(file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Two for less than the price of one

City awards drilling contract for two new wells

Apr 9, 2024 | 5:00 PM

The City of North Battleford has selected a firm for the drilling contract to create two new supply water wells for the city.

The project was included in this year’s budget.

Administration recommended that McAllister Drilling Inc., based in Lloydminster, be awarded the contract to drill the two new water production wells for $150,565, including $8,522 PST, with a proposed start date of May 1.

Director of Operations Stewart Schafer noted at Monday’s council meeting two firms competed for the project, with McAllister Drilling coming in with the lower price.

He added the submitted bid is also within budget.

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The city budgeted up to around $700,000 for the new water well production project. Well water is used for the city’s Water Treatment Plant #1, one of its two water treatment plants.

Schafer noted in his report that WaterMark Consulting Ltd. previously determined that the city could save money and be more efficient by using the same infrastructure from two water wells that have failed, for the new wells.

“The reusing of the existing failed wells will reduce the costs for the new wells and keep costs under the budget previously proposed for a single well,” he said. “Administration supported the two-well concept and had WaterMark Consulting develop tender documents, and tender the drilling of two new wells as proposed.”

Council voted in favour of administration’s proposal to award the contract to McAllister Drilling Inc.

Mayor David Gillan noted he is glad to see the project is being done at a reduced cost, by cutting capital costs dramatically.

“The concept of drilling wells near existing wells, and utilizing the hardware that’s already in the existing well, I mentioned to the director [Schafer] that it was good thinking. We can utilize the existing infrastructure from wells that are already passed their production period, and not have to totally duplicate [it] again,” he said. “I think it’s fantastic. It saves us a lot of money.”

City Manager Randy Patrick also mentioned the lower estimated cost of the project is a boon to the city.

“It is lower than expected for the cost of one, and we’re getting two,” he said. “So, we’re saving money even there.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

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