[HollyMutual-Announce] Unpredictable Well Problems

[Holly Mutual Water Company]

All:

I've been sporadically monitoring the water pressure as distributed from the Holly Mutual wells. Yesterday (Saturday) I checked at 8:15 and 9:45 am, and the pressure on my property was fine. However I was subsequently alerted by another homeowner that they had no water pressure from 9:00 to 9:00 am yesterday. Today I started checking every 30 minutes, beginning at 8:00 am when the water distribution is set to start. The pressure was fine until I checked at 9:00 am, when there was no water pressure at all, and I didn't see any pressure at 9:30 and 10:00 am.

At the moment we're still running with a single well, while the Whitehall Well is being repaired. On the surface that means we only have half of our total capacity. But I factored that in by setting a very short distribution period. What is particularly concerning is sometimes we're getting water and at other times not, and that appears entirely unpredictable.

We have seen this type in the past. It could be that the well and distribution pump timers are no longer in sync. It also could be caused by a leak in someone's irrigation system or even the main pipeline. Please be on the lookout for standing or streaming water in your yard or into the drainage ditches.

However the most common cause of this in the past has been overuse, that is homeowner(s) irrigating beyond the two days per week they are assigned. We realize we're likely in a drought, we're well behind on precipitation for this year, and Holly Mutual's distribution hours are currently very restricted. Regardless, our irrigation schedule is entirely dependent on the honor system and we have virtually no excess capacity beyond what we publish. If just one or two properties irrigate outside of their assigned days, our distribution system invariably collapses and no one gets any water. Please check your irrigation timers against the daily schedule at:

http://www.hollymutual.com/WateringSchedule.pdf

Until further notice you should assume we are not able to distribute water. Colorado Water Well has been contacted and I will advise this list when I know more.

Thanks,
Mark