DC pressure water stopped working

[luvitt]

I just launched saturday, and im in my slip. I have city water, so im ok. but the pressure water stopped working. the pump is running continuously when i turn it on. city water is off when i turn on dc water pressure pump. so i think no water is making it to the pump. It stopped pumping just before i left the boatyard, but i thought the 120gallon tank was empty (i still think it was empty) as i had been using it for about 6 months. I filled it when i got to the marina and now nothing comes out the sink. i recently installed a shutoff valve in-line next to the tank. it is turned on. Is something clogging the tank maybe? im stumped. i get a very small trickle when i turn it on. previously it was like a fire hose.

any ideas or suggestions?

thanks.

 

[luvitt]

ok, i found the problem 45 seconds after i posted. I turned the shutoff valve off, disconnected the supply line from the valve. opened the shutoff valve and it looks like sand is clogging the tank. it almost looked like sand & shells were coming out. i have seen tanks with cloudy crap floating in them, almost like wet toilet paper or slime or scum, but never sand? is anybody familar with some kind of "bacteria" or slime or something that could account for it? or did a kid come along and build a sand castle over my tank filler!?! it never had this problem before.

thanks.

 

[Tim R.]

Likely it is sand from a well. Where does your marina water come from? Local well or public utilility?

 

[luvitt]

yup, thats it! the boatyard had a very crappy well. it wasnt even safe to drink. it was like something they rigged up themselves by pounding sections of pipe into the ground with a sledge hammer until they hit water. crazy. now i got the tank flowing and the sink ran a little better for a minute, but now only a trickle again. i guess my lines are all full of sand too.

better edit my post since i was slandering someone!

 

[Tim R.]

They probably when right into their leech field! Those have LOTS of sand.