Plumbers at the End of The Line as Mawson Water Crisis Worsens.

February 2011, expeditioners destined for Mawson on the Aurora Australis were surprised to find that the station was short of water. With the Antarctic ice dome at its door step threatening to increase sea levels globally by many metres from  global warming and wind power to burn from its two wind turbines, could Mawson be really running low on water?

Notice of Water Shortages at Mawson on the Aurora Australis.

 Visitors to Mawson were asked to take note.
Expeditioners and round trippers from the Aurora Australis were notified of the water shortage with the above notice shortly before arriving at Mawson at the end of February 2011.

Being efficient with water was not a difficult concept as most had come from parts of Australia with water restrictions that have been in place for years.

So why the shortage and why is it not getting better?  Station plumbers, Grant and Rod have been kept busy trying to solve the problem since our arrival.

The key issue is that we on station are consuming more water than is being produced. Melted water is pumped to storage tanks but the water level in the melt area is declining and until things are turned around and water reserves are restored we continue with restrictions and are constantly reminded to be water wise.

Wash only if you need to and don't use permanent press cycle.

To make the point more personal the average daily usage per person is being posted on the white board in the mess and notices have been placed in the laundry.

Per Person Daily Water Consumption.

How does the Station Make Water?
The water making process goes something like this. A heating element called a melt bell is placed on the deep ice about 500 metres from the station. The melting ice makes a small pool of water which grows into a deep pool of warm water with a small opening at the top as the melt bell melts into the ice. The melted warmer water continues to melt more ice. When there is sufficient melted water to continue the melting process the surplus is pumped off to the station storage tanks.


In a normal year the station also would get water from melt streams draining off the plateau. These melt streams are formed by melting ice in summer from warmer bursts of above zero temperatures. However the summer just gone was colder than normal and no stream water was available. So for 2011 we are starting the year with low levels.


As well as encouraging efficiencies the plumbers have been checking the station services to ensure there are no leaks and wasteful processes. They have been searching high and low to find where water is being wasted and savings can be made.

Mawson Nanatak Brewery and Plumbing Services

The Brewery came in for close scrutiny as did the hydroponics hut.
 
The station uses 3000 - 4000 litres of water daily. We also must hold substantial water reserves for fire fighting services.

End of the Line for the Plumbers

The plumbers have been seen checking 'site services'*  around the station looking at where the water goes.
After searching the whole system they were seen at the end of the line shaking their heads at the small trickle of treated water that leaves the system.



Burst Pipe Adds to the Shortage.
So with a background of low water levels, that are in steady decline, it was all hands to the pump when a a major leak was detected on 10th April in the pipe between the melt bell and the storage tanks. The leak happened the night before Grant the plumber was due to do his 3 day field training trip up to the plateau and the departure was delayed until the damage was assessed. The leak proved to be major and both plumbers were needed on station until it could be repaired. The electricians, chippies and other staff also got into the action. 

Major Leak. (Photo by C .Wilson)

However the field training was also a high priority activity so I was asked if I would like to do my field training in place of Grant. So with half an hours notice I was ready to go. (see post Camping Antarctic Style)

The leak took three days to fix and generated another leak problem, since rectified. The work was done in temperatures below -20 degree C with the ever reliable Mawson katabatic wind providing its usual 20-30kt winds.

Setting up at the Melt Bell.

During the crisis stronger restrictions were applied and washing of cloths was curtailed. If the problem couldn't be fixed quickly there was a worry that long term restrictions would become more severe than showers each second day and cloths washing  and flushing only if necessary.

Making a Work Platform (Photo by C .Wilson)

 
Of course there have been the arm chair experts who have made suggestions on how things could be more efficient in the future – front load washing machines, flow restrictors, small volume duel flush toilets etc. but that doesn’t help the situation at the station now.

 

Melt Bell Ready to be Lowered. (Photo by C .Wilson)

 In the final 'washup' of work carried out much of the pipework to the melt bell was replaced and it appears that the the leak is now fixed and to date the output from the melt bell appears to be higher than before.

 * Site services are electrical, communication, water and sewerage services however because of the hard rock and the polar conditions are delivered along above ground conduits. Water has particular problems in that it must not be allowed to freeze.