This month's column focuses on recent industry-related events and information, and includes letters to the editor.

EPA Tightening Lead Rules

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to tighten its rules on lead. That's the gist of proposed revisions that would affect the lead portions of the lead-and-copper rule for drinking water. The proposal would:

• Revise monitoring requirements to ensure that water samples show how effective lead controls are.
• Clarify the timing of sample collection and tighten criteria for reducing the frequency of monitoring.
• Require that utilities receive state approval of treatment changes so that states can provide direction or require additional monitoring.
• Require that water utilities notify occupants of the results of any testing that occurs within a home or facility. It also would ensure that consumers receive information about how to limit their exposure to lead in drinking water.
• Require systems to reevaluate lead service lines that may previously have been identified as low risk after any major treatment changes that could affect corrosion control.

“This proposal reflects the administration's commitment to protect public health,” says Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator for water. “These revisions will prescribe stronger requirements for water system operators and will ensure the American people have access to the fundamental public service of clean, safe drinking water.”

TEREX Africa Expansion

TEREX Africa, a subsidiary of TEREX Corp., has purchased certain assets and hired personnel of Southern Denver in Johannesburg, South Africa. Southern Denver specializes in the maintenance of drill rigs and air compressors. This move consolidates all drilling trading units under one roof. TEREX Reedrill, Halco and Southern Denver will unite into one division within TEREX Africa that offers sales, service and parts warehousing. Willie Pheiffer, who was general manager for Southern Denver, has been appointed to head up the drilling operation for TEREX Africa. He reports to the managing director, Frank Reid.

Yellow It Shall Be

Beginning August 15, all Atlas Copco Secoroc rock drilling tools delivered will be dressed in yellow.

New Manager for Consolidated Pump

Consolidated Pump & Supply (CPS) has hired Randy Mather as its northwest regional manager; he'll oversee the sales and administration of the CPS branches in Washington and Oregon. Mather has 30 years of leadership experience in the water systems industry, beginning with the family business (Mather & Sons, Vancouver, Wash.) in 1970 as a Jacuzzi dealer. He began distribution sales in 1980, joined Berkeley Pumps in 1985, became the water systems division manager for Familian Northwest in 1990, and he worked most recently as the northwest general manager for the Western Hydro Corp. Mather became involved with water systems training in 1988, was certified by the National Ground Water Association in 1994, and has conducted pump schools in 10 western states, instructing more than 1,000 professional dealers.

Aquatech Announces New Hire

Aquatech International Corp., Canonsburg, Pa., announces the addition of John Livingston as business development manager for its WATERTRAK line of water treatment products. His responsibilities will include developing a national distribution network, marketing and sales plans for WATERTEK products. Livingston has more than 25 years of experience in this industry. Previously, he had national sales manager positions with Culligan and U.S. Filter/STRANCO.

We've Got Mail:

Build Your Own Down-hole Camera
From Andrew of Butler's Well Drilling in Newark, Ohio:
Being in the drilling industry, you're probably aware of the many borehole cameras out there. I recently queried a few companies and received quotes on the most basic systems. I was just looking for a simple downhole-view camera, nothing fancy. The setups I checked out were definitely nice, but maybe you're like me and have a small company. I just couldn't justify the cost, not to mention running it down a deep hole in the ground. A borehole camera can be a very handy tool to have, especially for troubleshooting existing wells, finding the exact depth to set well screens, see where the water is coming in, fishing jobs, or just video logging a new well. I could have used one myself on several occasions. While I was drilling a new well recently, I got the idea to build one. All I needed was to find a small video camera with infrared lighting, some 2-inch PVC with some fittings, wire to make the cable and a couple rainy days to put it all together.

Since it was the end of May/early June, I had a couple rainy days to work on it. I found a nice inexpensive security camera with the infrared lighting that just fit inside the 2-inch PVC. I cut a piece of 2-inch PVC about 12 inches long and glued threaded adapters on each end. Taking a 2-inch PVC plug, I drilled and tapped the end for a 1⁄2-inch brass compression fitting; this is where the cable enters the unit. I used two rubber bushings and a washer in place of the compression ring to seal the cable, and put a clamp on the inside to keep the cable from pulling out. For the window end, I took the other 2-inch plug and cut out the center, leaving me with a threaded ring.

This is the retainer ring that holds in the glass. I used one of those orange extension cords for the cable to supply the power (12v DC) and the video feed using all three wires. This setup worked out well. I had a good down-view image of the borehole. I've had the unit submerged in up to 70 feet of water with no problems. If you stir up dirt in the well, it makes it hard to see anything underwater, but overall, this setup seems to work for me just fine. All you need is a small TV for your monitor and a VCR or DVD recorder if you want to record the video feed.

Just like a typical drilling contractor. The man has a need; mixes focus, elbow grease, common sense and moxie, and comes up with a perfectly functioning remedy; then shares it with the world.

Full Disclosure
How do you sleep at night? You kill trees to put out a magazine devoted to people who tear up our earth's ecosystem for profit. Have you no shame?

Angie D., president
Nature's Utopian Team Justly Overseeing Beauty
Washington, D.C.

Dear N.U.T.J.O.B. president,
National Driller is quite proud of its exemplary record vis-à-vis its stewardship of, and respect for, God's green earth. The magazine is printed using soy ink, on paper that has been recycled - from the birth documents of the child laborers at our printing plant in (for security reasons - an unnamed third-world country). And it should be duly noted that hardly any endangered species are seriously maimed during the magazine's editorial or production processes (I can't, however, confirm or deny any stories you might have heard about what goes on at the sales department's meetings).

Thanks for taking the time and effort to write; in appreciation, we're sending you a coupon for $3 off the purchase of a brand new 2006 Hummer H3 with full leather interior.