Item Number: 9
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: May 19, 2026
Submitted By:
Doug Mathews, Director of Public Works and Water
Subject:
Consultant/Professional Services Agreement with Besst, Inc. for Hydrogeological Services for Well 109
Recommendation:
That the Honorable Victorville Water District Board of Directors (Board):
(1) Find that Besst, Inc. is the sole provider for Well Profiling and Modification (Hydrogeological Services) and a sole source is approved in accordance with VMC
2.28.100(b)(2); and
(2) Approve the Consultant/Professional Services Agreement with Besst, Inc., Project CFC26-127.
Fiscal Impact:
Acting in accordance with the staff recommendation will result in a fiscal impact of $142,523.75. No additional appropriation is required. Funds have been budgeted in the following account code as part of the FY25/26 annual budget.
Account Description Account Code Available Balance
New Well Drill (Replace
Well 109)
4100500 – 55040 – 74520 $2,400,000
Strategic Plan Goal:
This item aligns with Goal E, Invest in Infrastructure. By proactively planning for the replacement of Well 109 with a new well site, the Victorville Water District (District) can continue to provide a healthy and livable community for all residents.
Background:
Well 109, originally constructed in 1950, was the oldest active well in the District’s system and had been in continuous service for several decades. Due to its age, the well has 4 6
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exceeded its service life and is subject to increased risk of structural and operational issues associated with aging infrastructure.
During a previous rehabilitation effort, it was determined that Well 109 had been constructed with mild steel casing that had significantly deteriorated over time due to corrosion. Because of the extent of the deterioration, typical rehabilitation methods were limited, and the contractor advised that the well could remain in service only for a limited period. The District monitored the well during this time; however, the advanced corrosion ultimately led to a structural failure several years later.
Despite the loss of Well 109, the District maintained sufficient production capacity to ensure uninterrupted water treatment and delivery to customers. The experience demonstrates the ongoing challenges associated with aging groundwater infrastructure and reinforces the importance of continued, proactive capital investment to maintain system reliability and long-term production capacity.
As part of the FY 24/25 budget cycle, the Board approved $2.4 million to re-drill Well 109.
Given the cost and long-term importance of groundwater infrastructure, District staff initiated the process to identify the most advantageous location for the replacement well.
Selecting a well site requires highly specialized evaluation, including hydrogeology, water quality, engineering, regulatory review, environmental compliance, and long-term system planning.
Hydrogeologic analysis is essential for determining groundwater availability, aquifer depth, hydraulic conductivity, and avoiding shallow groundwater zones that may be susceptible to contamination. Water quality considerations are equally critical, as the District must ensure that naturally occurring constituents can be effectively treated and that the proposed site is not influenced by surrounding contamination sources such as septic systems or industrial activities. This work is fundamental to ensuring compliance with California Drinking Water Standards and to safeguarding the District’s long-term water supply.
While District staff possess strong technical knowledge and operational experience, the complexity of evaluating a new production well site requires specialized expertise beyond what is available in-house. Engaging a qualified hydrogeology firm provides the District with advanced modeling, field investigation capabilities, regulatory insight, and technical rigor that are essential to the success of the project. For these reasons, the District sought a professional firm that specialized in well profiling and modification.
Discussion:
After site selection, the first step in re-drilling a well involves conducting temporary exploratory drilling to collect detailed information about subsurface conditions before designing a permanent production well. This preliminary drilling provides critical data about underground geology and groundwater behavior, which guides the design of a well that is safe, reliable, and efficient.
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The work begins with preparation of technical specifications outlining the anticipated well design, materials, and construction methods. A pre-design approach is used, incorporating information from nearby wells to establish an initial design before drilling starts. As the project progresses, field data such as drill cuttings and downhole geophysical measurements are analyzed to confirm or refine the well design prior to installation of permanent components.
During drilling, full-time onsite observation is required to ensure proper construction practices and accurate documentation of underground conditions. This includes logging drill cuttings to characterize geologic layers and overseeing geophysical surveys that provide deeper insight into subsurface formations. Such oversight helps maintain borehole alignment, manage drilling fluids, and correctly identify the depth and characteristics of key geologic zones. These efforts are essential for proper placement of casing, well screen intervals, gravel pack, and bentonite seals. Quality assurance and quality control procedures are applied throughout drilling to verify that the information collected is accurate and reliable.
Oversight continues during well construction and development through periodic inspections. These include observing the installation of casing, well screens, gravel pack, and seals, and confirming that well development meets turbidity standards and other project criteria.
Once the test well is completed, groundwater samples are collected from various depths to evaluate water quality. Groundwater quality can vary significantly within the aquifer system, making these samples essential for determining which zones are most suitable for long-term production. For example, former Well 109 detected arsenic below regulatory limits, underscoring the importance of understanding how water quality changes with depth. These findings help ensure that the new production well targets the most favorable groundwater zones.
Hydrogeologic services encompass the scientific evaluation of groundwater systems, including how water moves underground, the geological materials it flows through, and how water quality varies by depth. In this project, these services are crucial for interpreting drilling data, geological samples, and water quality results from the test well. The evaluation includes key constituents such as arsenic, hexavalent chromium, iron, manganese, and total dissolved solids, information that helps identify changes in subsurface conditions and supports interpretation of groundwater flow and quality profiles.
After field activities are complete, the site will be demobilized, and final surface improvements, including a concrete pad and temporary seal, will be installed pending installation of the final equipment. All data collected throughout the project will be compiled and analyzed, and a final report will be prepared summarizing construction details, subsurface conditions, and water quality results. This report will also provide recommendations for the design of a permanent production well and will be certified by a California-licensed Professional Geologist.
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Overall, this phase of the project is designed to give the District a comprehensive understanding of subsurface conditions before investing in a permanent production well.
This level of analysis reduces uncertainty, improves design decisions, and supports the development of a reliable and sustainable groundwater supply. While District staff have strong operational expertise, specialized hydrogeologic knowledge is required to perform and interpret complex field investigations, geologic analyses, and water quality evaluations that inform well design. The contemplated hydrogeological firm provides this advanced technical capability, bringing licensed professional geologists and groundwater specialists with extensive experience in subsurface characterization, geophysical logging, and aquifer evaluation, particularly within the District’s groundwater basin. Their expertise ensures that field data is accurately interpreted, well design decisions are scientifically sound, and all regulatory and industry standards are met.
In addition, BESST Inc. has been identified through the District’s sole-source process as the only firm capable of providing the unique performance features and specialized methods necessary for this phase of work. The Sole Source documentation (Attachment B) confirms that their proprietary techniques and qualifications are not available from other vendors, and that their capabilities align with the District’s technical standards and requirements. Engaging this firm ensures continuity, accuracy, and high-quality technical support throughout the test-well and design-refinement process. For these reasons, securing this qualified hydrogeology firm is essential to the successful completion of this phase of the project and to protecting the District’s long-term investment in this critical infrastructure.
In accordance with Victorville Municipal Code Section 2.28.100(b)(2) and seeing as the only technology out there to determine the exact depth to be drilled safely is owned by Besst, Inc., staff is requesting that the Board deem this project a sole source based on the specialized nature of the equipment.
Therefore, staff recommends that the Board approve the sole source designation for this project and authorize the Consultant/Professional Services Agreement with Besst, Inc. for Project CFC26-127, Well 109A Drilling and Profiling, in an amount not to exceed $142,523.75.
Staff is available for any questions the Board may have.
Prepared By:
Alejandra Garcia, Management Technician
Mel Krejckant, Public Works & Water Administrative Manager Attachments: A. Consultant-Professional Services Provider Agreement B. Sole Source
C. Vicinity Map