in january 1927, bunnell signed a contract with the gray artesian well company of st. augustine to drill a well approximately 90 feet deep with casing that is suitable for pumping for the new waterworks system. after the well was completed water was tested by the florida state board of health who declared it to be of fine quality, pure with no color or taste and with only three hundred to a million hardness. a second well was drilled so there would be a sufficient quantity of water for the city as it grew. the contracted price for these wells was $2,375 each.