2008-01-02
water
Finally, after more than 3 months, we have running water again! We have a shallow well that has been almost empty since September. Barely 12 foot deep, lined with brownstone rocks and reliant only on the contents of the water-table available in the sandy soil that rests atop ledge rock.
Since Christmas the well has been slowly filling back up, but when we tried priming the pump nothing happened. When the level rose over three feet, we called a plumber, who came over, threw water into the pipe but nothing came of it. They didn't even use half a gallon, didn't check the well, didn't diagnose the problem, only told us that there was not enough water in the well. From
past experience I knew otherwise.
I talked the problem out with a couple of folks and decided it had to be the foot valve was stuck. I bought a new one, in case the present one needed replacing [it is, after all, over 35 years old] and yesterday we banged around the pipe. It twisted and turned about but would not budge from the elbow coupling.
We were about to give up and take a hacksaw to the pipe, when I said 'let's try priming it one more time.' Low and behold, it worked!
So now we have running water again. Time to take a bath in the old porcelain claw foot tub. We won't be using the plumber [with whom we've done business for years] anymore.
Finally, after more than 3 months, we have running water again! We have a shallow well that has been almost empty since September. Barely 12 foot deep, lined with brownstone rocks and reliant only on the contents of the water-table available in the sandy soil that rests atop ledge rock. Since Christmas the well has been slowly filling back up, but when we tried priming the pump nothing happened. When the level rose over three feet, we called a plumber, who came over, threw water into the pipe but nothing came of it. They didn't even use half a gallon, didn't check the well, didn't diagnose the problem, only told us that there was not enough water in the well. From
past experience I knew otherwise.I talked the problem out with a couple of folks and decided it had to be the foot valve was stuck. I bought a new one, in case the present one needed replacing [it is, after all, over 35 years old] and yesterday we banged around the pipe. It twisted and turned about but would not budge from the elbow coupling.
We were about to give up and take a hacksaw to the pipe, when I said 'let's try priming it one more time.' Low and behold, it worked!
So now we have running water again. Time to take a bath in the old porcelain claw foot tub. We won't be using the plumber [with whom we've done business for years] anymore.
PICTURE CREDITS: Water faucet: Uncommon Goods || Claw foot tub: Windspire Inn
Labels: drought, resources. wells, water
¶ 23:44
