Dam good fun!

Ok, apologies first off for the cheesy title.  This is just a quick snippet of my day walking up bore valley to the fresh water dam and weir with the tech services squad, Tommy and Matt H.  Due to the brodificum spreading done by the helicopters, it is important to ensure minimal amounts end up in our drinking water.  The water we use on base for all our requirements comes from a fresh mountain spring and melt water stream a miles or so from base.  The stream has been dammed and there are is a sluiced system which ultimately feeds a pipe which runs down to Grytviken disused whaling station and then around the cove to KEP.  The run off from the dam runs down the valley following the original water course and eventually empties into the sea.
So we set off.  The first job was to go to a man hole in the whaling station to connect a large fire hose to a hydrant.  With this open, it will gush water straight from the dam holding tank (the pressure is quite high.... see silly photo below)  Then we hiked up the valley to the dam, and on arrival, Matt closed the sluice gate which feeds the tank and pipe.  As the hose was open in Grytviken the tank was now emptying. We then opened the sluice to drain the dam basin.  This was so we could remove any rat pellets which had collected in the pre-tapped part of the water system.  It was great fun draining tens of thousands of gallons of water in just a few minutes!  The job didnt take long, and one the area was devoid of stray pellets the dam was closed and we enjoyed the sunshine while the basin filled once more.  True british workers, except we forgot the flask of tea!

Oh dear.

The pressure takes some holding on to!

Emptying the basin.

Gurgle.