Update on the VE “Noria” Water System Repair

Many of the owners in VE have been asking me for an update on the water system repair project. So I thought this is the best way to inform the community and keep all owners updated.

After repairing the MASSIVE LEAK ( which we now know has been years in the leaking) in the system which was completed on Tuesday afternoon, a second leak developed on the same section due to the high pressure release. As a result, the residents served by this system suffered an outage all day Thursday while the entire horizontal water line from the Bridge over the river on the Eighth green to the connection headed up the hill on the other side was replaced.

Prior to this second leak all homes at the highest elevation received full water pressure for over eight hours and all homes at this higher elevation had their water tanks filled for the first time in weeks.

After the second repair, there was an unexplainable issue as to why the tanks were still emptying faster than the supply could keep up with. A second yield test demonstrated that the fresh water supply had decreased by over 11,000 gallons per day since the last yield test that was only 7 days prior. The initial thought and concern was that the springs were drying up and that the diminished supply coupled with smaller distribution leaks would once again create pressure issues.

Earlier today, I was joined by Stan Hime, Dennis Griffin, Michael Burd and workers from Liberty Services whom all worked together to test for further leaks. The tests demonstrated two very important things.

First, the bypass repair was working properly without any leakage, which validated solving the over 26,000 gallons per day leak that as mentioned, existed for many years.

Second, the water supply system was sabotaged over the last two days. Below is a picture of a spring box supply line that was intentionally smashed to pieces. This section of pipe is far behind the storage tanks and it was discovered earlier today by a Liberty Services worker who was conducting the weekly maintenance of the chlorine system.

The photograph shows that a section of schedule 40 PVC pipe and a union that brought two sections together was intentionally smashed to pieces. Those of us at the site conclude this was no accident with zero evidence of a fallen rock, boulder or tree branch in the vicinity of the broken pipe. Why, you may ask, would anyone participate in such a horrible act to hurt others? It is not for me to answer, but I encourage the community to take a hard look at any possible owner(s) who might benefit or sickeningly enjoy doing such a thing. There is a past in VE that must end for this community to heal.

This is, I believe, at least the fourth discovery of sabotage to the water system since I started analyzing and repairing the issues. The other three included the intentional diversion of all water preventing it from entering the spring box, a restricted street valve, and the intentional closing of the new municipal bypass valve during one night.

After repairing the damages to the spring supply line the water supply once again returned to 48,000 gallons per day and full water pressure was available once again to all homes at the highest elevation the community.

The developer also did recently install a municipal bypass which allows this system to be supplemented with the municipal source which is capable of supplying all homes with water excluding the 6 residences suffering the most at the highest elevation; The pressure at remaining homes at the higher elevations is still low when only the bypass line is open but there is constant water supply. The point of the bypass is to provide water while allowing the spring boxes to recover if needed in the future whether it be due to future leaks or decreased supply. If necessary, the Noria spring box holding tanks could be closed at night to allow replenishment while the municipal bypass is open. Then the Noria tanks could be opened charging the already primarily full water lines bringing ample pressure and supply to all homes including the ones at the highest elevations.

Currently the system is properly working as designed, However, I encourage the community to review some security protocol's to prevent further sabotage. It is discouraging that anyone would be reckless and or vindictive to hurt a water system already struggling with already low water holdings, there are many ways this could occur such as running open water valves inside their own homes as this would drain the system faster than it can resupply punishing the homes at the higher elevations where they need additional pressure. 

I know there will be a few remaining in VE who will continue to criticize my efforts regardless of my actions or results, they have in the past, they continue to do so now; I cannot control their negativeness or what I call lies. All I can do is what I was asked, based upon my experience in Valle Escondido, to the best of my ability and hope at least I satisfy the majority who are my friends in VE.  

Thanks to those who have worked along side with me to help with this venture and thanks to all the owners who truly thanked me for my efforts.  It encourages me that you are appreciative.

I have reported all of this verbally to the SC and their support and understanding of what we had to achieve is well understood and received. 

Ralf Henrich

A Fellow Resident