July 2, 2026

Thank you again to all of our subscribers. It was a fantastic first day, and we are very grateful to have you all here. WaterWellResource.com is now live. We are working diligently to add manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers to the vendors list. Keep checking in and see who is available to help your company thrive.

Safety Focus

Firework Safety Part 2 of 2: Keep It Safe

Yesterday we looked at the numbers. Today, the basics that keep you out of the ER.

  • Never hold a lit firework in your hand or point one at another person.

  • Light one device at a time, then move back immediately.

  • Keep a bucket of water or garden hose within reach at all times.

  • Never attempt to relight a "dud." Soak it in water and discard it.

  • Keep children away from all fireworks, including sparklers (remember how hot they can get?).

  • Never use fireworks while impaired.

  • Know your local laws. Many areas have outright bans on consumer fireworks.

  • Check local fire restrictions before lighting anything. Many Western states have active burn bans in effect this weekend, and consumer fireworks may be prohibited in your area entirely.

Illegal fireworks account for 14% of injury cases but are responsible for more than half of all hospitalizations. If you don't know where it came from or what it is, don't light it.

The safest option is always a professional show. With wildfires actively burning across Colorado and Utah right now, that advice has never been more relevant.

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Industry Update

The West is Burning: Wildfires Spread Across Utah and Colorado

Yesterday we highlighted next week's CWWCA conference in Breckenridge. Today, a sobering update on what is happening across the region right now.

The National Interagency Fire Center reports that as of this morning, the National Preparedness Level has been raised to Level 4, with more than 9,000 firefighting personnel currently assigned to active incidents nationwide and 51 uncontained large fires burning across the country.

Colorado is at the center of the crisis. Wildfires are burning in Custer, Dolores, Mesa, Lake, and Ouray counties, with hot, dry conditions persisting across the state. The Aspen Acres Fire in Pueblo and Custer counties has grown to 35,467 acres as of midday today, destroying more than 155 structures including barns and outbuildings. The communities of Rye, Beulah, and San Isabel, totaling approximately 4,000 residents, remain under evacuation. Teams are arriving from as far as Alaska, with 650 personnel expected on the fire line by Thursday morning. The Gold Mountain Fire northwest of Ouray has grown to 12,376 acres with 0% containment. The Snyder Fire along the Colorado-Utah border has reached 30,209 acres and is now 10% contained. The Ferris Fire in the San Juan National Forest near Dolores has consumed more than 23,000 acres with no containment.

Three firefighters were killed and two were injured on the Snyder Fire. They have been identified as Emily Barker of Clinton Township, Michigan; Nick Hutcherson of Glendale, Arizona; and Sydney Watson of Warrior, Alabama.

The largest fire in the nation remains the Cottonwood Fire near Beaver, Utah. In Utah, the Babylon Fire in San Juan County near Bears Ears National Monument has grown to approximately 53,871 acres with 0% containment, prompting the temporary closure of the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

For water well professionals working across the Four Corners region and Western Slope, this is your operating environment right now. When fire overwhelms areas this dry, rural water infrastructure is the last line of defense. Municipal systems were not designed for this scale. Independent groundwater access is not a backup option in these communities. It is the only option.

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Knowledge Share

Well Casing Materials and Heat: PVC vs Steel

Not all casing handles heat the same way, and in the summer conditions your crews are working in right now, that matters more than people think.

PVC is widely used in domestic and agricultural water wells where typical depths and temperatures fall within its recommended operating range. A few things to keep in mind:

  • PVC softens above 140°F and becomes structurally compromised at that threshold.

  • This is not just a geothermal concern. Submersible pump motors run hot, and a pump placed in a well without adequate annular space or sufficient cooling can collapse PVC casing.

  • Heat matters during installation as well. The curing of cement and grout generates enough heat to affect PVC strength during the grouting process.

  • All published ratings for PVC assume an operating temperature of 73°F (23°C). Every degree above that starts working against you.

  • PVC depth ratings are already limited, and that ceiling drops further as temperatures rise.

Steel is a different story entirely:

  • Steel casing withstands high temperatures without structural compromise, making it suitable for hot water wells and geothermal applications.

  • For deep wells, unstable formations, or anywhere elevated temperatures are a factor, steel remains the standard.

  • Steel carries no temperature-based depth penalty. Where PVC starts losing ground as heat increases, steel does not.

What to consider this season:

  • If you are working in high-heat regions or seeing elevated groundwater temperatures, factor that 140°F PVC softening point into your material selection, especially when motor sizing and annular clearance are tight.

  • The hotter and deeper the application, the stronger the case for steel.

  • When depth, heat, or formation instability are the variables, steel wins.

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Work Hard. Work Smart. Stay Safe!

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