FAQ for the Strawberry Deep Well SV3 – October 20, 2023
Where is the Strawberry deep well?
The Strawberry deep well is located at 4889 N Rim View Loop in Strawberry, AZ. It is also referred to as the McKnight property. The property has a working well and was acquired by the District for the purpose of developing a deep well to provide a longer-term solution in accordance with its mission to provide a safe, sufficient, and reliable water supply for the community.
What is the timeline for the Strawberry deep well project?
At this time, the District anticipates the project will start in the fall of 2023 and will take a year to fully complete. This will include specified days of drilling (Preliminary Schedule included below.), up to four weeks of tank installation, and up to one month of tank assembly. The installation of sound barriers and baffles between the property perimeter and the drilling rig are included in the contract to minimize any disruption and are scheduled to be installed in October 2023. Notwithstanding these measures, it is expected that noise from the drilling rig will be experienced by the immediate neighborhood during the period of up to 150 days or more of drilling.
Here is the latest project timeline as of October 20, 2023, that the District has received from the contractor:
Where will the water pumps be located?
The main deep well pump will be located underground, and booster pumps will be placed within the property. The booster pumps will be housed in a sound-insulated structure.
What are the sizes and specifications of the water pumps?
The final design is still being developed but the main deep well pump is projected to be 50 hp. The two booster pumps are projected to be a combined 25 hp. The preliminary design calls for 480v, three-phase power that is being developed with APS. These specifications are subject to change until the design is finalized.
How big is the projected size of the storage tank?
The preliminary design contemplates either an eight-foot-tall tank with a fifty-foot diameter, or a sixteen-foot-tall tank with a diameter of thirty-seven feet. The tank will be painted to blend in with the environment and concealed from view by a fence and/or landscaping. The tank will have a capacity of 100,000 gallons. Each of these specifications are subject to change until the design is finalized.
Has there been a complaint filed by some of the neighbors in the vicinity of the Strawberry Deepwell?
A complaint/lawsuit has been filed by five neighbors (the “Plaintiffs”) challenging the deep well construction. The attorney for the District has reached out to the Plaintiffs’ lawyer to resolve the dispute but to date, those efforts have been unsuccessful. Upon written request, the District will provide electronic copies of the file’s pleadings and any orders entered in the litigation.
Are there plans to use the site as an administrative office, residence, or field office?
There are no current plans to use the location as an administrative office. Residence or field office. The location will be used by field and operations staff to service the Strawberry Deepwell, other facilities and equipment, and customers in the area during service hours. Field staff vehicles will also be present on the property during service hours.
Is there a projected site plan for the project?
Yes, however, this site plan is subject to change until the design is finalized.
Is there a reference photo for the storage tanks and structures as a sample?
Yes, here are sample photos of a well, booster pump structures, and storage tank, however, all reference items are subject to change until the final design is finalized.
Here are sample photos of the sound insulation panels that will be used to mitigate the noise generated by the drilling. They will be removed at the completion of the drilling phase of the project.
Here are photos of the temporary water storage tanks that will be used during construction but will be removed at the completion of the project.
What is the projected capacity that the Strawberry deep well can contribute to the District’s water supply?
The projected capacity of the new deep well and storage tank is about one hundred gallons per minute upon completion (preliminarily scheduled to occur in the fall of 2024). This capacity will need to be verified by the actual flow from the deep well and therefore, the estimates are subject to change.
