Central Water
and Sewer Very
briefly, on May 29th, 2005; we recieved final inspection and approvals for our
18 month long project to bring a new central power, sewage and water distrubution
system to Four Quarters. We have laid in over 2,500 feet of water mains, 500 feet
of 4 inch sewer mains and 1800 of direct burial power lines through out camp.
The system is by no means finished but it is very functional. Much thanks to the
heroic work of Four Quarters Staff and Members (especially Hassim Fingar, Pat,
Doc, Jeff Greene and Arial) who have worked nonstop since spring to meet our dead
line.
At this point we have pressurized well water water
spigots in place stretching from the Coffee Dragons all the way to the White Pines
intersection in the Members Camp (thats almost a half mile). With more line in
place (but not yet connected) to bring water to all of the High Meadow by this
fall. Our central water system is supplied by a remarkable deep well drilled next
to the camp kitchen that can produce over 60 gallons a minute (we hit a major
water vein in the mountain). The new pumphouse will be capable of providing water
year round.
The new septic system and leach field is
huge (see the pictures below) and becasue of our very good soils is rated for
over 3,600 gallons a day! And we were able to install it while removing only three
standing trees.
Our shower building is three times larger
than our old deck, with group and privacy showers. It is also plumbed up for flush
toilets, although our special Australian super low-flow toilet fixtures will not
arrive until mid-July. We plan on having the privacy stalls roofed over by fall.
Heating of shower water is handled by a state of the art, microprocessor controlled
on demand heater with digital flow and temperature regulation. This system is
capable of providing heated water flows of .5 gallon up to 15 gallons a minute,
at a preset and constant presure and temperature. In fact our state sewage inspector
said it is the finest shower system she has ever seen built. We think you will
agree!
We are very proud of what has been accomplished
this season, and the foundation that it puts in place for the years to come. We
will be presenting a detailed account after the close of the season, and hope
you will enjoy the following photo essay on how we spent our summer!.
This
is the first leachfield trench, begun on April 21st. It is 6 feet wide and 70
feet long; just the first of ten trenches that constitute the field. Patrick McCarty
did most of the excavating with the church backhoe.
 
Next
goes in the 3 inch perferated drain pipe, to then be covered in gravel. Over 270,000
pounds of gravel and 900 feet of 3 inch pipe was used constructing the field.
 
The
first trench covered in geotextile fabric and ready to be backfilled. To the right
we are testing the distrubution manifold that insures equal amounts of water are
sent to each of the ten trenches.
 
Meanwhile
works begins on the shower deck, designed to be built right over our twin 3,500
gallons tanks.
 
The
tanks themselves are over nine feet tall and are partially buried in the hillside
with a protective retaining wall built around them. To the right we see the beginnings
of the plumbing system installation.
 
With
the white fibreglass wetwall constructed, work begins on the deck railings and
privacy screening.
 
 
Back
at the kitchen our well drillers have arrived and set up. We expected 2-5 gallons
a minute at 300 feet of depth. We hit 60 gallons a minute at 150 feet. The Land
is good to us.
 
 Service,
Ceremony and Celebration
Joining the World of Spirit and the World of Today
a Work of Years... Stone by Stone
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