Q: Why hasn't the splash park behind RiverStation in Moline been on this year? My grandson is missing it.

- Carl, Davenport

A: The fountain at Bass Street Landing has been inoperable this year due to a possible leak in one of the pipes leading to the water source, said Candace Sountris, spokeswoman for the city of Moline. "Ruhl & Ruhl, the property manager of RiverStation and the fountain, has been working diligently to determine the problem. A local drain and plumbing company has been retained to investigate the leak using a small camera."

It is hoped that the fountain will be repaired and back in operation in the next few weeks, Sountris said.

Q: We live in Bettendorf near the Davenport border and are confused with the different storm warning sirens. It appears that each city has different sounding sirens for the same weather warning. Can you provide an explanation of the different sirens?

- Mike, Bettendorf

A: Mike, as of July 21, all cities will have the same siren sounds in Scott and Rock Island counties. For severe thunderstorms - those packing winds of 70 mph or more - the warning sound will be short, consecutive siren blasts. For tornadoes, it will be a standard siren wail.

July 21 marks the one-year anniversary of so-called "straight-line winds" that blew through the Quad-Cities, knocking out power to several thousand people for several days.

Q: Side-view mirrors on cars always warn that objects are closer than they appear. Why don't manufacturers just make a mirror that displays objects at an accurate distance?

- Earl, Prophetstown, Ill.

A: Dan Fox, BMW sales manager at Kimberly Car City in Davenport, said the convex shape of the mirror gives a wider view of the side of the car to help reduce blind spots without having to make the mirror larger. That shape also distorts the view - hence the warning. "The blind spot safety is more important than the view," Fox said.