Sodaville mayor suggests ‘exempt well’ option

Sodaville Mayor Brian Lewis told the City Council during its June 19 meeting there might be a loophole to drill an “exempt well.”

He learned from a drilling company the city could drill a new well and call it an exempt well, which might yield the city up to 15,000 gallons per day. According to ORS 537.545, an exempt well doesn’t require a water right permit for certain specified uses.

Lewis was informed that Well…