With winter approaching its conclusion, the pressure is on for all of the critical maintenance jobs on station to be completed ahead of the busy spring program starting in anticipation of summer population arriving in less than three months time. The plumbers, Jamie and Rob, have been doing some important work in the west wing of the living quarters to ensure that there is ample heating once that part of the Red Shed becomes occupied again (we shut it down for the winter when there are only a few of us on station). But as with most things down here, as one thing gets accomplished another challenge is already waiting for you and for Jamie and Rob, it was the dreaded winter maintenance of the waste treatment plant, known affectionately here as the “poo farm”.
Without going into too much detail, large macerating discs are an important part of the waste treatment process in our treatment plant. These need periodic servicing and occasional dismantling and rebuilding. In order to do this, the holding tanks need to be emptied and cleaned, the discs removed and cleaned, then repaired or rebuilt before putting it all back together again and then even more cleaning. Cleaning is a pretty major part of anything done down in the “poo farm”.
But once again, after a pretty tough week, the waste treatment plant is up and running and we can rest assured that we will continue to meet our important environmental targets. Also, once again, we are reminded that the plumbers control both the drinking water and the waste on station. They are certainly not people to be trifled with.
Thanks Rob and Jamie — we appreciate it despite all the stirring.
