Oak Hills Park authority weighs drilling wells as water restrictions bite
July 17, 2026 | Norwalk City, Fairfield, Connecticut
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Oak Hills Park Authority officials discussed a plan July 16 to drill multiple wells to ease the impact of recent municipal water restrictions that have limited irrigation.
Ground Superintendent Jim Schell said the authority submitted a drought-management plan to the 2nd taxing district and has started conversations with well drillers and consultants to identify promising locations. "I put under $19,000 a well" for drilling, Schell said, but added, "we could probably pretty easily reach $200,000 in costs" when pump installations, piping, electrical hookups and environmental reports needed for a water diversion permit are included.
Schell told the board the initial effort would focus in the same drainage basin that feeds the irrigation pond and on holes 1–6 to limit piping distances. If a productive source is found in one spot, he said the crew would drill additional wells nearby; if not, they will move to other locations. He also said the authority will need engineering reports and a water diversion permit to expand withdrawals from park ponds.
Controller Mark Gartner and other members said the authority can, within its existing capital plan, reclassify line items to shift money to urgent projects without additional formal votes so long as total CapEx is not exceeded. Chair Rich Stellendt asked that, if costs exceed a normal procurement threshold, the authority seek competitive bids; he noted guidelines call for multiple bids for higher-value procurements.
Board members pressed Schell about procurement and timing. Schell said he has contacted drillers and will consult a bidding/consultant process soon; if approvals and a drilling schedule align, he said he will put work on a driller's schedule promptly.
The board did not take a formal vote to fund drilling at the meeting; members discussed logistics, procurement rules and next steps and asked staff to proceed with scoping and cost estimates so the authority can consider reallocating CapEx funds if necessary.
Ground Superintendent Jim Schell said the authority submitted a drought-management plan to the 2nd taxing district and has started conversations with well drillers and consultants to identify promising locations. "I put under $19,000 a well" for drilling, Schell said, but added, "we could probably pretty easily reach $200,000 in costs" when pump installations, piping, electrical hookups and environmental reports needed for a water diversion permit are included.
Schell told the board the initial effort would focus in the same drainage basin that feeds the irrigation pond and on holes 1–6 to limit piping distances. If a productive source is found in one spot, he said the crew would drill additional wells nearby; if not, they will move to other locations. He also said the authority will need engineering reports and a water diversion permit to expand withdrawals from park ponds.
Controller Mark Gartner and other members said the authority can, within its existing capital plan, reclassify line items to shift money to urgent projects without additional formal votes so long as total CapEx is not exceeded. Chair Rich Stellendt asked that, if costs exceed a normal procurement threshold, the authority seek competitive bids; he noted guidelines call for multiple bids for higher-value procurements.
Board members pressed Schell about procurement and timing. Schell said he has contacted drillers and will consult a bidding/consultant process soon; if approvals and a drilling schedule align, he said he will put work on a driller's schedule promptly.
The board did not take a formal vote to fund drilling at the meeting; members discussed logistics, procurement rules and next steps and asked staff to proceed with scoping and cost estimates so the authority can consider reallocating CapEx funds if necessary.
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