into the rock. The pickax punctured the ball, and it exploded. Granddad just about had a heart attack because he thought he had hit some unexploded dynamite.

The last time I was at the old home place, the old dug well was still was there.

Well drilling can be dangerous, but it can be funny – even way back then.

Howard “Porky” Cutter
National Driller

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW/Download the JUNE 2010 Report from the Ministry of Environment