Current owner Aqua Virginia and proposed owner Reston RELAC LLC are now working to prepare the RELAC community air-conditioning chilled water system for 2013 operation. This involves cleaning out silt and other debris from the Lake Anne plant closed water loop, clearing debris from the inlet intake screens and filters, and starting and testing all equipment. The customer closed water loop serving 325 customers, including several large multi-family residences, will be pressurized as early as next week.
As required by Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) utility tariff rules, RELAC will provide 2013 Cooling Season chilled water in May following the first two consecutive 80F days, but no later than 12:00 noon May 22, 2013, through 12:00 noon October 9, 2013. The plant will operate 24x7 unless outdoor temperatures drop below 55F, when service will be temporarily suspended until outdoor temperatures exceed 60F.
Noisy and expensive external diesel pumps to compensate for low Lake Anne water levels should not be necessary this year because RELAC recently modified its intake configuration to draw deeper water. This and other improvements have increased RELAC reliability. According to a Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) October 31, 2012 report, RELAC met tariff-required chilled water temperatures during 144 days of the 160-day 2012 Cooling Season. During that time, the system was only one degree warmer for eight days, and only two or three degrees warmer on two days. That's 90 percent consistent water temperature performance during 2012 record summer heat, and 95 percent consistent performance within one degree.
See related RELAC posts and the RELAC page on this website for more information, including important 1974 suggestions for maximum cooling that are still relevant today:
"1. Be sure your (furnace air) filter is clean.
2. Run your fan at high speed.
3. Do not block registers.
4. Balance air flow so more air goes to top floors.
5. Use draperies to screen (out) the direct rays of the sun.
6. In the past, a few homeowners have ruptured their water coils by closing both chill(ed) water valves when they put the furnace on. NEVER close both. The supply (line valve) only should be shut off. This valve is located on (the) line that has (the) electric solenoid on it (the valve with two wires going to it). If in doubt, call RAC (RELAC)."