At least one Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) director believes the pump at the Langdale well deserves a retirement party now that directors have voted to fund its replacement – and with that replacement comes the possibility of more water.
“I’m wondering if we can offer this pump a long-term service award for being in service for nearly 50 years. That’s incredible,” said Mark Hiltz, director for West Howe Sound. “This pump owes us nothing and we need to get this stuff in the ground to provide a reliant, redundant system.”
Directors supported awarding Coastal Mountain Excavators – the only compliant tender received – the $281,545 contract to upgrade the well at an Oct. 8 planning and community development committee.
During discussion, infrastructure services general manager Remko Rosenboom noted staff had identified the well aquifer “might have some excess capacity” and tests will be conducted to investigate further in 2021. If that’s the case, then it “would most likely” involve merging the Langdale system with the Chapman system, as is expected to happen with the Church Road Well in development in nearby Granthams Landing.
Directors also voted to increase the Langdale well project budget to $318,679, funded through the regional water capital reserve.
An initial budget to upgrade the system was introduced in 2018 at $100,000 and a further $175,000 was added in 2020.
Rosenboom said the original scope was simply to replace the pump itself, but as they worked on it, they identified other more expensive electrical replacements. “We needed to upgrade the pump and in order to do that other items were needed,” he said.
The project will involve replacing the pump and motor assembly with an energy-efficient system, as well as upgrades to the controls and pipe works.
The pump has been running continuously without significant improvements since 1971 and the well remains the primary water source for the Langdale community.
