Stop now, what’s that sound, everybody guess what’s going on

I got this email from Rachel Haider earlier this week:

Do you have any idea what the VERY loud noise is that has been happening on weekdays over about the past week?  I’m placing it near the high school, although it may be echoing around.  It sounds like escaping steam.  Perhaps it’s construction related, but I just don’t know. I’d love to find out if anyone has an idea.

I told Rachel that I guessed it was related to the street/sewer construction at Woodley and Division,  just a couple blocks from the High School.

But then while biking home yesterday, taking the path off Linden Place to the tennis courts adjacent to the District Admin Building/High School, I heard the sound. LOUD.  It appeared to come from somewhere near Bierman’s Funeral Home. I circled around but could find nothing in the area.

But now I know.  It has something to do with this photo:

DSC06455

Update July 1:

Sean Hayford O’Leary guessed correctly. See the update on the City’s website:

The City of Northfield is having maintenance done on the #5 well at 1701 Archibald Street this week. The maintenance requires a loud air pressurizing of the well reservoir and an air lifting process to remove the sand that has fallen to the bottom of the well. This loud sand removal system will be in affect until at least the 12th of July excluding the 4th of July weekend. The well contractor has removed about 40 yards of sand so far from the bottom of the well. The Water Division will keep the public informed of the progress of the sand removal at this well.

More info on KYMN’s blog here.

I stopped by to take some photos, video, and to chat with the contractor doing the work, Bergerson Caswell of Maple Plain, MN.

Water Division Well #5 Water Division Well #5 Water Division Well #5

3 Comments

  1. Griff Wigley said:

    Correct, Sean.

    I’ve now added photos and a 12-second video clip of the “loud air pressurizing of the well reservoir and an air lifting process” to the blog post above.

    July 1, 2011
  2. Jane McWilliams said:

    Thanks, Griff and Sean. When I left the house early (was it yesterday?) I heard that noise. Although I live over on the west side, near the Ole Store, it sounded as if it were happening out on Highway 19. Must have been deafening to the Archibald street neighbors. I assume they were warned!

    July 1, 2011

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