Amador County – A resident requested options to getting water to his and other properties on Claypit Road last month, and the Amador Water Agency board sent the issue to its engineering committee to see if they could find a cheaper solution. Resident Ron Hess, representing 3 homeowners, asked the board for a different solution than extending a water main. It would serve about 6 of 13 homes in the area at a cost of “almost $500,000.” He asked the board to consider smaller, 4-inch diameter lines run individually to each resident, with meters for each home, and the possibility of owners laying their own lines. Hess said he is now trucking in water from Ione, and paying a monthly bill for a hydrant permit. He said “we need some water out there. This has been going on for 8 years.” The owners would agree to pay for the pump station, “if AWA takes ownership after 1 year,” Hess said. He said the area was up to fire flows with storage tanks. Hess said they might be able to get a low-interest loan, through the county water development fund, and the area is along the Sacramento County line, so they would not have to worry about expansion past their parcels. AWA engineer John Griffin said the $500,000 cost “was a very rough estimate made with very little detail.” President Bill Condrashoff said staff has “certain labor and installation requirements” for pipeline construction. Director Don Cooper said if the agency took over the pump station in a year, it must consider the cost of ownership (including electricity and maintenance) in perpetuity. Director Terence Moore said: “I think that’s the killer,” because “we wouldn’t take it over.” Cooper said the “costs to continue to study this is going to have to be borne by the applicant.” General Manager Gene Mancebo said staff has “never done that detailed analysis because we were told not to” by the board, due to an estimated study cost of $13,400. Moore said “it’s a step backward in allowing a 4-inch line,” and “they might have trouble running a private line 7,000 feet.” He said he would hate to see 13 different lines going up the road, and thought they should find another way to do it, including putting the meter half way to the parcels. Engineering Manager Erik Christeson worried about fire flows, and said they should also get the Amador Fire Protection District to sign off on having no hydrants and 4-inch lines in the area. Vice President Debbie Dunn said she would speak to AFPD about the issue. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 06:14
AWA Discusses Claypit Road Water Options
Amador County – A resident requested options to getting water to his and other properties on Claypit Road last month, and the Amador Water Agency board sent the issue to its engineering committee to see if they could find a cheaper solution. Resident Ron Hess, representing 3 homeowners, asked the board for a different solution than extending a water main. It would serve about 6 of 13 homes in the area at a cost of “almost $500,000.” He asked the board to consider smaller, 4-inch diameter lines run individually to each resident, with meters for each home, and the possibility of owners laying their own lines. Hess said he is now trucking in water from Ione, and paying a monthly bill for a hydrant permit. He said “we need some water out there. This has been going on for 8 years.” The owners would agree to pay for the pump station, “if AWA takes ownership after 1 year,” Hess said. He said the area was up to fire flows with storage tanks. Hess said they might be able to get a low-interest loan, through the county water development fund, and the area is along the Sacramento County line, so they would not have to worry about expansion past their parcels. AWA engineer John Griffin said the $500,000 cost “was a very rough estimate made with very little detail.” President Bill Condrashoff said staff has “certain labor and installation requirements” for pipeline construction. Director Don Cooper said if the agency took over the pump station in a year, it must consider the cost of ownership (including electricity and maintenance) in perpetuity. Director Terence Moore said: “I think that’s the killer,” because “we wouldn’t take it over.” Cooper said the “costs to continue to study this is going to have to be borne by the applicant.” General Manager Gene Mancebo said staff has “never done that detailed analysis because we were told not to” by the board, due to an estimated study cost of $13,400. Moore said “it’s a step backward in allowing a 4-inch line,” and “they might have trouble running a private line 7,000 feet.” He said he would hate to see 13 different lines going up the road, and thought they should find another way to do it, including putting the meter half way to the parcels. Engineering Manager Erik Christeson worried about fire flows, and said they should also get the Amador Fire Protection District to sign off on having no hydrants and 4-inch lines in the area. Vice President Debbie Dunn said she would speak to AFPD about the issue. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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