Amador County - The electricity of pump water from Tiger Creek to the Central Amador Water Project in Upcountry translates to 20 percent of the Amador Water Agency’s total operating costs. That includes debt service – the payment of loans. But the AWA board of directors Thursday heard in a report, as it has before, that major use of electricity does not translate into a high priority to qualify for Department of Health Services grant. Engineering and Planning Manager Gene Mancebo said the efficiency of the agency has kept CAWP customers for the most part form running out of water. A study of its operation of the CAWP line between 2004 and 2008 found 162 incidents when the water stopped flowing. Of those, 97 were electrical or mechanical problems. And of those, 52 were caused by power outages, with “18 of the power outages greater than 4 hours.” 4 times, they had water pumping stopped for longer than a day, with 2 resulting from fires and 2 resulting from winter storms. “These pump stations are not in very good condition,” Mancebo said. Much of it is original, including 30-year-old control panels, pumps and motors, which may have been repaired over the years. He said “they would not meet today’s standards for electrical codes.” Kennedy Jinx Engineering estimated that replacing the pumps would cost an estimated $3.3 million dollars. That would be only for construction and not for the total cost. Mancebo said they “pretty much would be rebuilding the whole system,” including motors, cams, pumps and the like. And the existing line would have to operate during construction. He said “the best approach would be to build the new pump station next to the old one.” He said “we’re beyond reliable capacity,” and “if we don’t go forward with the gravity supply line, this should be on the top of the list of our things to do.” The gravity supply line solution, estimated at $13.3 million dollars, was rejected by the California DHS, he said, because the agency did not see it as a priority, because they do not run out of water. Mancebo said the “public has no idea how close we are to not having this operate.” The DHS would need to see higher health risk issues for the project to become a priority. He said the agency could probably use the existing pump and 12-inch, tar-lined pipeline for 20 years, but it already has eroded pinholes in its ¼-inch steel pipes. And in 20 years, at age 50, “you are probably going to need to install new pipe.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Friday, 26 June 2009 00:48
Amador Water Agency
Amador County - The electricity of pump water from Tiger Creek to the Central Amador Water Project in Upcountry translates to 20 percent of the Amador Water Agency’s total operating costs. That includes debt service – the payment of loans. But the AWA board of directors Thursday heard in a report, as it has before, that major use of electricity does not translate into a high priority to qualify for Department of Health Services grant. Engineering and Planning Manager Gene Mancebo said the efficiency of the agency has kept CAWP customers for the most part form running out of water. A study of its operation of the CAWP line between 2004 and 2008 found 162 incidents when the water stopped flowing. Of those, 97 were electrical or mechanical problems. And of those, 52 were caused by power outages, with “18 of the power outages greater than 4 hours.” 4 times, they had water pumping stopped for longer than a day, with 2 resulting from fires and 2 resulting from winter storms. “These pump stations are not in very good condition,” Mancebo said. Much of it is original, including 30-year-old control panels, pumps and motors, which may have been repaired over the years. He said “they would not meet today’s standards for electrical codes.” Kennedy Jinx Engineering estimated that replacing the pumps would cost an estimated $3.3 million dollars. That would be only for construction and not for the total cost. Mancebo said they “pretty much would be rebuilding the whole system,” including motors, cams, pumps and the like. And the existing line would have to operate during construction. He said “the best approach would be to build the new pump station next to the old one.” He said “we’re beyond reliable capacity,” and “if we don’t go forward with the gravity supply line, this should be on the top of the list of our things to do.” The gravity supply line solution, estimated at $13.3 million dollars, was rejected by the California DHS, he said, because the agency did not see it as a priority, because they do not run out of water. Mancebo said the “public has no idea how close we are to not having this operate.” The DHS would need to see higher health risk issues for the project to become a priority. He said the agency could probably use the existing pump and 12-inch, tar-lined pipeline for 20 years, but it already has eroded pinholes in its ¼-inch steel pipes. And in 20 years, at age 50, “you are probably going to need to install new pipe.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
