Amador County – The Upcountry Gravity Supply Line drew criticism and support last week, with foes saying it would not help fight wildfires, while supporters stressed that it would still help protect homes. Supervisor Ted Novelli said Upcountry needs water to fight fires, and if the GSL was approved, the next step for Upcountry should be to get a big, central storage tank, at 1 million or 2 million gallons. He also pledged to help AWA staff try to find money for the project. AWA Director Don Cooper (District 3) said he thought AWA “got the message,” and put fire flow studies and improvements on its capital improvement project list. AWA board President Bill Condrashoff said the GSL “will not increase fire flow,” and the Central Amador Water Project system “will have twice as many homes depending on the same amount of water.” Condrashoff and Vice President Debbie Dunn voted against the GSL. Former firefighter Earl Curtis said “more water is part of the ultimate solution” for firefighting. He said it was also would earn more AB 32 “carbon credits in the long run, and as a “green project” it would encourage energy reduction. Curtis said it was “an unreasonable thing to say that more water in the Buckhorn area would increase the number of homes.” Curtis said: “There’s gobs of empty lots in this CAWP area, which have not been built on.” Dunn said a majority of lots rely on water for the ability to subdivide. Curtis said there were “enough lots now to double the population” in CAWP. Interim General Manger Gene Mancebo said new development “will be required by the agency to have storage for new homes, and bigger infrastructure for the system as a whole.” Developer Ciro Toma confirmed that, saying AWA is asking one of his clients to run more than 2,000 feet of 10-inch pipeline for fire flow. Linda Stroh said 3 of the last 10 Upcountry house fires have been in Sierra Highlands, where she is a board member. Stroh recalled that District 4 Director Dunn did not want to use treated water for firefighting. Stroh said: “I don’t care if it’s raw water and I don’t care if it’s sewer water. We need water.” Ray Perry, of the Amador County Business Council, and a CAWP customer at Mace Meadow, said he personally and the council as a group supported the GSL. He said AWA’s “white paper” convinced him that at $13 million, with a $5 million grant, the GSL would be a better deal that a $4 million fix on the pumps, then another $4 million to replace the old pipeline. He said “for the same cost we can get a more reliable system.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wednesday, 31 March 2010 01:30
AWA’s Gravity Supply Line Ignites Fire Flow Discussion
Written by Tom-
font size
decrease font size
increase font size
Amador County – The Upcountry Gravity Supply Line drew criticism and support last week, with foes saying it would not help fight wildfires, while supporters stressed that it would still help protect homes. Supervisor Ted Novelli said Upcountry needs water to fight fires, and if the GSL was approved, the next step for Upcountry should be to get a big, central storage tank, at 1 million or 2 million gallons. He also pledged to help AWA staff try to find money for the project. AWA Director Don Cooper (District 3) said he thought AWA “got the message,” and put fire flow studies and improvements on its capital improvement project list. AWA board President Bill Condrashoff said the GSL “will not increase fire flow,” and the Central Amador Water Project system “will have twice as many homes depending on the same amount of water.” Condrashoff and Vice President Debbie Dunn voted against the GSL. Former firefighter Earl Curtis said “more water is part of the ultimate solution” for firefighting. He said it was also would earn more AB 32 “carbon credits in the long run, and as a “green project” it would encourage energy reduction. Curtis said it was “an unreasonable thing to say that more water in the Buckhorn area would increase the number of homes.” Curtis said: “There’s gobs of empty lots in this CAWP area, which have not been built on.” Dunn said a majority of lots rely on water for the ability to subdivide. Curtis said there were “enough lots now to double the population” in CAWP. Interim General Manger Gene Mancebo said new development “will be required by the agency to have storage for new homes, and bigger infrastructure for the system as a whole.” Developer Ciro Toma confirmed that, saying AWA is asking one of his clients to run more than 2,000 feet of 10-inch pipeline for fire flow. Linda Stroh said 3 of the last 10 Upcountry house fires have been in Sierra Highlands, where she is a board member. Stroh recalled that District 4 Director Dunn did not want to use treated water for firefighting. Stroh said: “I don’t care if it’s raw water and I don’t care if it’s sewer water. We need water.” Ray Perry, of the Amador County Business Council, and a CAWP customer at Mace Meadow, said he personally and the council as a group supported the GSL. He said AWA’s “white paper” convinced him that at $13 million, with a $5 million grant, the GSL would be a better deal that a $4 million fix on the pumps, then another $4 million to replace the old pipeline. He said “for the same cost we can get a more reliable system.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published in
News Archive
Latest from Tom
- Richard Forster previews this week's Amador County Board of Supervisors meeting with host, Tom Slivick. (2 of 2)
- Richard Forster on TSPN TV News December 7, 2015 (1 of 2)
- Ebbetts Pass (State Route 4) Closed for Winter
- State HWY 89 Closed for the Winter
- Richard Forster on TSPN TV News November 23, 2015 (2 of 2)
