I'm not a golfer any more so I enjoy seeing all the ducks by our ponds. Maybe golfers have different feelings but the ducks are a joy to watch.
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| Photo by Tom Gottfried |
Palm Creek has certainly had more than its share of bad luck when it comes to keeping our ponds as clean and clear as we normally like to see.
After hearing conflicting stories about the water issue, Don and I had a meeting with Mark Kenner and asked for information to share with the residents.
The first issue is the problem with the pumps, fountains and water system. Everything was working fine until October 22 when the transformer right next to the main pump station blew up due to a huge surge of electricity. Our equipment didn't survive.
It fried two of our VFDs which are the computers in the pumps that regulate when we need more water. It also blew out the control panel to the fountains. When we pulled the fountains onto dry land, it was discovered that their motors were also fried. The surge also knocked out the recirculation pumps so there is no water flowing back to hole #7 pond. Lots of expensive electrical damage in a split second!! Our crews have been working on this ever since but the delivery and supply problems haven't helped.
Pulling out the fountain:
Progress: We have managed to get the back-nine creek and waterfall flowing again. This problem came about because of a defective valve that turned out to be buried under a patio behind a home on the north side of the park. The valve was 10 feet down and locked open. We were forced to close that valve because when it stays open, it lets the water go out through a pipe that drains on Cottonwood Ave. (That pipe is there in case we ever need to drain the lake.) The valve was stuck open and there was a leak in the 'drain to cottonwood' pipe and it was leaking under the home with the patio. We had to shut down the creek until Aquaflow could come and change out the valve. That valve is 10 feet down! Of course, the usual delivery and supply problems still abound.
The crack is still in that drain pipe but we don't need it right now and plan to repair it next summer when the work will not disturb so many of our residents. Expensive repair!
We're still waiting for the fountain motors to arrive which hopefully will happen in the next two weeks. Then we will be able to get the fountains up and running. The new circulation pump is also on order. It will be nice to have those pretty fountains up and running once again.
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Saw this on Nextdoor. What a great idea!!
