BACTERIA TESTING - OLD WATER DRAIN PIPE

            NOW THAT THE NEW WATER PIPE HAS BEEN HIGHLY CHLORINATED AND DE-CHLORINATED, THE COUNTY LABORATORY IS TESTING THE WATER FOR BACTERIA TO INSURE IT  IS SAFE TO DRINK.

           "JENNIFER HUBBARD", THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAB TECHNICIAN, WILL TAKE SAMPLES AT 11 DIFFERENT POINTS FOR 2 DAYS. THE FIRST SAMPLE IS TAKEN AT THE WATER PLANT TO ESTABLISH A REFERENCE POINT..

FIRST JENNIFER HEATS THE FACET TO KILL

THE LOCAL BACTERIA

AND TAKES THE SAMPLE IN A PLASTIC STERILE BAG..

SHE THEN MOVES ON TO THE OTHER SAMPLE POINTS..

WHEN THE SAMPLES ARE APPROVED AT THE COLLIER COUNTY LAB, THE RESULTS OF THE TEST WILL BE SENT TO THE STATE FOR A SIGNATURE

OF FINAL APPROVAL..

THE DIGGING CREW HAS PASSED CRISTOBAL ST. AND IS PROCEEDING TOWARDS THE BLUE HERON..

A FIRE HYDRANT 6" ISOLATION VALVE IS INSTALLED.. 

THERE IS ONLY ABOUT 12' BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THE HEDGES TO WORK, BUT THEY KEEP 2-WAY TRAFFIC OPEN..

DOC LOACH WAS ENVIRONMENTALLY  SENSITIVE TO THE TIDAL FLOWS  WHEN HE MADE THE LAND BRIDGES. A 24" DRAIN PIPE WAS UNCOVERED THAT APPARENTLY WENT FROM SIDE TO SIDE.

IT WAS FULL OF WATER AND HAD A LOT OF SAND IN IT. USING A SAW WITH A METAL CUTTER, THE SECTION HAD TO BE CUT OUT TO ALLOW THE NEW WATER PIPE TO CONTINUE ON..

OVER THE YEARS THE SAND AND SILT MUST HAVE BUILT UP AND ALLOWED IT TO BE COVERED OVER AND FORGOTTEN..

THE CREW BUILT A BRICK WALL TO COVER THE EXPOSED PIPE AND CONTINUED ON..

THE WORK THEN  CONTINUED ON TOWARD THE BLUE HERON..