Houston, we have our first problem!

Water in the hole!!


The trenches for power lines were dug a couple of days ago.   In order to bring power all the way out to the houses, we needed to dig a long trench across lot 1, 2 and half of 3.  We own lots 2 and 3. That's a distance of about 1,200 feet, then make a ninety degree turn and dig another trench about that long to our turn around circle, then from there it will branch out in two opposite directions, to each of the houses.   A LOT of trench!



That evening when they were done digging, they noticed there was a little bit of water seeping into the trench near a low spot by the ditch that runs along the canal.  That would be the stretch that crosses the back edge of all three lots.  

The power company arrived the next morning and overnight the trench had filled almost half way deep with water.  They called and said they would work on the dry areas on the other leg of the trench but unless we could get that water pumped out asap, they wouldn't be able to put the pipes in as planned wherever there was still water. 

Mike picked up a rental pump in town and met Pat out there and got things hooked up, but dang if they could get that pump to pump continuously.  Something about "holding a prime"...don't ask me.  I just hauled water up out of the ditch to put into the pump and took pictures. 
 I know, I'm "essential personnel", wink!

Pat to the rescue!

Then Pat had the great idea to use the track hoe and dig a little waterway over to a low spot near the ditch and hopefully divert some water in there.  

After about an hour, even the power company workers came over to try and help. 



Things were just not going fast enough so Mike decided the pump wasn't working and he would need to take the pump back to the rental place.  They took a look at it, and it worked fine for them.  Seems like we didn't have a connection screwed down tight enough.  So.. back to the property we went and sure enough, it worked like a champ!  

In the meantime, Pat had secured another pump and between the two of them, the water finally started emptying out of the trench.  

The power company was able to finish laying the pipe in and Pat used the track hoe to settle some dirt on top so that even if the water came back in the pipes would be secure under the layer of dirt.  Just to be clear...there wasn't any problem with water in the trenches near where the house be.  Whew!
 

Problem Solved!