Downey : Church Lot to Be Purchased for Drilling New Water Well

The Downey City Council on Tuesday approved the purchase of land to begin drilling a new water well.

Public Works Director William A. Ralph said Downey needs the well to maintain pumping capacity if one of the city’s current wells fails. The city also may need to pump more ground water if the Metropolitan Water District, in the face of the current drought, reduces allotments to its customers.

The 50-foot-square parcel, on the west side of Paramount Boulevard north of Gallatin Road, is owned by Landmark Christian Center. Representatives of the church have agreed to sell the property to the city for $50,000 to $60,000, Water Supt. Greg Mayfield said.

In all, the city expects to spend about $400,000 to buy the parcel and to drill and equip the new well, he said. The well should be in operation by the end of August, Mayfield said.