Good News

Its been a long time in coming, but I finally have a bit of good news to share concerning the dam. When last we met, we had removed the upstream valve after two difficult days for the diver trying to reduce the leakage by the valve. The valve manufacturer decided that enough was enough, we were just chasing our tails, and it was time to bring the valve up and readjust it, as well as finding a solution for a mounting flange, believed to be not flat enough. As you recall, the pipe through the dam has a valve at either end. Since the second valve, the downstream valve, which is not under water, is working fine, no problems were anticipated. The upstream valve was taken to the borough's garage. The manufacturer sent a service representative to reset the valve. It appeared to me, as I observed and listened, that the valve had never been adjusted properly. Except for a missing adjusting bolt and some nuts, which the valve manufacturer was to send us yet that week, the valve was ready to return to service.
As days became weeks it became painfully obvious that we were not going to get the valve back in service before the lake froze over. The parts for the valve are still MIA, the dive company and our engineer are still working on a suitable fix for the flange 'problem'. But we are OK because of the downstream valve, or are we?
The concern arose about freezing, and freezing it has been. This downstream valve sits exposed on a section of pipe coming out of the dam, Lake Stoneycreek side. This section of pipe and the valve are subjected to the freezing temperatures we have been having. We were concerned that if the water in this exposed section of pipe froze, the pipe and the valve could be damaged. This would leave us up a creek without a paddle.
This valve is designed to be opened or closed, not for throttling.
The decision was made to 'hot tap' the pipe and install a small (2") valve which could remain opened, allowing for a small continuous flow, preventing the water from freezing. Of course nothing comes easy, but today we finally got the valve installed, plumbed, and opened.
Now let me push our luck and deliver another piece of good news-yesterday the Commonwealth Court issued a ruling in the Borough's favor. This affirmed the lower court finding that the appeal on the permit issued by the Borough for Waccamaw Townhouse was frivolous* and that the appeal bond was appropriate.
One by one we are winning these legal challenges, but at quite a cost. Hopefully, someday, the Borough can recoup some of our expenses from the parties bring the 'frivolous' law suits.
*Their word.