The Safety and Health Department
Temperature: -25.6.8 C, - 14.1F Windchill: - 38.4C, - 37.1F Wind: 12.6 knts. Weather: clear and sunny
A 6:30 am morning call gave me time to post the journals and meet Carolyn Macola, our Safety and Health Engineer at 8 am to accompany her for some water sample testing.
I was looking forward to this meeting because of similar testing I do with students using water from the Hudson and the East River around New York City during my Ecology Water Unit. Kai Ross, the Health and Safety specialist from McMurdo just arrived at the South Pole and came along with us. She is originally from New York and used to work for the DEP in New York being responsible for the drinking water. (It is very tasty; I can assure you that having lived in New York City for many years! It is almost as tasty as the South Pole water!).
We were told to be prepared and bundle up going down to the lowest level of the "Beer Can”, the silver structure at the end of the New Station.
Tunnel to the Power Plant
As we went down, the temperature dropped and we entered a tunnel that led us to one of the arches that houses the new Power Plant.
The water testing room is down the tunnel inside the room with the water holding tanks which receive the water from the Rod-Well. Carolyn brought with her a case with water samples that she collected from different parts of the station
The Water Treatment Plant Personnel need to do the following: Collect water samples from:
- Rodwell,
- treated water supply
- galley
Monthly testing: Carolyn has to do the following testing every month:
1. Coliform, testing for possible bacterial growth in the water (E.Coli) 2. Copper 3. Lead
Water sampling work bench
Carolyn is standing next to her water sample work bench preparing samples to be tested.
Testing for Coliform
Elke and Carolyn preparing bottles for the coliform test*
Water sample preparation
Elke and Kai preparing bottles for the water tests.*
We both are learning
Elke and Kai enjoying learning about water sample preparations.*
Testing for copper
Carolyn and Elke preparing the samples for copper testing*
Automatic copper testing
Kai and Carolyn placing the vile into the HACH machine for copper testing. (HACH is an automatic trace-metal-testing machine)*
Weekly testing:
1. Free chlorine : desirable range: 0.25 – 0.50 mg/L 2. pH : desirable range:6.5 – 8.5
Daily Testing: 1. pH (normal range for Rodwell: 6.5 to 8, Galley 8.0 – 9.0, treated water: maintained to 8.5 but varies to 7.5 2. Temp. 3. free Chlorine 4. volume of the chlorine tank
It is interesting how the station maintains high safety standards. In addition, 15 volunteers are trained to help out on long weekends with the daily measurements to be done at the power plant including the water testing.
Carolyn had to leave the power plant soon so she introduced me to the Tim, one of the power plant engineers. I was able to see the power plant and I will talk about the power production at the station in the next journal.
Carolyn had to hurry to welcome tourist mountaineers who were arriving at the station soon. These are mountaineers that pay a guide to walk to the South Pole. They pitch up their tent near the Geographic Pole and a Twin OtterA highly maneuverable utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada. It can be flown slowly and in tight circles, and is designed for 20 passengers, short takeoffs and landings, and often used for cargo, passengers, and as a science platform. Plane of the Adventure company will pick them up. Carolyn is from California and this is her first time in Antarctica. She used to work for the Air Force as a Bio Environmental Engineer. After her departure from the South Pole, she would like to continue her alphabet marathon and run the race in McMurdo, as fro "M” in the alphabet. Her following race will be in Alaska. Good luck Carolyn!
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