SLV Water Needs New Pipeline

By Jondi Gumz

The CZU Lightning Complex fire will be costly for the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, with temporary repairs costing $1 million and final fixes may be $5 million to $10 million, according to District Manager Rick Rogers.

The district supplies water to 7,900 hookups in Boulder Creek, Brookdale, Ben Lomond and Felton and a part of Scotts Valley. Its entire watershed was engulfed by the fire, yet a “majority of our water system is in good shape,” Rogers said.

A “do not drink” and “do not boil water” alerts have been issued for Ben Lomond north to and including Boulder Creek, Bear Creek Road, Highway 236, Riverside Grove and San Lorenzo Park. Details are at https://tinyurl.com/no-heat-Ben-Lomond

The reason is that 7.5 miles of flexible pipe snaking across Empire Grade in Bonny Doon and Ben Lomond Mountain to the water treatment plant in Boulder Creek was destroyed.

This pipe, made of polyethylene, melted in the fire, releasing volatile organic compounds. Satellite storage tanks made of polyethylene were damaged.

So the water is deemed unsafe until test results show it is safe.

“We don’t know if it did get in the system,” Rogers said Aug. 27, as he awaited state officials to inspect the damage. “The only way to find out is to sample.”

Water samples are sent to an outside laboratory for expedited analysis in 24-48 hours.

Rogers said the polyethylene pipe was laid above ground through heavily wooded areas some 23 to 25 years ago and was expected to last 100 years.

The forest was so thick hand labor was required to set the pipe — “we couldn’t get equipment in there,” Rogers said. “At the time, burying it was not practical.”

With the pipe was vaporized, the district lost 4.5 million gallons of water — about half its storage — but the steel tanks were not affected, he said, noting staff has been turning off sprinklers homeowners left on in hopes of saving their home.

Providing water to firefighters has been a top priority — “tankers were using every fire hydrant along Highway 9,” he said.

Emergency repairs have been authorized by the governing board and work has begun. Materials have been rush-ordered, for tank repair, from Texas. Contractors have been hired to clear timber and create a trail and lay pipe.

The disaster has water district staff working around the clock seven days a week.

“It’s very emotional,” said Rogers, adding that two of the 35 employees lost their homes in the fire.

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Visit www.slvwd.com for more info.