Six new wells

The San Angelo City Council has approved expanding by six the number of wells at the Hickory Aquifer, which would give the City the capability of pumping nine million gallons per day from the aquifer. The low bid for the project was for six-point-four million dollars - about one-point-one million less than was initially projected to add five wells to the existing nine. As a result, the Water Advisory Board recommended a sixth well be added at a cost of one-point-one million. Water Utilities Department officials expect the drilling could begin in September. The contract with Alsay Incorporated of Houston calls for the wells to be completed within 14 months.