Gorman-Rupp will acquire National Pump Co.
September 2, 2010

Gorman-Rupp has announced plans to acquire the National Pump Company later this fall. If approved by regulators, the addition should be very helpful to rounding out Gorman-Rupp's offerings for pumps in the drinking-water market, complementing the many offerings of their other subsidiary, the Patterson Pump Co. As representatives for both Gorman-Rupp and Patterson, we are excited to receive word of this acquisition and look forward to having access to an even broader range of pump offerings.


Outgoing DNR director comments on Lake Delhi flooding-related pollution
September 1, 2010

The failure of the Lake Delhi dam on the Maquoketa River has pushed a lot of sediment downstream, and the outgoing director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources calls the pollution -- largely made of silt that's being washed downstream by the new current -- "atrocious", according to the Des Moines Register. A report in the Waterloo Courier says that biologists worry that fish species could disappear from the river because of the dramatic change in the water habitat.

One common measure of water quality is turbidity, which essentially serves as a test of the clarity of the water. Sites looking to measure turbidity with a trouble-free, reliable automatic system should consider the ATI turbidity monitor. Please feel free to contact us with your questions.


Failing septic system causes Grand Island mobile-home park to shut down
August 31, 2010

A mobile-home park in Grand Island, Nebraska, has been shut down because its failing septic system has been contaminating the ground with sewage, in part due to a high water table. The owners of the park blamed a handful of residents for causing problems with the system and for initiating the complaint with the state regulatory agency that led to the decision to close. The park also had problems with uranium in its drinking-water supply, for which it had applied to the state for funding assistance a few years ago. Meanwhile, a mobile-home park near Iowa City is encountering legal troubles over the quality of its drinking water, where tests indicate that the water is probably safe to drink, despite a reported serious odor problem.

Keeping drinking-water supplies safe and clean, and properly treating small wastewater systems like lagoons and septic tanks, can be challenging for small communities on tight budgets. Fortunately, there are breakthrough technologies like small-scale ultraviolet (UV) disinfection that are now available, in addition to well-established technologies like safe chlorination tablets that can help assure the quality and safety of essential drinking-water supplies. We can help you with either type of application, so please feel free to contact us with your questions.


New Orleans inches towards comprehensive flood protection
August 30, 2010

The New York Times recently featured a story on the system of floodwalls and gates and pump stations being completed to protect low-lying New Orleans from the lakes and rivers that surround and pass through it. We represent two companies whose products are being used to protect the city today: Patterson Pump Co. supplied many of the high-flow pumps, and Golden Harvest manufactured many of the water-control gates being used. These two great American manufacturers are capable of projects both large and small, and we have had many successes with each in both Iowa and Nebraska.


Algae problem cuts into Ohio town's drinking water
August 27, 2010

Algae blooms are commonly found in lagoons, ponds, and lakes in the summertime when temperature and light conditions are best for encouraging their growth. While algae are a naturally-occuring feature in lakes and other bodies of water, they can be significantly encouraged by the presence of the right set of nutrients -- particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients are in particularly large supply where runoff from fertilizers is in large supply; both agricultural and lawn fertilizers tend to be major suppliers of both nutrients. One major problem with algae growth is that it can remove too much oxygen from the water. In places where surface waters like lakes are used to supply drinking-water systems, algae can also clog the filtration systems that keep the water safe -- and that's exactly what's happening in an Ohio town located on an island in Lake Erie. On a more ordinary basis, many wastewater treatment plants face challenges controlling algae in clarifiers and lagoons. To help control algae, wastewater treatment plants may wish to consider options like clarifier covers (which block light and thus prevent the algae from growing) and perforated screens (which can be very effective at removing algae from the water with high efficiency). Contact us if you're having problems with algae, and we can help you find the right solution for your system.


Gorman-Rupp says the Blue Octo is coming
August 26, 2010



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FEMA says Lake Delhi won't get any Federal money
August 25, 2010

FEMA has declined a request for assistance from the people trying to rebuild the Lake Delhi dam, which failed catastrophically last month. Though FEMA has nothing about the decision on its website yet, the governor has protested, calling the decision unfair. The public discussion about the decision has already turned rather interesting in eastern Iowa. Part of FEMA's decision was apparently based upon the fact that the dam was for recreational purposes and didn't serve any other use, like the production of hydroelectricity.

Hydro-electric dams often use radial gates, like the ones we supply from Golden Harvest, to control upstream water levels and ensure reliable energy production. Since the Lake Delhi dam originally did serve to produce electricity, though it was later abandoned, it's possible that the reconstruction process will include the addition of a hydroelectric component.


Sizing a home system to improve low water pressure
August 24, 2010

We received this inquiry the other day:

I have a tri-plex that has new copper water pipes. 1" feed into the house and to each floor, 3/4" pipes for all horizontal runs and 1/2" pipes in the walls. The whirlpool tub on the first floor has 3/4" pipes all the way to the tub fixture. The water pressure is acceptable as long as only one thing is on at a time. We have two clothes washers, 3 dishwashers, 3 water heaters, 3 full kitchens and 3 full baths.

The only thing that is not new is the feed from the water meter which is a 3/4" galvanized pipe that is probably 70 years old. It's about a 50-foot run from the street to the new copper 1" feed at the house. I am sure that replacing the supply line will help but it won't solve the real problem of "too much demand" for the single 3/4" water meter.

I want to boost the system so that the issue goes away. Which pump do I need and how much will it cost me?

It's a good question, and since our home water pressure booster pumps are such a popular item, it's worth examining and sharing our comments with you. Here's our reply:

Your situation involves a number of factors that make it difficult to answer directly. If the pipe is 70 years old, there is a very good chance that contains corrosion and sediment deposits that will reduce its capacity to carry water. 3/4" pipe usually carries only a maximum of about 20 gallons per minute when brand-new, so if your demand exceeds that amount (which it easily could if you have a triplex living arrangement that includes features like a whirlpool tub), then the answer may be in installing new, larger-diameter piping rather than installing a new pump.

You're more than welcome to review our pressure-booster pump options, but be advised that those pumps start with a minimum of a 1" suction line, and some have 1.25". It's essential that you do not starve the pump by putting a pump with a 1" suction fitting on a 3/4" feed line, for instance. A pump needs to always be served by a feed line at least as large as the inlet to the pump itself.

If you have questions about pumps, water service, or anything else in our field of service, contact us and we'll be happy to help.


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