The Bonee

	On up the hill beyond the Elk County Water Treatment Plant is an old trail that leads up to the original water source for the Village of Elk. We still maintain one portion of that old system, called "Feeder 5", in case we ever need emergency water.
	A catchment basin made of redwood planks collects the water. A short distance to the left is a year-round stream from which a portion of water is diverted into this tank.
	The intake pipe sitting in that stream flow.
	Water, collected from the stream, flows into the catchment basin. There is always some sand in this water and most of it settles out in the redwood tank. Sand and debris has almost filled the tank. This tank needs to be cleaned out, on average, about three times per year.
	The outlet end of the tank. We keep a screen over the outlet to help keep leaves and sticks from entering the pipe.
	Emptying the tank of sand and debris is sped up by pulling a plug located in the right corner of the tank by the outlet. The long wooden plug is seen here lying across the end of the tank. Continued water flow from the intake side helps wash the sand out.
	Using the drain and the inlet flow still leaves a wall of sediment that has to be scooped out.
	Finally, the tank is clean. It is time to put the drain plug back in, let the tank fill up with water and start flowing again on it's long journey to the treatment plant.
	One last item. Part way back to the treatment plant there is a clean-out valve. This valve is opened to flush out sediment that has collected in low sections of the pipe. Once the water is flowing clean this valve is shut off.