Parks commission approves of plan for well at Sunset Park

City parks and recreation commissioners approved of a plan to allow the city's utilities department to drill a well at Sunset Park.

The small park tucked inside a quiet westside neighborhood behind the Governor's Mansion could provide enough water to boost water pressure to surrounding homes and provide the city with what it needs during the summer months, officials said Tuesday.

City utility staff expect the well to produce a few hundred gallons of water per minute. Test drilling near the historical location of a natural artesian well revealed it was a favorable site.

By placing it in the city park, the two city departments can work together to improve the area.

"I think it's a great project," said City Supervisor Pete Livermore, also a Parks and Recreation Commission board member. "It's a good marriage."

As part of the project, the city will remove an old cottonwood tree that has bothered many neighbors of the park for years.

Resident Sally Edwards, also director of the Carson City Library, said she was concerned about possible noise generated from the well but was glad the tree would come down.

"I think it's happening anyway," Edwards said about the well installation. "I'm just trying to get as much good out of it for the park as I can."

Construction on the well is expected to last from April 1 to July 1. When in operation, a low, humming noise may be emitted from the well's computer systems located in an electrical box, but most of the operation will be underground, said City Engineer Larry Werner.

The well is expected to run from June to September.

Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.