Rural Alaska

Ice-blocked well causes headaches for Bethel schools

BETHEL — A frozen well is causing headaches for school officials in Bethel.

KYUK reports an ice chunk is blocking the well that every school in town relies on.

School officials are hauling in about 7,000 gallons of bottled water, at the cost of about $500 a day, until the blockage is melted.

James Mikesell is the plant facilities manager for the Lower Kuskokwim School District.

He says he's never seen this problem before. They have been melting several feet of ice a day since the problem was found Sept. 28.

He says the ice started at about 100 feet below ground. The deeper they go to melt the ice in the 450-foot well, the longer it takes.

Another heating device has been ordered to help with the problem.

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