Baker City ASR Program Expansion

The City’s ASR program supplements groundwater supplies during the spring, when the surface water source contains turbidity from rapid snowmelt. Water stored in the aquifer helps the City meet demands that the groundwater source cannot meet on its own, and helps alleviate water quality concerns that are present in native groundwater. After years of successful operation of its first ASR well, the City determined it would need a second well to continue meeting peak water demands.

GSI developed a well siting evaluation to help the City choose between one of two potential sites. We evaluated the potential at each location for well interference that could reduce the capacity of the City’s existing ASR well, and also took into consideration water right restrictions that require the well to be completed in the same aquifer as the City’s existing wells. GSI visited the sites and identified potential drilling locations at each site based on setbacks from property boundaries and site-specific challenges, such as access for drilling equipment. We determined that well interference would be minimal at either location and recommended a well site based on proximity to existing infrastructure.

GSI then developed the well design and technical specifications and provided oversight for well construction and testing. We teamed with an engineering firm that led the design for the pump station and connection to the City’s drinking water supply system. The new well is expected to add up to 2.9 million gallons per day with a total ASR storage volume of up to 240 million gallons per year between the City's two wells. 

GSI’s work involved:

• Conducting a well siting evaluation and assessing the potential for interference with the City’s existing ASR well.
• Developing the well design and technical specifications.
• Providing oversight for well construction and drilling.
• Providing support to the engineering team.