The recent loss of an integral well in the Troy water system highlights the vital role the system plays in the Troy community.

The well on Barron Road lost pumping capacity on May 22 and impacted the entire system, according to Troy Water and Sewer Superintendent Mike Davis.

“We have never lost a well of that size or for this length of time,” Davis said. “So we had to make different arrangements.”

The system has a total pumping capacity of 6.5 million gallons a day and includes deep wells that serve the city, two of which are in the Ripley Aquifer and four in the Tuscaloosa aquifer. Approximately 6,500 customers receive service from the system.

When working properly the Barron Road well pumps 1,500 gallons of water per minute, which is key to keep up with demand. When the flow dropped, Davis said the system adjusted running other wells for longer periods of time.

“We also had ability to re-route other wells to the parts of town that Well 8 serves,” Davis said. “There has not been an adverse effect as of yet.”

Davis said officials are being careful to make the well’s aren’t overworked. “Because of a rainy winter and spring, losing Well 8 wasn’t as critical as it would have been during a hot dry time,” he said.

And, because of loss in pumping capacity, the required inspected revealed other needs. “In that inspection, we found that because of the age of the well and wear of pump parts we felt it was necessary to replace vital parts of the well in order to extend its life,” Davis said.

On Wednesday the Troy City Council approved a bid award of $67,616.57 for emergency repairs to the water well.

Davis said the beginning stages of the repair have already begun and there are plans to reset the pump and motor on the week of July 7.