[GCARC] SIGHT INFO FOR TODAY 3/3/2014

[Ray W2RM]

          Well I got done earlier than I expected today so I met Bill Price
NJ2S at the site for a look at the water problem.

1.     The main shutoff valve for us is located right behind the Gloucester
County Amateur Radio Club sign. Bill got there before me so he opened up the
lid to the valve which is down four feet. It was loaded with rocks and dirt,
now Bill has a tool that can go down eight feet if needed and gently collect
the stones and dirt so it can be brought to the surface. So after the access
pipe was all cleaned out we looked down the pipe with a flash light and we
noticed the valve wasn't in the center of the valve. It wasn't in the center
because evidently someone tried to turn the water off some time ago. We
managed to remove the valve stem and it's in the trailer with a note on it
to not throw away. This leaves us with the problem of not being able to turn
the water off to work on the valves behind the trailer. 

2.     Here is what we did: I knocked the terracotta down to ground level so
we could see what the problem was with the leaky valve behind the trailer.
After Bill "bailed out the water"  we could see that the leak was actually
the valve that was on the top of the main valve. It had frozen and split
open. Now we tried to turn the bottom valve off but the handle on it is so
rusted that we can't do that. 

3.     Bill is going to try and turn the main valve off with an adjustable
crescent wrench. If that works he will try heating the upper valve and
removing the upper valve and replace it with a new one. That will take care
of the problem then Bob Durham and his son can finish the job by running the
feed water to the bathroom and put an outside valve in the front of the
trailer rather than one in the back. It will be located right below the
bathroom under the trailer.. 

4.     I think if Bill has the time he might just try it tomorrow. I won't
be available to help him because I will be having work done on my truck all
day down the shore.  

Next on the agenda:  I want to thank Bob Durham W2RAD and his son for
connecting all of the drain pipes to the septic system. They did a great
job!!  Thanks guys. I will have pictures to show you soon, hopefully
tonight. 73's Ray W2RM