Wells & Borings

Newton Consultants, Inc. specializes in water supply, water rights and water resources management programs. Services include design of high-capacity water wells and engineering oversight during their construction. Some example projects completed by Newton are summarized below.

Gresham, Oregon
Persimmon Residential Community & Golf Course
Newton evaluated feasibility of using ground water for irrigation purposes since surface water was not available for this project near Gresham, OR. Newton located and designed irrigation wells, dam and reservoir systems to store the pumped ground water. Newton also assisted in obtaining the required water rights from the Oregon Water Resources Department.

Redmond, Oregon
Eagle Crest Resort
Eagle Crest Resort needed additional water supply for a proposed expansion. Newton investigated ground water availability and assisted with design and construction oversight for a new high-capacity well capable of 1,500 gallons per minute. Newton also assisted with preparation of water right permit applications for submittal to the Oregon Water Resources Department. The permit was granted.

Stevenson, Washington
Skamania Lodge
Newton performed a water availability study, assisted with well design and construction, analyzed pump test data and prepared a ground water permit application for an irrigation well to irrigate the golf course at this resort in the Columbia River Gorge.

Madras, Oregon
Deschutes Valley Water District
Newton was hired by the Deschutes Valley Water District to improve its springwater collection system at Opal Springs on the Crooked River southwest of Madras, OR. This spring and collection system provides potable water for a 125-square-mile area. Newton conducted a hydrogeologic investigation to identify the source of the spring, and recommended drilling test wells to evaluate subsurface conditions. A 12-inch-diameter test well drilled to a depth of 425 feet produces artesian flow in excess of 5,000 gallons per minute under shut-in pressure of 48 pounds per square inch at the well head. Newton and the District coordinated with the Oregon Water Resources Department and the U.S. Geological Survey during the project since the test wells provided significant data on Deschutes Basin hydrogeology.

Sisters, Oregon
Black Butte Ranch
Newton performed an investigation of hydraulic connection between a deep aquifer proposed for water supply and the overlying aquifers. This work determined that pumping the deep aquifer would have no significant impact on the overlying aquifers and springs, nor would it interfere with water rights held by other water users. Based on these findings, OWRD issued a permit for groundwater use. Newton subsequently designed a well, prepared construction specifications, assisted with obtaining and reviewing bids, supervised well construction, and analyzed pumping test results. The completed well is efficient and can produce up to approximately 1,200 gpm.

Sisters, Oregon
Indian Meadows Water Company
The Indian Meadow Water Company needed to increase reliability of high-quality water supply to its customers. Newton conducted evaluations of aquifer systems at the site north of Sisters, OR, designed a new well, prepared contract and bid documents, assisted with bid reviews and selection of a contractor, provided oversight during well construction and well testing, analyzed well test results and assisted with a water right transfer to amend the existing water right by adding the new well as an authorized point of ground water appropriation.

Redmond, Oregon
Crooked River Ranch
Newton performed a ground water availability investigation and estimated the potential yield and depth for a new high-capacity well. Newton prepared specifications and construction documents for the well, well piping, pump and control systems, and assisted the Company in obtaining well construction bids. Newton oversaw well construction and pumping tests, reviewed contractor invoices and prepared construction reports. The well, which augments the water supply for this 12,000-acre, 2,600-lot development, is over 800-feet deep and yields 750 gpm.

Bend, Oregon
Broken Top Residential Development & Golf Course
Newton performed a water availability study, designed a well, prepared construction specifications and analyzed pumping test data for a 350-feet-deep, 800-gpm irrigation well.

Mt. Hood, Oregon
Resort on the Mountain
The Resort needed additional water for golf course irrigation. The nearby Sandy and Salmon Rivers are protected as wild and scenic rivers, and additional water rights from the rivers were not available. The Resort retained Newton to determine the feasibility of using ground water for irrigation. The estimated demand required pumping 800 to 1,000 gpm from three to four wells. Newton evaluated the basin and determined that storage and recharge of groundwater was adequate. The OWRD had concerns that pumping high-yield irrigation wells could deplete the Salmon or Sandy Rivers according to OAR 690-09. Based on this concern, Newton evaluated pumping impacts on the rivers using a MODFLOW computer model and concluded that depletion would be within OWRD’s acceptable limits. Newton designed test and production wells; supervised their construction; organized, directed and analyzed pumping test results; prepared reports to the OWRD; and assisted the Resort in successfully obtaining a ground water permit for golf course irrigation.

Marrow County, Oregon
Finley Butte Regional Landfill
Newton investigated and characterized geology and groundwater conditions in the Juniper Creek, Sand Hollow and Butter Creek area of Morrow County to satisfy DEQ permit requirements for the new 800-acre Finley Buttes Regional Landfill site. This work involved drilling and sampling to identify sedimentary and basalt (Columbia River Basalt Group) formations, and conducting pumping tests to quantify the characteristics of the basalt aquifers. Newton designed a 400-feet-deep water-supply well with a deep-well turbine pump and masonry block well house. The water-supply design work included all electrical, structural, building details and mechanical systems. Three monitoring wells with well houses were also designed and installed to allow water quality sampling. This sampling, which is a regulatory requirement, is intended to confirm that groundwater was not being contaminated by the landfill or related site operations. Water quality testing was therefore very important for this sensitive project. The project was privately funded by Tidewater Barge Lines.

Garibaldi, Oregon
City of Garibaldi
Newton developed an investigation program to evaluate the potential hydraulic connection between the aquifer used for municipal supplies and nearby streams. The intent of the investigation was to evaluate whether the City’s water-supply wells had significant impact on nearby streams (per Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 690, Division 9) and the feasibility of obtaining additional groundwater rights for the City. Newton also assisted the City in development of a wellhead protection program.

Mt. Angel, Oregon
City of Mt. Angel
The City was concerned about the ability of the basalt aquifers to provide long-term municipal water supplies because of reported water-level declines in area wells and related administrative actions implemented by the Oregon Water Resources Department. These actions include the creation of the Mt. Angel Groundwater Limited Area, which restricts use of the basalt aquifers. As a consultant to Westech Engineering, Inc., Newton investigated the long-term sustainability of aquifers supplying City wells and the feasibility of short-term solutions such as the construction of new wells and/or the purchase of existing private wells with water rights. In addition, Newton reviewed the City's wellhead protection measures and developed a plan that will enable the City to correct existing deficiencies and comply with more stringent wellhead protection standards as they are implemented in the future. Newton also provided the City with recommendations for the rehabilitation of an existing well, and assisted Westech Engineering, Inc. with the design, construction and production testing of a new well. The well rehabilitation was the first Oregon trial of a new, innovative method for restoring well production. Most of Newton’s work was incorporated into an update of the City’s Master Water Plan.