On Feb. 22, our neighborhood community pond(4 acres in size?) emptied when the 13-year-old metal control gate at the bottom of the 42" riser rusted through and blew out. A dam engineer is suggesting a siphon system as a long term fix, but the neighborhood needs to to explore all options as we have a budget limited by the dues we have collected through the years. My main question: Is there a plastic pipe option with a control gate that would fit inside the existing 42" pipe like a sleeve so we would not have to bore into our dam to install a siphon system, or entirely tear out the existing riser? The pond is fed by underground springs so the water source is there and not a problem. Our problem would be to coffer dam away the water while fixing the system. So, my main question is: Does such a plastic sleeve system that would fit inside a 42" pipe exist? If it does, is it feasible to think a contractor could fit it together inside the existing metal pipe? If such a system is not possible, what is more feasible; to replace the existing riser system with aluminum, or is the siphon system simply the best solution all the way around? Thanks for any suggestions.
