By Jason Clay Jansky

Kenedy residents tired of standing in their yard with a water hose all evening will be glad to hear the city’s new water well is close to becoming operational.

Recently drilled by Thomas Moy and Sons Drilling, the 16-inch diameter 645-foot-deep well’s capacity is showing to be about 750 gallons a minute. Kenedy City Administrator Walter Hill said that could mean a reduction in Kenedy’s stage four water restrictions. The well is located on Overby Road just outside Kenedy.

"They’re testing it now. It still has to be approved by TCEQ before we can use it," he said. "It’s been in the works for some time. Of course with summer coming, we need all the water we can get. Any water increase will help."

The well cost the city $500,000 to drill and is in a low-arsenic area. Hill said he expects it to be operational within four to six weeks, after which the city administration will take a look at its impact on water availability and possibly recommend a reduction in water restrictions.