Amador County – A meeting looking at the environmental impacts of a proposed Gravity Supply Line turned toward fire suppression capabilities last week at the Amador Water Agency office. The AWA board of directors acknowledged that there is a need to address water flows to help firefighting, but staff noted that it was not a main part of the Gravity Supply Line. Debra Howard told the board that the Amador County Association of Realtors board of directors voted unanimously to support the GSL. She said the “decision was not based on finances” but was also based on water quality and safety matters. Buckhorn resident Linda Stroh representing Sierra Highland Homeowners Association said 3 recent house fires and 2 wildfires in her neighborhood show that “we need water Upcountry, for irrigation, domestication and fire protection.” Sherry Curtis said Amador County and AWA share responsibility and possibly liability when the area has “no ability to stop a fire at a house.” David Evitt said the “need a definitive answer” on whether the Gravity Supply Line “will or will not increase fire flow and capacity.” AWA Interim General Manger Gene Mancebo said Friday that “the bottom line is, for the most part, it doesn’t.” The AWA board took input Thursday and “at this point they are acknowledging” the need for fire system improvements. That includes the Pioneer area system maintained by the AWA, and infrastructure self-operated by Mace Meadow, Rabb Park and Pine Grove areas. He said Director Don Cooper has been appointed to a committee by the Upcountry Community Council to look at fire protection in the Upcountry. Mancebo said the “real improvement has to occur after the treatment” or the supply line is installed. Aging infrastructure and hydrant systems need improvement, and if they “don’t have a reliable way to get water to the plant, then it becomes an issue for fire protection too.” Distribution system improvements must be looked at, in projects separate from the GSL, and see “what can be done to improve the system.” Mancebo said fire protection would most likely mean using treated water for fire suppression; otherwise they would have to put in separate systems. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. -
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Amador County – A meeting looking at the environmental impacts of a proposed Gravity Supply Line turned toward fire suppression capabilities last week at the Amador Water Agency office. The AWA board of directors acknowledged that there is a need to address water flows to help firefighting, but staff noted that it was not a main part of the Gravity Supply Line. Debra Howard told the board that the Amador County Association of Realtors board of directors voted unanimously to support the GSL. She said the “decision was not based on finances” but was also based on water quality and safety matters. Buckhorn resident Linda Stroh representing Sierra Highland Homeowners Association said 3 recent house fires and 2 wildfires in her neighborhood show that “we need water Upcountry, for irrigation, domestication and fire protection.” Sherry Curtis said Amador County and AWA share responsibility and possibly liability when the area has “no ability to stop a fire at a house.” David Evitt said the “need a definitive answer” on whether the Gravity Supply Line “will or will not increase fire flow and capacity.” AWA Interim General Manger Gene Mancebo said Friday that “the bottom line is, for the most part, it doesn’t.” The AWA board took input Thursday and “at this point they are acknowledging” the need for fire system improvements. That includes the Pioneer area system maintained by the AWA, and infrastructure self-operated by Mace Meadow, Rabb Park and Pine Grove areas. He said Director Don Cooper has been appointed to a committee by the Upcountry Community Council to look at fire protection in the Upcountry. Mancebo said the “real improvement has to occur after the treatment” or the supply line is installed. Aging infrastructure and hydrant systems need improvement, and if they “don’t have a reliable way to get water to the plant, then it becomes an issue for fire protection too.” Distribution system improvements must be looked at, in projects separate from the GSL, and see “what can be done to improve the system.” Mancebo said fire protection would most likely mean using treated water for fire suppression; otherwise they would have to put in separate systems. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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