- BORING INTO |
THE HORSESHOE

_ The city’ S low-cost water option looks like a’ dry hole

x po.

a Ti. city’s search for a cheap and plentiful source.
.. of water for Terrace had failed to produce satisfac-—
: tory results as of late Wednesday. Work was continu-
ing on a third test well, however, and the results
from that drilling may be available to city council for.
its regular meeting Monday night.
- According to director of engineering Stew Chris-
tensen,. the first test well was drilled near the
- intersection of Medeek and Haugland, not. much
’ more than 100 feet from the Brauns Island bridge. It
‘would be reasonable to expect to find water that
_ close to the Skeena River, but expectations were soon
' dashed. .

‘Some water was found. Not nearly enough for the
city’s purposes, though. And Industrial Drillers Lid. -
struck bedrock at about 200 feet.

The next test well was sunk in the southern end
. of the Christy Park parking lot. Christensen says the
drilling contractor hit a 300 foot deep layer of clay at.”
about 40 feet, then a layer of gravel that promised ‘
plenty of water. I

That water, though, says Christensen, was not
suitable for household use. It was described by.
technician Klause Ridke as “hard, salty and turbid
with high mineral content’. Industrial Drillers went
deeper, but hit bedrock at 400 feet. Another disap-
pointment.

The last hope, then, in the current test driliing
project, is at Rotary Park at Kerr and Haugland,
Again, only a few hundred feet from the Skeena, By
Wednesday afternoon Industrial Drilling had only
reached a depth of about 40 feet, today preliminary
results might be ready, and Monday . night. city
‘council should get a full report. And. with that
information they. will have to decide on their next

Terrace Review — April 10, 1992