HomeMy WebLinkAbout0119.095' ... .'. :. -.. '
City of Palo Alto
City l\1anager t s Rep~rt
ro.
FROM:
DATE:
St.JBJECI':
-BIDIJf.ST
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
OTY MA.~GER DEPAR'lMENT: UtIlItles
CMR.: 119:95
This Is an informational tepOIt on the stalUs of !he W.1er Utilily'~ annual Waler Main
Distribution System Flushing Program. k advises Council why such • program is mzuired
and wbeo if: wi!! be implemented. No Council action is required.
R1!roMMF.NJ)IDONS
There are 110 fI:COOIIlIC!Ida and 110 City Council action required al this time.
POucy IMPYCA\DQNS
This repoc! does DOl CODIaln any cbaDge 10 Wsting policies.
EXfiCIlI'IVE SUMMARY
HisIoricalIy, the City d Palo Aho and approximately 8S percent of water uti1itic:s in !he
United States use main flushing 10 improve water quaIity fOr water customers. Water
utilities may flush distribution =ins fOr a variety cC reasons: corrosion control, sedimen!
removal, I3Ste and odor control, con!roI of coIor,lligh rurbidity. low cl!lorine residuals, or
bac!erio!ogical growtbs, or as • r=.>J!l'lC 10 CIlS!omer compWms. The main objectives of
. Palo Aho', flushing program are 10 improve water quality. oontroI bacterial growth and for
sediment removed. The Warer UtiliIy Operations bad fewer water quality compWms as a
resull of !he 1994 Water Main Flushing Program.
Between 1990 and 1993 calendar Y=. the Palo Aho Water Utilily did DOl perform an
annual main flushing program because of !he drooght. During this per>Od. CUSlooler "'"liter
coosumption was aJso reduced. thereby accelerating sediment buildup in the mains.
Snbseqncmly. during !he 1992 )ear. mimeroos calis were received complaining abool water
quality. At thaI time, staff lOOk water samples in response 10 these calls and found thaI the
Poa< I.n
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redt:ced water quaIi!y was due II> the bWIdup of sedimenl in the mains. Also, City Fire
Departznimt personnel fOund mono sediment in their equipmen! from the City's water system.
duriPt! 1m. Because of sedimeDI bui1dup in previous years, staff lw determined that the
maiD flushil:ts program will be perbmed again Ibis year.
The _ distr;bution fIIIshiDs program will be impIemenled and lMintajned on an &III!UaI
basis. Beginning MarcIl 13, 1m and coorim'ing Ihrough March 19, 1m, the City's Water
Utili!y Opemions Di\isioo will open fire bydranls 10 flush out sed"unent Whicb has collected
in !he miIins durina /he past year.
The -.1)'SIem main f!usbio& map and scbedWe will be mailed 10 !be City's wafer
amomers 1luoogh utiIiIy billings and displayed in !be Palo Aito W..,ldy and onlbe Cable
Co-cp communiI)' ac<:eSS c:bannel •
. D5CAL IMPACf
Flmds for Ibis wort are budget.ed in !be FY 1994-1m Water Uti1ity Operatioos' budget.
I!NVIRONMENTAL ASSWSSM&.W
The _ t1ushing progiam. is ca:egorically exempt under 1be Califomia EnviromoenIaI
QualIty Ace, Section 15301 (~ of public facilitles).
ATrACHMmfS
Water System Flushing Schedule
PREPARED BY: Charles Bor!. wow ~~Ecginec:
DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW: ~,,;~~. ~~:-7.~~----EDW 1.
. of UtilIties
crrY MANAGER. APPROY AI-: 'Btl! II n..t'l'A .~
BERNAlID M. sTROW
Assistant City Manager
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