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Feb. 7th, 2007
Of wells and hydrants
Feb. 7th, 2007 09:42 amAfter leaving the pump off all night, we found this morning that the pump was running every six minutes, as opposed to every five minutes last night. So the freeze did not create much temporary blockage. After drawing water in the house for immediate needs and for the animals (carried out in buckets, I'm glad the barns aren't farther from the house than they are) we shut the pump down again.
The well guy was just here. He confirms that there is no shutoff valve for that line (dumb, he says, and I agree.) His boss will call or be back with an estimate. There is now water oozing up through the barn floor, so we know there's a leak buried down there. He confirms that the two freezeless hydrants that were installed are cheap ones, probably from Farm & Fleet, and says they should be replaced with better quality. If we have to dig this all up, I'm going to get the best stuff I can and have that shutoff installed too. Since the line comes right off from the well supply rather than running to the house, it will be what they call a "buffalo box," an underground valve that is turned on and off with a long tool inserted through an access cover. Probably that alone will cost $500 to put in. With two new hydrants and two large holes to be dug out, I'll be surprised if this comes in for less than $2500. Sigh.
We've called our insurance agent, but probably the insurance only covers damage to the structures, not the plumbing itself.
The well guy was just here. He confirms that there is no shutoff valve for that line (dumb, he says, and I agree.) His boss will call or be back with an estimate. There is now water oozing up through the barn floor, so we know there's a leak buried down there. He confirms that the two freezeless hydrants that were installed are cheap ones, probably from Farm & Fleet, and says they should be replaced with better quality. If we have to dig this all up, I'm going to get the best stuff I can and have that shutoff installed too. Since the line comes right off from the well supply rather than running to the house, it will be what they call a "buffalo box," an underground valve that is turned on and off with a long tool inserted through an access cover. Probably that alone will cost $500 to put in. With two new hydrants and two large holes to be dug out, I'll be surprised if this comes in for less than $2500. Sigh.
We've called our insurance agent, but probably the insurance only covers damage to the structures, not the plumbing itself.
All over but the shouting. The library rebels win!
The Big Messed Up Consortium has backed down on virtually all its demands. They will allow us to break our contracts with them for online catalog services and remain with our existing system and provider. They will settle for a penalty fee about equal to our reserve fund, which has already been in their possession for almost three years so we will hardly miss it. They will return our servers and backup hardware.
The rock-headed consortium director suddenly changed his tune on Tuesday. I think he talked to a lawyer who advised him to give in because his chances of winning what he demanded in litigation were infinitesimal. That's what I've been saying all along. ;p
The majority of the libraries in our original group, prior to the forced merger that was started in 2004, will remain separate with us. Two tiny ones are going to stay with BMUC, and three larger ones (but two of those three have never been supportive of a good online catalog so we will hardly miss them.) This agreement requires ratification by the administrative council tomorrow, but they will almost certainly pass it on their director's recommendation and the lawyer's advice.
Time for a celebration. (Even though it's Wednesday, I have to work late, and I've got all those plumbing issues at home.)
The Big Messed Up Consortium has backed down on virtually all its demands. They will allow us to break our contracts with them for online catalog services and remain with our existing system and provider. They will settle for a penalty fee about equal to our reserve fund, which has already been in their possession for almost three years so we will hardly miss it. They will return our servers and backup hardware.
The rock-headed consortium director suddenly changed his tune on Tuesday. I think he talked to a lawyer who advised him to give in because his chances of winning what he demanded in litigation were infinitesimal. That's what I've been saying all along. ;p
The majority of the libraries in our original group, prior to the forced merger that was started in 2004, will remain separate with us. Two tiny ones are going to stay with BMUC, and three larger ones (but two of those three have never been supportive of a good online catalog so we will hardly miss them.) This agreement requires ratification by the administrative council tomorrow, but they will almost certainly pass it on their director's recommendation and the lawyer's advice.
Time for a celebration. (Even though it's Wednesday, I have to work late, and I've got all those plumbing issues at home.)
