ALASKA WATER WELL ASSOCIATION

March 2010





VOLUME 20, NO. 2







YOU MISSED A GREAT CONVENTION


If you didn’t attend the convention in Fairbanks you missed a great time. The attendance was down from previous years but that didn’t stop everyone from having a good convention and the members from Fairbanks were glad to have the opportunity to host this year’s convention. Even the weather cooperated and averaged about 22 degrees during the day. The facilities at the Wedgewood Resort were more than expected, even though some of you grumbled a little bit about having to walk from building to building.


We were short on suppliers’ participation this year, but we want to thank Alaska Pump & Supply, Baroid, Ferguson, and Techline for their attendance. And a special thank you to Alaska Pump and Supply for their monetary contribution toward the Thursday lunch and to Techline for their donation of jackets for door prizes. The lucky winners were Ted Schachle, Jim Munter, and Chuck Ice. Since Techline is in Fairbanks, they know how to buy warm jackets.


Bill Corey from Pentair Water held his second in a series of classes on Wednesday discussing VFD’s, tanks, and sizing. We were lucky to have him stay through Thursday and present a pump maintenance refresher. Thank you Bill for your attendance and for your technical help with the computer and sound system.


Our second speaker was Andrew Roe with MCM Roe, Inc. They are a ground source heat pump contractor in Fairbanks. Geothermal heating systems continue to be an area of interest to many of our members. It was good to hear from Andrew and the research he is doing in that area. He has a system installed in his own home which he is monitoring along with the University of Fairbanks Alaska Center for Energy & Power. If you would like to discuss this topic further with him you can contact him at 907-474-4001.


We were privileged to once again have a representative from NGWA attend. This year we got to meet Dan Meyer, MGWC with Gregg Drilling in California and the 2010 Secretary of NGWA. His instructions on how to use the drilling cost calculator were very helpful and some of us may now give it a try.


Jack Sowers was the representative from Baroid this year. Since geothermal was the basic topic of the day, he was able to provide an insight into geothermal grouting. Thank you to Jack for filling in on short notice.


Our President, Rocky MacDonald gave a presentation on his recent trip to Uganda complete with a slide show. We often take for granted our ability to have clean water available whenever we want it. This is a big problem in Uganda and one Rocky is on a mission to help correct. He is putting a call out to all members to contact him in an effort to bring equipment to them, train their people, and provide them with something they do not currently have, clean drinking water. Monetary donations, volunteering your time, and drilling equipment are all needed and appreciated. Please contact Rocky regarding this urgent need.


We ended our day with a tour of the Antique Auto Museum that is a part of the Wedgewood Resort. This is a fabulous collection of rare and one-of-a kind classics including some original Alaska vehicles. The pictures on the wall, vintage clothing, and even the old time movies were as entertaining as hearing about the automobiles. We all had to admit we were truly impressed. It is worth going to Fairbanks just to tour this museum which they are continuing to expand.


Friday started out with a presentation from Professor David Barnes with the University of Fairbanks, Water & Environmental Research Center. By installing thermistors he is studying the flow of water at certain areas on the North Slope. Past, current and future readings will be of great use by the oil companies and other contractors in those areas.


Charley Palmer, Hydrologist with the Drinking Water Program, State of Alaska DEC spoke about proper well construction for public water well systems. His photos of improperly constructed wells was attention-grabbing and it was apparent our members are installing proper water wells. To his knowledge there were no complaints about any of the members well installations.


After lunch Bill Satterberg, a Fairbanks attorney, gave us instructions on how to file liens on clients that refuse to pay. If you need a copy of the lien forms and instructions call Karen at 907-562-2312.


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The annual membership meeting was held at 2:00 pm Friday. A copy of the minutes and attendance list is attached. Please review these and let me know as soon as possible if there are any errors so I can get them corrected.


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Is there anyone working in the Copper Center area? If so, or if you are going to be there this summer, call Charlene at 259-4456. She is interested in getting a well installed.




Alaska Water Well Association Objectives


The objectives of this association shall be to assist, promote, encourage, and support the interests and welfare of the groundwater industry in all of its phases generally and in particular within Alaska, to foster, aid, and promote scientific education, standards, research, and techniques in order to improve methods of well construction and development, and to advance the science of groundwater hydrology; to promote harmony and cooperation between well contractors and governmental and scientific agencies relative to the proper development and protection of underground water supplies; to encourage cooperation of all interested groups relative to the improvement of drilling and pumping equipment; to encourage, serve, assist, and promote close cooperation with the National Ground Water Association, Inc.; to collect, analyze and disseminate information to the economy of Alaska and of the nation; and to advance generally the mutual interests of all those engaged in the groundwater industry in their own and the public interest.


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ALASKA WATER WELL ASSOCIATION

2010 BOARD OF DIRECTORS



President - ROCKY MacDONALD – Aurora Drilling, Inc. 907-456-6712


Vice President – LARRY SWIHART – S & S Drilling 907-746-0225


Secretary – JEANETTE DIAMOND – Northland Drilling 907-776-8443


Treasurer – LISA HUMPHREYS – Ace Water Well 907-376-7987


Contractor Director – COLE SULLIVAN – Sullivan Water Wells 907-688-2759


Manufacturer Director – STEVE ERICKSON – Alaska Pump & Supply 907-563-3424


Technical Director – JIM MUNTER – J.A. Munter Consulting 907-345-0165


Past President – RON PICHLER - Denali Drilling, Inc. 907-562-2312


Karen Henderson, Executive Secretary 907-562-2312 or denali@ak.net

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A recent article in the Fairbanks News-Miner regarding an agriculture conference held in Fairbanks in March states “Because of permafrost, pesticides can taint Alaska groundwater 100 times faster than in parts of the Midwest”.

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The 2010 National Ground Water Expo is back is Las Vegas December 7th through the 10th with Exhibits open the 8th & 9th. It is currently being advertised that the 2011 Expo is also in Las Vegas, November 29 – December 2nd.

These are business cards I picked up at the convention from the sponsors and speakers.


Be sure and thank them for their participation when you are in contact with them.