HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-01-26 City Council (16)City
City of Palo Alto
Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: UTILITIES
DATE:JANUARY 26, 1998 CMR:119:98
SUBJECT:PALO ALTO WATER MAIN DISTRIBUTION FLUSHING
PROGRAM - STATUS REPORT
This is an information report and no Council action is required.
Historically, the City of Palo Alto and approximately 85 percent of water utilities in the
United States use water main flushing to improve water quality for their customers. Water
utilities may flush distribution mains for a variety of reasons: corrosion control, sediment
removal, taste and odor control, control of color, high turbidity, low chlorine residuals,
bacteriological growths, or as a response to customer complaints. The main objectives of
Palo Alto’s flushing program are to improve water quality, control bacterial growth and
remove sediment. ~
Between 1990 and 1993 calendar years, the Palo Alto Water Utility did not perform an
annual main flushing program because of the drought. During this period, customer water
consumption was also reduced, thereby accelerating sediment buildup in the mains. During
1992, numerous calls were received complaining about water quality. At that time, staff took
water samples in response to these calls and found that the reduced water quality was due to
the buildup of sediment in the mains. Also, City Fire Department personnel found more
sediment in their equipment from the City’s water ’system during 1992.
Beginning March 16, 1998 and continuing through March 22, 1998, the City’s Water Utility
Operations Section will open fire hydrants to flush out sediment which has collected in the
mains during the past year.
The water system main flushing map and schedule will be mailed to the City’s water
customers through utility billings and displayed in the Palo Alto Weekly, Palo Alto Daily
News, City Internet Home Page, and on the Cable Co-op community access channel.
CMR: 119:98 Page 1 of 2
ATTACHMENTS
Water System Flushing Schedule and Map
PREPARED BY: ROMEL ANTONIO, CHARLES BORG, ROGER CWIAK
DEPARTMENT HEAD
E~Y~VARI~. MR~ZEK
Director of Utilities
EM I’L--~ HAlf, SON -
Assistant City Manager
CMR:119:98 Page 2 of 2