Well this summer we did a 'take two' at trying to pump water to the Lava tank. Last summer we got all of 10 feet from the pumphouse before we sprung a leak in the pipeline.
See our team's attempt at pumping water at Lava
This year we replaced the rusted out pipe and couplings, and gave it another try. Well...we got another 10 or 20 feet before we hit a blockage. I put 150psi out of my pump with no movement of water, (and that should have gotten us 300' vertical up the mountainside). When I uncoupled the 2 1/2" firehose and opened the valve, instead of 200 to 300 gallons of water, there was a big woosh of water (10 gallons) and air but no sign of leakage or drop of pressure. Disappointed at the lack of progress is an understatement....
I was talking to Jim Herron who is leading the pointing on the rockwork on the Lava building and Jim says there used to be some pipes sticking straight up out of the ground near the pumphouse. I am wondering if there was a gatevalve for the pipeline just out of the building. Does anyone know of photos?