Sun, Jul 05 2009
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Published May 15, 2008 06:00 pm - Board says well 'worth it' By Brittany Woodby HANCEVILLE — BWOODBY@CULLMANTIMES.COM
A 100-year-old well residents once used as a laundromat could help Hanceville endure future dry seasons. The Hanceville Water and Sewer Board recently hired a drilling company from Pensacola, Fla., to excavate the 2,800-foot well, owned by resident Jimmy Hamrick. If initial indicators are true, board co-manager Sally Alexander said the well has potential to serve as an additional water supply. “Hopefully, it will be our next water source,” she said. The board began looking for alternative sources during last year’s historic drought, which left the city’s current aquifer dry. The board entered into an agreement to purchase water from the City of Cullman, but planned to eventually secure its own water. “The reason we’re doing the assessment on this well first is it is in existence and it will save us money if it is a viable water source,” Alexander said. “We wouldn’t have the cost of digging a new well. We would still have to re-case it and make it bigger, but it is still going to be cheaper than starting from scratch.” The well’s century-long history began when prospectors drilled in the area for oil. After reaching 1,200 feet, drillers found water, but no oil. “They were still in water at 2,800 feet, which is very deep for the technology available for drilling at those days,” Alexander said. “When they got to 2,800 feet, they just decided the well was not good for anything but water.” Alexander said the well, with its depth and supposedly large amount of water, would bring several benefits to the system. “Foremost, it would be hard for contaminants from surface water runoff to get into the well water since the well is more than half a mile deep,” she said. “It’s cleaner water, and there are usually a lot of security issues associated with groundwater.” The well water also has a small amount of naturally-occurring sodium chloride, which Alexander said gives it a good taste. “It tastes wonderful,” she said. “I’ve had Evian and Dasani, and this is the best water I’ve ever had in my life.” The sodium chloride also made the water perfect for washing clothes. “According to the older people, everybody would go there and wash clothes,” Alexander said. “They never had to use anything to whiten their clothes, because their clothes came out really white. ... (Sodium chloride) makes them very soft.” Residents have also told Alexander about the abundant supply of water available from the well. 
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