How does the Cistern work?

[tacc]

I played through the game 2 times and something about the Cistern is weird.
The first time:
I'm sure that I turned a Valve two times before the Organic stuff and the Lurker appeared. I think it happened before I turned the third Valve (the one with the bridge).

The second time:
I tried everything but the Organic stuff and the Lurker just didn't appear at all. Even after I turned two of the Valves several times (the third one just didn't unlock again). Nothing happened (except the Wind effect). I was able to enter the sewer however.

I thought it was supposed to work like this:
Turned first Valve:
Area getting darker, wind effect and all that stuff.

Turned second Valve:
Area getting even darker and so on.

Turned third Valve:
Organic stuff and Lurker appear.

But obviously it doesn't work that way. I don't even understand why it's possible to turn some Valves several times. You can't turn it a second time immediately but after some time [or after doing something] it's possible again. Might have something to do with turning the Steam Valve multiple times.