So far, this is the only water source on the property.
The property is a little mountain peak. The highest point is in the centre, and all four corners are around 40 metres lower than the top. Near one of those corners is the spring! Before beginning to develop it, it looked like a little pond.
Because there are century old gold mining shafts dotting the landscape, testing the water would be very important. Mining can sometimes result in both naturally occurring and man made pollutants. The tests came back fantastically! The only things that weren’t within acceptable limits were coliforms and manganese. Mainly caused from plants and animals wading in the water. Time to figure out how to harness this water and keep animals out of it.
The Plan
The first step was to empty the pond out and determine exactly where the water was coming from. Digging a trench on the downhill side, we found blue clay! Sweet - that’ll be useful for future projects. The water looked to be coming out of a space between two rocks, just below the overhanging tree. A good trickle. Not a ton of water but certainly enough.
Then, to build a wall. A small dam really, that catches the water behind it and keeps the water there and out of the pond. The pond was to hopefully dry up and we’d be able to collect water in barrels sitting where the pond was. The space behind the wall would then be filled with rocks to help the water to stay clean and prevent erosion. Everything is a slope here. Everything but the tippy top of the mountain. So, Erosion is always a consideration.
It would then be covered with a barrier to keep groundwater from running into it.
Water always finds a way.
Not Going According to Plan
As the wall is taking shape we notice something. There is far more water collecting behind the dam than is visibly coming out of the spot between the two rocks. Where is this water coming from? We leave the beginning of the wall overnight for the concrete to cure, and come back to a leak under it, directly in the middle. Two thoughts come to mind.. ‘Shit!’ and ‘Awesome!’
On one hand this is a problem. A big problem. How to contain this water?
On the other hand, MORE WATER! Wahoo!
The holes are plugged with concrete and clay, and pipes are put through the wall lower than planned. Allowing water to escape and give the concrete time to set.
Behind the wall/dam
It is then backfilled with rocks, and the pipes are perforated to allow water in and through. In the above picture a new problem starts to show itself. The yellowish dirt is of course, not dirt - but a sand line. Here’s where all of that extra water is coming from!
The problem is, that the sand line runs to the front of the wall. The pond in front isn’t drying out because it’s being fed by this sand line.
So, for the rest of 2021 this is how it is. It leaks, a lot - but it still gets a flow rate of about a gallon a minute out of the bottom two pipes. Water is collected for the winter and stored by the house.
The unforseen issues: LOTS of water, causing undercutting and sand lines that are carrying water to the other side of the wall.
For now it looks terribly pretty though.
Thank you so much for reading,
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This is epic ! Your so smart !
It’s fascinating, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I’m so glad you are staying positive throughout the challenges you are experiencing. I love to read about your progress!