NTMWD N System Pipeline — Piezometer Installation

Project Overview

IET installed a single 2-inch diameter piezometer to 70 feet for HVJ Associates in support of the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) N System Pipeline investigation in Sherman, Texas. The work was performed under Work Order D26-0055 (Project # DGT-23-10309.1.2), managed by PM Preston Mee.

The piezometer was completed with a flush-mount 2x2 concrete pad for long-term surface protection and regulatory compliance. The one-day field program included full mobilization from IET's Texas operations.

This project is part of IET's growing portfolio of infrastructure support drilling for municipal water system investigations across Texas.

Scope of Work

• One (1) 2-inch diameter piezometer installed to 70 feet
• Flush-mount 2x2 concrete pad installed at surface for protection and compliance
• Mobilization from IET Texas operations including fuel surcharge
• Full-day drilling rate with trained IET field crew
• Work Order: D26-0055 | Project: DGT-23-10309.1.2

Project Details

Technical Approach & Piezometer Installation Methodology

Piezometer installation is a specialized environmental and geotechnical drilling service that creates a dedicated groundwater monitoring point for measuring hydraulic head (water level elevation), collecting groundwater quality samples, and tracking plume movement over time. A properly constructed piezometer consists of a small-diameter PVC well screen and riser pipe installed in a drilled borehole, with a filter pack (graded sand) placed around the screen and a bentonite or cement grout seal above the filter pack to prevent surface water infiltration and cross-aquifer communication.

For the NTMWD N System Pipeline project in Sherman, TX, IET installed a 2-inch diameter piezometer to a total depth of 70 feet below ground surface. The installation required advancing a borehole to the target depth, placing the PVC well string with screen section positioned at the target monitoring interval, installing the filter pack around the screen, and grouting the annular space from the top of the filter pack to the surface. A flush-mount concrete surface completion was installed at ground level to protect the wellhead while allowing continued pipeline corridor access.

Pipeline corridor piezometer installations like this one serve critical monitoring functions during and after major infrastructure construction — tracking groundwater elevation changes that could affect pipeline integrity, detecting any contaminant migration from nearby sources, and providing baseline data for long-term environmental compliance monitoring. The 70-foot installation depth suggests monitoring of a deeper aquifer zone potentially affected by pipeline construction dewatering or trenching operations along the N System Pipeline route.

Infrastructure Project Context & Regulatory Considerations

The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) N System Pipeline is a major water infrastructure project serving the growing population of North Texas. Sherman, Texas is located in Grayson County within the Blackland Prairie physiographic province, where shallow geology consists of Quaternary alluvial deposits overlying Cretaceous-age Austin Chalk and Eagle Ford Shale. The 70-foot piezometer depth targets groundwater conditions below the shallow alluvial zone, potentially monitoring the Woodbine Formation — a regionally significant aquifer unit in North Texas.

Environmental monitoring on major water infrastructure projects requires compliance with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulations and often with federal requirements if the project involves federal funding or permitting. IET's installation was performed for HVJ Associates (geotechnical consultant) on behalf of NTMWD, with PM Preston Mee coordinating the field execution. The flush-mount surface completion ensures the piezometer remains accessible for long-term monitoring while not interfering with surface access along the pipeline corridor — a design consideration critical for infrastructure corridor installations where surface access must be maintained.