A day in the life of McFate.
Tough work today.
Designed and installed a solar/battery powered pumping system in a 200 ft well today. The drought has many local wells slowing way down. This one used to be +15 gallons per minute but it is now around 3 gpm. I had to install level sensors so the pump would cycle instead of just constantly bottoming out the well. The main source of power is solar panels but the well cannot put out enough water for the house and garden in just the available daylight hours so it needed batteries (literally a ton) to store the solar power so the pump can run at night too. I also had to install a low voltage disconnect switch to protect the batteries from over discharging and a float switch in the holding tank 200feet higher up a poison oak covered hillside. High 90 degrees Fahrenheit does not help and invites the poison oak oils into the pores.
Meanwhile some military style helicopter was buzzing overhead looking for nearby "medicinal" gardens. My work is not directly involved in any of these but they are everywhere around here. It is always possible that I could get swept up in a raid for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I would eventually be cleared but it could be a huge hassle. I've heard of other local contractors having their vehicles and tools seized and having to go through the courts to get them back.
Gorgeous views. Hawks, eagles and rattlesnakes. Right at the end of the day I pulled my back out loading up my tools. Fortunately the client is a doctor who is also a studied chiropractor. His wife brought me into the house and the doc fixed my back and recommended a J to help me relax this evening.
Ah. The honey-do list will have to wait tonight.