San Bruno opens XXXXX water well

SAN BRUNO B.A.R.T NOTE: At the request of San Bruno officials for Homeland Security we have deleted sensitive information in the following. We regret any confusion.

With a ceremonial turn of XXX valves, about XXX gallons of water per minute will flow through San Bruno's pipes and provide water for homes and businesses.

On Thursday, city officials turned on Well No. XX, San Bruno's newest water well. It is the city's XXXXX active well.

Before the well was activated, the city was receiving about XXXX of its water from wells and XXXXX from XXXXX. Now, the city will get XX percent of its water from their wells and XX percent from XXXXX.

With the new water well, the city will save more than $1 million. XXXXX charges the city about $1.20 a unit of water, said Councilman Chris Pallas.

"I'm happy," he said. "I think it's good that it's in production and that it meets the needs of our community. It's a happy day."

Turning on the well was a long time coming, said Phillip Smith-Hanes, interim deputy public works director.

"Having a reliable local water source has been a priority for our City Council because of certain issues and the rebuild of XXXXX," he said. "The council felt it was important to have local water sources as well."

In 2000, the city determined that another drinking-water well was needed after Well No.XX was shut down almost XX years ago.

Consultants drilled XXXXX test wells and eventually settled on an area near XXXXX, because it was far enough from another existing well and was situated on a good part of the aquifer, Smith-Hanes said.

A number of city officials attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon. Council members toasted the opening with the water.

"This (water well) will maintain fire protection in the XXXXX city," said Mayor Larry Franzella. "This puts us in good shape with water production."

Pallas agreed.

"It is also my dream to get another good well open," he said.