dec. / jan., 2020 - wild apricot jan...ryan thompson recommendation for the supreme court justice to...

GGaa.. WWeellll DDrriilllleerr CCoonnnneeccttiioonn Dec/Jan. , 2020

Georgia Association of Groundwater Professionals

Dec. / Jan., 2020

GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF GROUNDWATER PROFESSIONALS—GAGWP



Ryan Thompson GAGwP President

My name is Ryan Thompson, your new president

for GAGWP. I am a second-generation driller and I own Harvey Drilling in Albany, Ga. I would like to give a special thanks to Jim McClain, the Board and Officers for their years of service to our Association.

We had an outstanding show in Savannah, Ga this year. Please thank your venders for a successful show and for all that they do for us weekly. Also, I am open to suggestion for continuing education as well as speakers for the upcoming year. As you think of people or ideas please send your recommendations to myself or Bruce and Ashley Widener.

As we start this new decade we are hoping for a prosperous year. Optimism is at an all time high as

Georgia has won another battle in the water wars against Florida. We are not out of the woods just yet. Even with Special Grand Master, Paul Kelly, Jr.’s recommendation for the supreme court justice to deny Florida’s bid for Ga’s reduction in water drawn from the river basins; we have to continue to protect our industry and customers. (See enclosed article.)

With the recommendation of SGM Kelly we need everyone to continue to support our association as well as Lobbyist Bruce Widener to ensure our industry stays strong for future generations.

I hope everyone has had a Merry Christmas and will have a Happy New Year. If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].

President's Message Ryan Thompson

Harvey Drilling Co., Putney, GA

Florida vs. Georgia Water Wars From Jesse Richardson, Water Systems Council: This is a report on the Special Master in Florida v. Georgia. In summary, the Special Master recommends denying Florida's request for a decree because it has not proved the elements necessary to obtain relief. Florida points to the oyster fishery collapse as the harm, but the Special Master found that Florida failed to prove that Georgia caused the collapse. The collapse was likely caused, according to the Special Master, by frequent droughts, over-harvesting, and climate change. In addition, the Special Master found that Georgia's use was not unreasonable or inequitable. Finally, the Special Master determined that the benefits of the apportionment would not substantially outweigh the harms. This is a good recommendation for the water well industry. Although focusing on public water supply, the Special Master stated that "[d]rinking and other domestic purposes are the highest uses of water". This is a good recommendation for agriculture, since the Special Master recognizes agricultural as a reasonable use

(Continued on page 8)

Ga. Well Driller Connection Dec/Jan. , 2020

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A Christmas Story I consider water well drilling a noble profession.

As a benefit to our community, we perform many selfless acts of kindness and giving.

Just last week, two days before Christmas, I received an urgent call for a family without water. The repairman, a licensed water well contractor, felt that the old well was no longer structurally sound and in need of re-drilling. I’m sure I’m not the only one among us that feels that emotional tug when you realize that this family would have no water for Christmas.

We postponed less urgent work and arrived the same day to restore their water source. Upon arrival, it seemed as though we had stepped back in time. Miles down a bumpy dirt road, we found a shack that was better suited for a barn. It was as if Santa himself had arrived. Children running to and fro, as an elderly man with no shoes shuffled about. The back seat of a 60’s station wagon was propped up on the front porch. Not a blade of grass was to be seen, all eaten by the chickens and guinea hens. Electricity was supplied by a multitude of extension cords, with lampless bulbs hung from the ceiling. Three generations shared a one bedroom home. It was a nativity scene.

After drilling and completing the new well, everyone played in the ample water it produced. They had been using a dug well for weeks, hauling water by the bucketful to the house. It was truly a joyous event.

The grandfather brought me a bag of potatoes as thanks, never looking me in the eye. A life of poverty and self sufficiency left him uncomfortable with not having more to give.

I felt like a million bucks. We are our brothers’ keeper. Happy new year.

Sittin’ on the Tailgate By Jim McClain, McClain Shallow Wells, Savannah, GA

GA Well Show 2020 Sept. 24-26, 2020 Savannah, GA

Put it on your calendar NOW so you don’t miss it!



A Christmas Story I consider water well drilling a noble profession.

As a benefit to our community, we perform many selfless acts of kindness and giving.

Just last week, two days before Christmas, I received an urgent call for a family without water. The repairman, a licensed water well contractor, felt that the old well was no longer structurally sound and in need of re-drilling. I’m sure I’m not the only one among us that feels that emotional tug when you realize that this family would have no water for Christmas.

We postponed less urgent work and arrived the same day to restore their water source. Upon arrival, it seemed as though we had stepped back in time. Miles down a bumpy dirt road, we found a shack that was better suited for a barn. It was as if Santa himself had arrived. Children running to and fro, as an elderly man with no shoes shuffled about. The back seat of a 60’s station wagon was propped up on the front porch. Not a blade of grass was to be seen, all eaten by the chickens and guinea hens. Electricity was supplied by a multitude of extension cords, with lampless bulbs hung from the ceiling. Three generations shared a one bedroom home. It was a nativity scene.

After drilling and completing the new well, everyone played in the ample water it produced. They had been using a dug well for weeks, hauling water by the bucketful to the house. It was truly a joyous event.

The grandfather brought me a bag of potatoes as thanks, never looking me in the eye. A life of poverty and self sufficiency left him uncomfortable with not having more to give.

I felt like a million bucks. We are our brothers’ keeper. Happy new year.

Sittin’ on the Tailgate By Jim McClain, McClain Shallow Wells, Savannah, GA



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Ga. Well Driller Connection Dec/Jan. , 2020Page 2 GGaa.. WWeellll DDrriilllleerr CCoonnnneeccttiioonn Dec/Jan. , 2020
















22001199 SScchhoollaarrsshhiipp WWiinnnneerrss $$11,,550000 EEaacchh

$96,800 Given to Date

Dakota Hayes Preferred Pump, Gainesville Dalton James D and V Enterprises, Ft. Valley Davis Butler Larry Altman Drilling, Blackshear Grant Grosch Grosch Irrigation, Dublin Hunter McGarity Herring Well Drilling, Hartwell Zachery Crane Crane Bros. Well Drilling, Franklin, NC

Thanks to everyone who DONATES an item at the Well Show Auction and BUYS an item at the Auction! This is the only way we have the funds to do this !! Be sure to thank them!!





22001199 SScchhoollaarrsshhiipp WWiinnnneerrss $$11,,550000 EEaacchh

$96,800 Given to Date

Dakota Hayes Preferred Pump, Gainesville Dalton James D and V Enterprises, Ft. Valley Davis Butler Larry Altman Drilling, Blackshear Grant Grosch Grosch Irrigation, Dublin Hunter McGarity Herring Well Drilling, Hartwell Zachery Crane Crane Bros. Well Drilling, Franklin, NC

Thanks to everyone who DONATES an item at the Well Show Auction and BUYS an item at the Auction! This is the only way we have the funds to do this !! Be sure to thank them!!



Ga. Well Driller Connection Dec/Jan. , 2020Page 2 GGaa.. WWeellll DDrriilllleerr CCoonnnneeccttiioonn Dec/Jan. , 2020
















generating "substantial benefits". However, the recommendation could prove to be ominous for rural states since the Special Master considered proportional population and economic production, even while decrying how relying on these measures too much would mean that the "larger state always win". The recommendation is likely bad for environmental groups. Environmental benefits and costs appeared to be given minimal weight, especially when compared with tangible economic benefits and costs. I think SCOTUS will accept these recommendations. The recommendations and very methodical and well supported. Since the Special Master has seen the witnesses and has developed the facts, it would be difficult to reject such well supported findings. The Court is likely to dismiss the case, and Florida will be back at square one. Overall, Several interesting points in the report. (1) The Special Master thought it was important that Florida only presented evidence of harm during drought years. It was important to the findings that no harm was alleged during normal to above normal rainfall years. That seems odd to mean. Wouldn't one expect the harm to occur during drought years? I think the point was that the drought caused the damages, not Georgia's pumping. However, but for the the pumping of Georgia, would damages have occurred? (2) The Special Master was very critical of the experts for Florida. Their testimony, in his opinion, failed to specially address harm to individual fish species. Florida's experts relied on a model, many of the assumptions of which the special master viewed skeptically, at best. Georgia's experts, on the other hand, used actual data from on-site meters and the like, which the Special Master viewed favorably. Note that on some issues, experts for both sides used models. TheSpecial Master viewed the Georgia experts as more persuasive on those issues as well. Note that the Special Master seemed to dismiss the testimony of one of Florida's experts because the expert failed to mention the weaknesses of the model until questioned on cross-examination. That expert also failed to disclose several results that did not support his conclusions. In addition, Georgia's experts attacked Florida's data with specificity while Florida's experts offered only generalized attacks. For example, one expert challenged the irrigated acreage totals presented by Georgia, but never estimated how much acreage was omitted. (3) The Special Master also found that Georgia's consumptive use was reasonable. As to the amount of consumptive use, this is the area where Florida used

rainfall runoff models while Georgia's experts used number of irrigated acres and metering results. The Special Master found the Georgia method more reliable. Although emphasizing that relying on this fact as dispositive would make reduce equitable apportionment analysis to a "rigid rule whereby the larger state always wins", the Special Master nonetheless seemed to place great weight on the comparison between the proportion of population (92%), employment (96%) and gross regional product (99%) attributable to Georgia and the consumption of state line flows (up to 17.4%, depending on how calculated). This seems odd to me as well. Percentage of population, etc. is all well and good, but the percentage of state line flows consumed may well need to be limited to a very small proportion of the water. (4) This Special Master also disagreed with the prior Special Master with respect to Georgia's conservation of water. The Special Master noted that, despite a substantial increase in population, Georgia uses much less water than it did 30 years ago, but failed to mention that that fact is true across the country due to increased efficiencies (low-flow toilets, more efficient irrigation, etc.). "Drinking and other domestic purposes are the highest uses of water". Agricultural uses of water in Georgia provide "substantial benefits". The special master also found the consumption "reasonable". However, agricultural use of water during drought was called out as "only increasing" and "not effectively curbed", making the question "to what extent the two states should share the burden of drought". The Special Master answered that question by, in a very perfunctory manner, applying the doctrine of reasonable use, and finding Georgia's use reasonable. (5) The Special Master also found that even if the Corps of Engineers would increase flows into Florida, the impact would be minimal. Therefore, Florida would see "no appreciable benefit from a decree". (6) Finally, the Special Master found that the potential

harms to Georgia of apportionment would substantially outweigh the benefits to Florida. The Special Master specifically limited his analysis to marginal costs and marginal benefits, drawing approval from economists everywhere. The cost of generating increasing the flow by 801 cfs during summers during dry years would cost $100 million. The Apalachicola fishing industry generates "only" $11.7 million per year and the oyster industry "only" $6.6 million per year before the collapse. This difference appeared to be dispositive.

Jesse Richardson thinks that we will know something in the first half of 2020 on the timing when the Supreme Court might accept the recommendations.

(Continued from page 2)

Florida v Georgia Water Wars

Ga. Well Driller Connection Dec/Jan. , 2020









Well Show 2019



Preferred pump Dec new ad rec’d



Preferred pump Dec new ad rec’d



GGaa WWeellll SShhooww 22001188

Well Show 2019






Well Show 2019





GGrruunnddffooss 11//22 ppaaggee ????????????

The Savannah-Upper Ogeechee Regional Water Planning Council Meeting

Thursday, February 6, 2020 Registration: 9:30 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Meeting: 10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Where: The Phinizy Center for Water Sciences 1858 Lock & Dam Road, Augusta, Georgia These are extremely important meetings. Please attend YOUR tegional water planning council meeting if at all possible. If you have any questions about this, please call the GAGwP office at 678-646-0379



OD pdf done Dec 2019

2019-2020

GAGwP Officers and Directors Officers Name Company City Phone Fax President (’19-’21) Ryan Thompson Harvey Thompson Putney 229-435-0204 229-435-8411 Email: [email protected]

Vice Pres. (’19-’21) Larry Altman Larry Altman Drilling, Inc. Blackshear, GA 912-285-2524 912-285-8542 Email: [email protected] Sec./Treas. (’19-’21) Kevin Colwell Middle Georgia Water Sys Zebulon 770-567-3400 770-567-3428 Email: [email protected] Directors North West (’19-’20) Dave Ward DW Water Systems, LLC Powder Springs 404-788-9192 770-422-9500 Email: [email protected] North East (’19-’21) Clark Anderson Prime Pump & Well, Inc. Dahlonega 706-864-3322 706-864-9202 Email: [email protected] South West (’18-’20) Harold Andrews Andrews Drilling Co. Cuthbert, GA 229-732-3096 229-679-5542 Email: [email protected] South East (’19-’21) Howell Clements Purvis Well & Pump Co. Jesup, GA 912-427-3337 912-427-3387 Email: [email protected] Supplier (’18-’20) Brad Inman Drillers Services, Inc. Ashburn 770-843-5699 770-253-2449 Email: [email protected] Supplier (’19-’21) Rick Webb Preferred Pump Gainesville 770-297-8444 Email: [email protected] Others Past Pres. Jim McClain McClain’s Shallow Wells Savannah 912-355-5442 912355-5442 Email: [email protected] SAWDJ Jim McClain McClain’s Shallow Wells Savannah 912-355-5442 912355-5442 Email: [email protected] Exec. Dir. Bruce Widener GAGwP, Hartwell, GA 678-646-0369 866-267-3792 Email: [email protected] Asst Ex. Dir. Ashley Widener GAGwP, Hartwell, GA 678-646-0369 866-267-3792

Email: [email protected]




Well Show 2019






Well Show 2019





Professional Development Seminar May 14, 2020 in Macon

4 Hours of Continuing Education Credits Each year GAGwP sponsors a "Professional Development" seminar in the spring in Macon where members and non members receive professional training and 4 hrs of Continuing Education credits rather than attending the Well Show where the seminars are free to members.

This year the seminar is scheduled for Thursday, May 14, 2020, in Macon, GA at the Macon-Bibb County Health Dept. 171 Emery Hwy, Macon, GA 31217.

For more information or to sign up online go to www.georgiadrillers.com “events” or click on:

https://gagwp.wildapricot.org/event-3684907

or call 678-646-0379 & leave a message with your name and fax number.

If you have a topic you would like to hear presented, please let us know. We have not yet finalized the program.

If you would like to cosponsor the seminar, please let us know.

Thanks so much to our Sponsors! As of today, the sponsors are:








Well Show 2019



GEFCO recd for dec jan 202

Drilling companies across the world look to GEFCO for dependable and reliable equipment. We believe in earning your trust by providing productive equipment, dependable aftermarket service, and outstanding customer relations. When you buy GEFCO you become more than a number, you become a part of our family.



Exhibitors At Well Show 2019

Final

A.Y. McDonald Mfg Co American Granby Amtrol / Coleman-Russell & Assoc Atlantic Turbine Pump (3) Baroid Industrial Drill Products Blackadar Insurance Agency Boshart Industries C M C Supply, Inc Charger Water Cotey Chemical Corp. DAB Pumps, Inc. Drillmax Drillers Service Inc. Epiroc Flexcon Industries Flint & Walling, Inc Flomatic Corporation Foremost Franklin Electric GEFCO, Inc. Goulds Pumps / Xylem Grundfos Pumps Corp H2O Reps

H3 Pump & Controls Harry Warren of Georgia Hole Products Johnson Screens Laibe Corporation Major Turbine Pumps/Supply Manufacturers Associates of NC (Wyo-Ben) Merrill Manufacturing Company Noland Company—Macon Branch PD Water Systems Pentair Water (2) Preferred Pump & Equipment (2) Pulstar Rotary Drill Service Shakti Pumps USA, LLC Simmons Mfg. Co. SME USA Inc. Southwire Company Submersibles & Electric, Inc. Sumoto USA TDH Manufacturing Water Systems Council

T H A N K

Y O U !




Final



T H A N K

Y O U !




Final



T H A N K

Y O U !



P. O. Box 910 Hartwell, GA 30643 Phone: 678-646-0379 Fax: 1-866-267-3792 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Website: www.georgiadrillers.com

GAGwP Georgia Association of

Groundwater Professionals

To:

GGAA WWeellll SShhooww 22001199 SSaavvaannnnaahh,, GGAA TThhaannkkss ttoo aallll EExxhhiibbiittoorrss aanndd SSppoonnssoorrss!!


PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit #1371

Greenville, SC

dec. / jan., 2020 - wild apricot jan...ryan thompson recommendation for the supreme court justice to...

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