The Fern Valley Water District’s (FVWD) emergency pipeline replacement project is near completion. The roads will be repaved once weather permits. General Manager Victor Jimenez stated during last week’s meeting that he expects the new line will be in service by the end of this week, March 26. The line is there and functioning but the meters haven’t been tied into the new line.
In November, the FVWD Board of Directors unanimously approved an emergency pipeline replacement project on Rising Glen Road, Granite Springs, Shady View Drive and Sunset View Drive. The project is replacing about 2,000 feet of pipeline.
Jimenez wrote in the November staff report: “On Aug. 6, 2020, we placed the three new pressure reducing stations in service and realized that the water mains on Rising Glen [Road], Granite Springs, Sunset View [Drive] and Shady View were severely compromised and in need of replacement. We have experienced over 30 leaks and unfortunately, they continue to pop up.”
El-Co Contractors Inc. is the company replacing the pipeline. The company recently replaced another pipeline. So far, the district has paid $340,614.90 to El-Co for the current project.
Jimenez wrote in his general manager’s report “The filter plant was taken out of service for two weeks on Feb. 22 and returned to service on March 8 for the carbon changeout and media replacement of the EPD filters.” The district’s current water demand is about 86 gallons per minute. Jimenez also reported “production has increased by approximately 2% from the same month last year.”
Over the last month, field staff supported the emergency pipeline replacement project, replaced the filter media in the EPD filters, assisted with the carbon changeout and performed meter reading. Administrative staff has been managing the pipeline replacement project, preparing for committee meetings, working on the FY 2021/22 budget and has prepared and sent out bills.
Water loss
The discussion of water loss came up at the board meeting. Jimenez stated he felt confident with their meters and quantities produced and that he is going to spend time over the next month looking for leaks. The unaccounted for water is (12 month running average) 22.4% for 2020 and 26% for 2021.
“The water loss is accurate and I am going to start locating leaks and get them handled,” Jimenez said.
Well 14 pump replacement
The board unanimously ratified the general manager’s decision to replace the well pump at well 14. Jimenez stated that the 3 phase pump was installed because that was the choice made in past replacements.
In the staff report Jimenez wrote: “In late February, it became apparent that we suffered a major failure in the Well 14 well pump. Wicker Water Well responded and determined that the well pump had suffered a catastrophic failure and needed replacement.
“Well 14 is one of the district’s best producing wells and crucial to the system in the event of low surface water availability. Wicker Water Well gave two proposals, the first for a 230v single phase pump for a total cost of $6,734.98 and the second for a 230v 3 phase pump with a variable frequency drive for a total cost of $8,818.87. This is the same option that was offered on Well 13 a couple of years ago and it was made clear that the 3 phase option was the best option, so the 3 phase pump was chosen again for Well 14.
“The repair was not budgeted in the [FY] 2020/21 budget and would need to be paid out of reserves.”
One of the directors asked if there is an age history of the pumps at the wells. Jimenez replied that this particular one is from 2006, so it had been in the ground for a while. Jimenez was also asked if the district should expect other well pumps to go out due to age. Jimenez said, “No, these are the heavy lifters — wells 13, 14, 2, 4 — which run 24/7. This should be the last of the heavy lifters.” However, Jimenez found out March 22 that it was actually the well pump at well 13, not 14, that failed. The well pump at well 14 went out March 22. He also found out the only well that runs 24/7 is well 6, and that the well pump at well 11 was the pump that was changed out a couple of years ago, not well 13.
Community siren project update
Idyllwild Fire Protection District Chief Mark LaMont updated the board on the emergency siren alert system. He told the board they are progressing forward and partnered with Mountain Disaster Preparedness (MDP) to put together a notification postcard for the community. MDP, according to LaMont, is taking on the cost of printing and mailing the postcards with information on how the siren will work, when it will be tested, length of the test, length of the emergency alert and a fact sheet regarding system specifications and cost.
Update on the timeline: LaMont stated that the siren was delivered and they are anticipating the delivery of the pole any day.