Water level stable in 2010

Water-level reports were suspended pending deep-water pumping system installation. The water level at the Sanford Underground Laboratoary has remained stable in 2010 -- between 5,050 and 5,084 underground -- while preparations for two major upgrades are under way. The first upgrade will be the installation of  a deep-water submersible-pump system that will be lowered down Six Winze* to a just below the 7,400-foot level. Two submersible pumps, in tandem on one pump column, will lift water to the 5,000-foot level. The second upgrade will restore the permanent pump room at the 5000 Level. This is the same pump room used by Homestake Mining Co. Two 700-horsepower pumps will lift water to the pump room at the 3650 level. The 5000 Level pumps will replace a series of smaller submersible pumps used during the first phase of dewatering." src="/sites/all/modules/wysiwyg/plugins/break/images/spacer.gif" title="<--break-->"> The start-up of the new system is expected in the summer of 2010. Weekly water-level reports will resume then. *A "winze" is a shaft that doesn't break the surface. Six Winze, for example goes from the 4550 Level to the 8000 Level.