IWD receives preliminary engineering report for Wastewater TreatmentPlant

The agenda for the September meeting of the Idylliwld Water District
Board of Directors included the preliminary engineering report for the
Wastewater Treatment Plant project, prepared by Specialized Utility
Services Program Engineering (SUSP.) Last month the board members and GM
Bill Rojas expressed exasperation with SUSP’s delays in delivering this
document, which must be in hand before the applications for grants or
loans can be undertaken. The report notes that the application has now
been submitted.

The board did not discuss the report but did note that a second firm,
Dudek, hired to review it, has begun that process. Rojas said that his
staff have looked it over and have flagged a few “minor” issues. The
report is available at their website, Idyllwildwater.com.

Board President Charles Schelly pointed out that this month’s Operations
Report showed water loss figures of 4%, a number he called
“exceptional.” GM Rojas reported that: the uranium filter on Fern Valley
well 1-A has all new resin media, has passed its state mandated testing,
and is back online; Foster Lake Tank #3’s recoat and rehab is mostly
finished; the new blowers at the WWTP were aligned and calibrated by the
manufacturer for longevity and performance; the district is “on target”
top meet the deadline for the new lead and copper “inventory” mandated
by the state; and that the raw water pipeline section from Jameson to
Fern Valley Road is complete. Rojas said he will begin discussions with
the contactor about the next phase of that project, from Jameson along
the highway to Foster Lake.

The district hosted a two-day workshop on modern leak-detection
techniques, conducted by Michael Sims of California Rural Water
Authority, and attended by members of all three local water districts.
Rojas told the board that IWD’s present leak detecting tools are
“dated,” and that new equipment can “listen” deeper, and even detect
leaks in sewer lines that are eight to ten feet underground. During the
workshop, leaks were discovered and repaired. Rojas told the board that
the hand-held devices usually cost $8 to $10 thousand, but that a better
price could be had.

Rojas reported on several leaks that were repaired last month. The
largest was in a 6” main on Westridge. He estimated the flow at 10-15
gallons per minute. He expressed pride in the fact that that when the
call went out for staff to come in on a Saturday, all five operators
responded. A member of the public asked about how leaks are normally
found, and Rojas said that they are usually reported by residents when
the water surfaces.

Two staff members passed water operator tests; Marcos has his T-1 and is
now an operator, and Nathan now has a T-2 certification. Rojas reported
that Nathan is enrolled in the training that will enable him to operate
the WTP.

The board also reviewed a vehicle report with mileage figures for the
district’s eight trucks. CFO Hosny Shouman suggested the purchase of two
new trucks, and the auctioning off a 2011 Tacoma. The second truck would
be for the use of the GM, who is presently using a 4Runner, not as
practical as a truck. He estimated the cost for two new trucks at
$110,000. The board instructed Rojas to begin searching the market.

During the final Public Comment time, the Crier asked President Schelly
about his statement, during discussion that led to the Board raising
their meeting stipend from $50 to $75, that the other two local
districts pay directors $75, when in fact Pine Cove directors only
receive $50. Schelly said, “My mistake.”

The next meeting will be at the normal time and date, 6 p.m., October
16, but will be held in the Idyllwild Fire Protection District’s meeting
room. The IWD meeting room will be under construction. Schelly thanked
IFPD for making this possible.