The Kittansett Club retained Weston & Sampson to develop new groundwater resources for its irrigation system.
The Kittansett Club operates an 18-hole golf course with a clubhouse and amenities on approximately 180 acres in Marion, Massachusetts, situated on the southern end of Sippican Neck peninsula, between Buzzards Bay and Sippican Harbor. The current irrigation system uses surface water stored in two lined ponds and groundwater from two bedrock wells and one shallow overburden well. Pumped groundwater from the bedrock irrigation wells is seasonally brackish, requiring treatment. During dry periods, the surface-water and groundwater sources are not adequate to meet the irrigation demand.
Weston & Sampson reviewed project records to quantify the irrigation-water deficit and target development of new groundwater resources, with consideration to the potential for saltwater encroachment. A water-supply feasibility study was completed to determine locations for drilling bedrock and overburden test wells. The study included lineament analysis using high-resolution digital elevation maps compiled from light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. Weston & Sampson subcontracted with Hager-Richter Geoscience Inc. to complete surface geophysical surveys using very low frequency electromagnetics (VLF-EM), electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) and seismic refraction.
Two of the bedrock targets determined by lineament and geophysical analysis were drilled, yielding 20 and 165 gpm (gallons per minute), significantly more than the targeted additional yield of 45 gpm. Two overburden targets determined by seismic refraction were drilled producing the desired additional yield of 20 gpm.
Weston & Sampson is in the process of conducting variable- and constant-rate pumping tests to confirm the well performance, design specifications for pumping equipment and optimize use of the groundwater sources.