Pumphouse Maintenance

In previous articles the importance of the pump house and irrigation system has been sited time and time again.  Because of the dry golfing seasons, extensive use and water content, two of the pumps were malfunctioning and needed maintenance.  Removal of these pumps is a job in itself, in which a crane is needed to lift the 2500 pumps through the pump house roof. 
The pumps draw water from a "wet well" beneath the pumphouse, which in turn is fed by the pond on the 4th fairway.  The water coming into the well is high in magnesium, calcium and iron.  These substances bind to other sediment and minerals resulting in hard water.  The four pumps sit in this water and over time, heavy sediment builds up on the surface, interior and intakes of the pumps.  Clogging the intakes and intake screens puts undue stress on motor and pump impellers alike, and is what caused the number two pump and sustain pump to malfunction last fall.  While the sustain pump was salvageable with just an extensive dousing in muriatic acid, the larger number two pump had to be replaced.  

Before

After

The heavy sediment build up is apparent on the sustain pump.  This sediment also resided on the inside of the pipe as well, narrowing the diameter of the pipe and again putting stress on the pump motor.
Besides the pumps, the control panel that monitors and operates the pumps had to be shut down as well.  The radiator that cools the control panel went down in the fall but the concern wasn't as great because the daytime temperatures started to cool off.  However, in the heat of summer it will become a necessity and is being repaired.
Luckily, the winter of 2013 proved much longer than the previous year.  Summer will not allow the irrigation system to be down for a sustained period of time so it is best to perform these checks now.  The slideshow illustrates the process from pulling the pump to replacing them.  Enjoy.