NationStates Jolt Archive

So the water pump that supplies my house with water(it pumps from an underground aquifer) is broken and we won't have water for several days. Lots and lots of fun. :mad:

Have you ever had any problems like this? Dealing with a lack of water for several days, I mean.

Have you ever had any problems like this? Dealing with a lack of water for several days, I mean.

Yep, went months with water rationing when living in Spain. Never knew when the water came on, so before going to bed at night we would flush both toilets. When the water came on at midnight, 1 AM, whatever the filling toilet tanks would wake us up. We would then fill up both bathtubs and the wife would stay up to wash the dishes before going back to bed. After several months of this we got tired of it and moved to another town that didn't have water rationing.

Stock in bottled water from the store. Get several buckets full of water and keep them handy to flush the toilet with. Worst case, go on a camping trip for a week or so.

It could be worse. You could be in Gloucester two weeks ago, with water everywhere, but, as the old rhyme goes, "not a drop to drink".

Considering someone where I work had this problem (lives in Cheltenham) and had to travel 50-60 miles for a shower at his daughters house, I can confirm that it is apparently no fun at all.

Well, I guess you'll just have to drink the booze instead...

Yes, I am well aware that this is a bad idea.

Yep, went months with water rationing when living in Spain. Never knew when the water came on, so before going to bed at night we would flush both toilets. When the water came on at midnight, 1 AM, whatever the filling toilet tanks would wake us up. We would then fill up both bathtubs and the wife would stay up to wash the dishes before going back to bed. After several months of this we got tired of it and moved to another town that didn't have water rationing.
Sheesh. Horrible stuff. Glad you were able to pull through though.

Stock in bottled water from the store. Get several buckets full of water and keep them handy to flush the toilet with. Worst case, go on a camping trip for a week or so.
We'll keep that in mind, thank you.

I only had to deal with it for a day or two... shortly after that huge blackout a couple of years ago (the one that took out a chunk of power to the north east of the US and south eastern Canada...) the pumping stations ran out of water. They basically had enough water to get us through the blackout stored up for such an emergency, but it ran out of water by the end of it. It took a day or two for us to have water again (for the pumping station to pump more water and I guess get enough of it to distribute).

It was lucky that we had a pool in our backyard though, 'cause we were able to fill up the tanks on the toilets and get water for boiling and all. But yeah, moral of the story: It's a lot more pleasant to go without electricity for a while than it is to go without water.

Had some pigeons that shat in the local water tower, which meant that we couldn't use tap water for drinking. It was really annoying at the time, though when you consider what alot of the worlds population has to live with it it wasn't that bad. Alot of the water people drink is probably much worse than the water we were not allowed to drink. Your case sound more serious though, no water at all is a bit more troublesome than having to drink bottled water.

Yep, went months with water rationing when living in Spain.And yet some places in Spain the just turn on a hose at the top of a hill and let the water run down the road to clean it. Not just in Spain I've seen that though, It's worse in Greece. :p

Had some pigeons that shat in the local water tower, which meant that we couldn't use tap water for drinking. It was really annoying at the time, though when you consider what alot of the worlds population has to live with it it wasn't that bad. Alot of the water people drink is probably much worse than the water we were not allowed to drink. Your case sound more serious though, no water at all is a bit more troublesome than having to drink bottled water.
Yah, that's what you get for public water. Our water is cleaner and healthier...it's just hard to get when your pump isn't working.

And we're stuck for at least a solid week, if not longer.

And yet some places in Spain the just turn on a hose at the top of a hill and let the water run down the road to clean it. Not just in Spain I've seen that though, It's worse in Greece. :p
People don't think ahead. They waste and waste then wonder where their resources went when it's all gone. Nuts.

Yah, that's what you get for public water. Our water is cleaner and healthierI demand sources! :p

Atleast a week more, that sucks, sorry to hear that. Hope you get it fixed quickly and you don't have any more problems with the pump.

I demand sources! :p
Well, I obviously can't speak for all public water sources, but being located where it is, the aquifer is almost completely pure.

Atleast a week more, that sucks, sorry to hear that. Hope you get it fixed quickly and you don't have any more problems with the pump.
The problem is the expense. We're kind of tight as it is and we really didn't need this problem.

This dude laughs at your water "problems":
http://www.ucar.edu/news/releases/2005/images/lisutuagdeadfarmfield.jpg

This dude laughs at your water "problems":
http://www.ucar.edu/news/releases/2005/images/lisutuagdeadfarmfield.jpg

I'm sure he does, and I sympathize with him.

But I cannot affect his problem, and I am used to having indoor plumbing with running water twenty-four/seven, and as such not having that water is a serious inconvenience.

This dude laughs at your water "problems":
http://www.ucar.edu/news/releases/2005/images/lisutuagdeadfarmfield.jpgLet him. His own will get him soon enough.

This dude laughs at your water "problems":
http://www.ucar.edu/news/releases/2005/images/lisutuagdeadfarmfield.jpg

I think you're one of my favorite posters.

So the water pump that supplies my house with water(it pumps from an underground aquifer) is broken and we won't have water for several days. Lots and lots of fun. :mad:

Have you ever had any problems like this? Dealing with a lack of water for several days, I mean.Yup.
That was my line of work when i started here - working as a well driller.

Did you already spend the $75-$90/hr investigation fee? You know it's actually "broken"?

I think you're one of my favorite posters.

Thanks :)

Yup.
That was my line of work when i started here - working as a well driller.

Did you already spend the $75-$90/hr investigation fee? You know it's actually "broken"?

Not yet. We don't even know when someone will come out to check it, in fact.

It's annoying, too, because it's not just me that's inconvenienced, but the other five people in the house, the two dogs, the two cats, the five snakes, the three rats, the twelve fish, and the birds that drink the fountain we fill.

Nadkor: You're one of mine too. You definitely make a good point when it comes to people like that African farmer. I certainly don't forget people like that.

Not yet. We don't even know when someone will come out to check it, in fact.

It's annoying, too, because it's not just me that's inconvenienced, but the other five people in the house, the two dogs, the two cats, the five snakes, the three rats, the twelve fish, and the birds that drink the fountain we fill.

Nadkor: You're one of mine too. You definitely make a good point when it comes to people like that African farmer. I certainly don't forget people like that.Do you have an amp probe? Do you know how to work them?
If you want, ask me stuff through your thread (although i'm not sure how long a help thread'll last here)
or TG me, and i might be able to help.

Do you have an amp probe? Do you know how to work them?
If you want, ask me stuff through your thread (although i'm not sure how long a help thread'll last here)
or TG me, and i might be able to help.

I have absolutely no idea what an amp probe is, and I don't think we have one.

But I won't bug you with questions. You can't help, because we don't have the tools or the expertise to do anything with your suggestions. Thanks, though.

Nadkor: You're one of mine too. You definitely make a good point when it comes to people like that African farmer. I certainly don't forget people like that.

She's one of my favorites for totally unrelated reasons. :p

Also, wiki returns for Amp Probe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_probe).

I have absolutely no idea what an amp probe is, and I don't think we have one.

But I won't bug you with questions. You can't help, because we don't have the tools or the expertise to do anything with your suggestions. Thanks, though.Actually, an amp probe is one of the *easiest* devices for analysis.
You may simply have compromised a wire at some point with a plow or something, which literally THOUSANDS of people do every year, which caused a short in the line to the pump.

It may be older than 30 years, which is the longest reasonable obsolescence range for a pump.

You may have developed a leak in the line between your house and the well, which would be evidenced by a depression (and possible puddle) in a straight line between them above ground.

It may be a simple control box issue. You may have lost enough air in your tank. What happens a lot is poor contacts on a pressure switch.

Or, possibly, some of the formation has caved in or gained so much accretia that your screen at the bottom of the well is obscured and you can't get any more water through it.

Or, you may have a galvanized bushing where the pipe meets the pump, which in time will be eaten through, what with being galvanized and all, and it's rotted through, allowing little or no water to actually shoot up the pipe.

If you tell me what color/condition the water was before losing it, that might help.

Hehehehe...if you'd seen our backyard, you'd never utter the word "plow" again.

But it was fine and dandy, just like it always is. It just suddenly stopped working.

Hehehehe...if you'd seen our backyard, you'd never utter the word "plow" again.

But it was fine and dandy, just like it always is. It just suddenly stopped working.

In said case, an amp probe would be very useful.
They still cost less than a pump call. Does anyone there know anything about electricity and/or current?

So if you look down the well, is anything still running down there?
Has the circuit breaker popped? And if so, after resetting it does it again break?

In said case, an amp probe would be very useful.
They still cost less than a pump call. Does anyone there know anything about electricity and/or current?

So if you look down the well, is anything still running down there?
Has the circuit breaker popped? And if so, after resetting it does it again break?
I don't know where the well is. It's not some open surface thing with a bucket or what have you. It's just a pump, the location of which I don't know.

But I'm the only one who could check it out thoroughly...I'm too tired though. Thanks, but I'll have to check it tomorrow. I'll be sure to ask you for advice then.

She's one of my favorites for totally unrelated reasons. :p

Also, wiki returns for Amp Probe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_probe).

As always, you ROCK.
*bows*

Nadkor: You're one of mine too. You definitely make a good point when it comes to people like that African farmer. I certainly don't forget people like that.

Thanks.

Yeah, I think that we take these things for granted so much that when we don't have them we don't know what to do, but it's important to remember that there are people who never have them.

Thanks.

Yeah, I think that we take these things for granted so much that when we don't have them we don't know what to do, but it's important to remember that there are people who never have them.
Indeed. It's something I try to remind people of everyday.

Sadly, many don't listen, mainly because they can't wrap their mind around the concept.

She's one of my favorites for totally unrelated reasons. :p

Is something that I really want to ask about? :p

But I'm the only one who could check it out thoroughly...I'm too tired though. Thanks, but I'll have to check it tomorrow. I'll be sure to ask you for advice then.
As you wish. :)

Thanks.

Yeah, I think that we take these things for granted so much that when we don't have them we don't know what to do, but it's important to remember that there are people who never have them.

By the same token, those people live equally content lives as they are. this is largely an issue of what one's lost, rather than what one has. Or what one gains. Pencils and pens can make schoolchildren there so happy, while getting a graphing calculator is a chore for us. I don't think that means we should be uber-orgasmicly happy when we get fancy school supplies...

P.S. (not that we can't help, mind you, before someone reads that out of my post...)

Is something that I really want to ask about? :p

Only if you're not too concerned about finding out. :p

By the same token, those people live equally content lives as they are. this is largely an issue of what one's lost, rather than what one has. Or what one gains. Pencils and pens can make schoolchildren there so happy, while getting a graphing calculator is a chore for us. I don't think that means we should be uber-orgasmicly happy when we get fancy school supplies...

People living in famine and drought live equally contented lives? :p

Only if you're not too concerned about finding out. :p

Well, go on then :p

People living in famine and drought live equally contented lives? :p

Often. Perhaps "famine and drought" is a bit extreme though. I'm saying those...well, much like Mattress here for example, without readily available water. Again, like you said,what others -never- had. that's already above the baseline for them...

Well, go on then :p

Are we over doing the ":p"? :p

Are we over doing the ":p"? :p

Ok.

Now I need a new smiley.

Ok.

Now I need a new smiley.

Umm...I have kirbies that kinda look like smilies? http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/Dragonkirby/Ninjaminion.png

Umm...I have kirbies that kinda look like smilies? http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/Dragonkirby/Ninjaminion.png

Ninja kirby?

Good enough for me http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/Dragonkirby/Ninjaminion.png

threadjacked?

I'm pretty sure our town's water supply comes from one of the settling ponds at the closest oil sand site.

Ninja kirby?

Good enough for me http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/Dragonkirby/Ninjaminion.png

threadjacked?
Very much so
^__^

Very much so
^__^

You still haven't told me http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/Dragonkirby/Ninjaminion.png

Often. Perhaps "famine and drought" is a bit extreme though. I'm saying those...well, much like Mattress here for example, without readily available water. Again, like you said,what others -never- had. that's already above the baseline for them...

Actually, studies have shown that people in the Western world are happier than those in the underdeveloped world. They know something isn't right.

The happiest are the Amish, even with their rules about being modest about their happiness. Seems the key to happiness is self-imposed simplicity.:)
Maybe.

Actually, studies have shown that people in the Western world are happier than those in the underdeveloped world. They know something isn't right.

The happiest are the Amish, even with their rules about being modest about their happiness. Seems the key to happiness is self-imposed simplicity.:)
Maybe.

...They can quantify that?

You still haven't told me http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/Dragonkirby/Ninjaminion.png

To be honest I'm hard pressed to know myslef. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/Dragonkirby/Ninjaminion.png

Okay, Brevious, I'm going to start telegramming you about it now. It's still dark here...but in another hour and a half it should be light and I can get to work.

Okay, Brevious, I'm going to start telegramming you about it now. It's still dark here...but in another hour and a half it should be light and I can get to work.

If that sink you mentioned is closest to the ground and your pressure tank, that's actually helpful in the diagnosis.
A pressure tank does two things - it is a pressure buffer for when the horsepower of your pump kicks on and sends all that water through at that pressure and velocity, and it also helps make the difference up for the distance between the tank and the other water taps ... like upstairs or whatever.

The cloudy part also factors in.
As i was saying about cloudy water - if your potentialofHydrogen is low (4 or 5 to *neutral* 7), it'll cut through galvanized pipe quicker than if it = or > 7.
If there's a hole in the riser pipe (the pipe that carries the water up from the pump), but it's not huge enough yet, it will make it so the pressure that would normally push the volume up would push a lot more of it out the aperture. So there may be enough volume and pressure to push the water out the closest tap but not the rest.

OOOOOOr, they're on two different lines for some reason. Like if you have a sink that bypasses some water treatment. How about outside spigots?

I grew up on well water (a well on our property that cut out every time the electricity did) and frequent power outages for anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. it's a good way to strengthen friendships--> "hey, can i shower at your house tomorrow?" :P

one winter we brought snow in from outside and filled our bathtub with it and waited for it to melt to we could bathe. and i grew up in the "good ol' u s of a" and not quite in the boonies. it's just the way it goes sometimes.

it sucks to lose water, but knowing that - whatever the cost - it will eventually come back is an amazing gift. what of our neighbors in other lands who have no water or not enough? the patience we can learn from our temporary inconvenience can go miles towards teaching us what responsibilities we have to those who do not have even a fraction of our privileges.

but good luck with your water. it's your standard of living; it should be met.

*snip interesting stuff*

Unfortunately before I could do much more examination my parents terminated anything I was able to do.

More unfortunate still, I was wrong: turns out the water coming through was just the left-over in the reservoir in the house, and the pump did fail.

It was twenty-six years old, though, so it makes sense, at least. And the new one should be in at some point today.

Well, the new pump is installed. According to the guy who has apparently been in the business for twenty-seven years, it was just the pump dying of old age. No galvanized piping...no old wires...just old age.

Yay. It has chlorine in it, but that's okay. It'll clear out in a couple days or so. The important thing is that we have water again. My standard of living is restored!

Well, the new pump is installed. According to the guy who has apparently been in the business for twenty-seven years, it was just the pump dying of old age. No galvanized piping...no old wires...just old age.

Yay. It has chlorine in it, but that's okay. It'll clear out in a couple days or so. The important thing is that we have water again. My standard of living is restored!
Yup. The better pumps, at best, are basically expected to run that amount of time.
There's some better situations, of course, but not many.
And chlorine is of course a light sanitation standard (as the industry rule is making up for exposure from the work with the well).

My boss had been doing it for 36 years or so. Could've come to the same conclusion.

Yeah, a couple of years back someone intentionally contaminated a city test well with industrial solvents about a half mile from my house. Well, this set off a series of scares, including a concern that the problem might be widespread in the local water table, so, even though we had well water, we didn't use it for a good six days. I must say, I got very sick and tired of showering at the YMCA.