News

Well Update

Friends,

As you know, our new well has not been put into service because of the fine sediment particles it produces. Based on advice from the driller, we have been running the well into the lake in hopes that the sediment would be cleaned out from the formation fractures at the bottom of the well. Unfortunately, this has not occurred and the well is still producing a lot of sediment.

The driller has advised that the next step is to pull the pump and insert a video camera into the well for a day to survey what’s happening in the well. A crane will remove the pump, install the video camera and then reinstall the pump. The pump will be run at various flow rates during the day while the camera records the activity at the bottom of the well. In the best case scenario, we would find that the sediment is coming from a particular fracture or fractures but not from the entire area at the bottom of the well. This would allow the driller to reconfigure the shroud at the bottom of the pump, reposition the pump in the well and produce (hopefully) water with no sediment. In the worst case scenario, we find that the sediment is coming from all of the formation fractures. The video survey would then provide critical information for the driller to create a remediation project for the well that would involve using air and a vacuum process to clean out the sediment from the fractures.

We specifically asked the driller about just drilling the well deeper to another formation. He advised against this because in this part of the Edwards Aquifer there is an area of water that is laden with minerals and would not be appropriate for use in a swimming pool. The risk of encountering that water with a deeper well is not worth taking given the drilling expense involved.

The cost of the video survey is $3,695. Paul Bardagjy and I met with the driller this morning to discuss the project in detail and recommend that FODE pay for this work so that we have a better chance of getting the well on line before winter. Due to the City’s purchasing procedure, it could take months for the City to engage the driller for the video survey. FODE has about $16,600 in unrestricted funds in the bank. We would like to hear from you with your opinion about moving forward with the work. Please respond within the next week. If we have consensus, we will authorize the driller to proceed.

We can afford paying for the work, but if anyone wants to help fund this project, please send your donation to Friends of Deep Eddy, 1409 W. 6th St, Austin, Texas 78703.

As always, we greatly appreciate your support.

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Final 2010 Splash Movie Night and Mural Project Opportunity

This Saturday, August 14th– the final Deep Eddy Pool Film Night– is the last opportunity this summer for the public to participate in the project. For a $10 contribution to the Mural Project, attendees of the movie will be able to make their own tile with instruction from the Friends of Deep Eddy.

Students from nine different middle and high schools all across Austin have begun creating what will be the largest mosaic mural in town. This mural will transform the concrete ramp that connects the pool’s parking lot to the Lake Lady Bird Hike and Bike Trail into a portrait of the pool’s long and rich history that stretches back to 1916.

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Deep Eddy Mile – Sat Aug 14th

Who: Open to A.S.A. registered swimmers eighteen and older. If you are not yet a 2010 A.S.A. registered swimmer, you may include a completed A.S.A. 2010 Swimmer Membership Application (found at www.americanswimmingassociation.com) and check for 2010 A.S.A. membership fee ($20) along with your Deep Eddy Mile entry form or you may register for 2010 A.S.A Membership at check-in for the meet.

What: A “Deep Eddy mile”: 1766 2/3 yard swim. The swimmer in each age group in each gender who achieves the fastest recorded time for the “Deep Eddy mile,” in strict accordance with the rules, wins. This event is organized in heats such that each swimmer gets his own lane.

Where: Deep Eddy Pool, 401 Deep Eddy Drive. Deep Eddy pool is a 10-lane 331/3 yard well-water pool. Expect the water temperature to be between 68 and 74 degrees Farenheit. There is a large grassy area with shade trees surrounding the pool.

When: Saturday, August 14, 2010. Warm-up starts at 7:30 am, First heat starts at 8:00 a.m.

Why: Because
…it is a great way to get/stay healthy, fit, and look good
…it is your opportunity to test yourself against the competition (including yourself)
…it is your opportunity to establish an A.S.A. certified, Deep Eddy Pool record
…it’s fun
Click here to download an entry form.

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Pool to close early August 9

On August 9, the pool will close at 7pm so the pool can be acid washed that evening. The pool should open at the normal time the following morning.

The pool is closed currently (July 28 at 1:30pm) but should open later today. Aquatics placed the new well in service yesterday since it was flowing “clear” without any sediment. Although it ran clear for six plus hours yesterday, both pools had sediment this morning from the well which required the draining of the shallow side and draw down of the lap pool for refilling. We appreciate your patience as we continue to try to bring the new well online.

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