North I 40 guzzler repair

The North I-40 guzzler needed some creative problem solving.

On February 4, 2024, Steve Marschke and I (Debbie Miller Marschke) hiked to the North I-40 guzzler in an attempt to diagnose and repair a problem with the water collection. This guzzler is one of SCBS’s non-traditional designs; it was installed in cooperation with Cal Trans when the 40 Interstate was constructed. The water drains from the Highway, which is at a higher elevation, flows down into a vault, and feeds to a New Mexico style stainless steel drinker box. SCBS volunteers periodically remove debris that builds up in the vault.  On this occasion, Steve Marschke discovered that there was a blockage within the supply pipe between the vault and the drinker box.  The problem was not what he was expecting to deal with, so the two of us began brainstorming and scavenging as a team effort to come up with something that would work. I spent a lot of time combing the side of the highway for anything that came off the road that we could use: wood, bits of metal, trash. Steve examined everything we had brought with us. What we needed was a drain snake (we left that at home with the “kitchen sink”…). What we engineered in the field was a hacksaw blade attached by wire to an electrical fish tape reel.  This rather hillbilly fix did work out and Steve was able to clear the clog: a small angular rock lodged inside the pipe, which backed up organic debris. All the while, the Mojave winds were increasing and some very pregnant low dark clouds were headed our way. We were very determined not to give up, we did not want to make a second trip to get the job completed. Once Steve broke through the clog, the expected gush of water came streaming out. Steve had also re-engineered the pipe by installing a shut off valve at the point he made the cut on the pipe, so he was able to shut off the flow and reconnect the pipe before turning the supply back on. “Stand back,” Steve warned, “ if the clog breaks lose, I’m not sure how this will go…” We did not lose very much water in the process, but it was entertaining.  Maybe to some of you this sounds like a lot of work; we find it fun and challenging. A great day!