January 2020 – Water News
- Posted
Message from the Board President
2020 – A New Year Brings New Challenges
At the start of each new year, most of us like to begin with a fresh start and a set of New Year’s Resolutions. For some, it is eating healthier, for others, to spend more time with friends and family. Regardless of the resolution, it is an important challenge that will help that person grow and become stronger than the prior year. For the year, 2020, I am excited to announce that I have been elected as the new President of the Board of Directors for the Yorba Linda Water District. I, along with Andy Hall our new Vice President, are honored to have been elected by our fellow Directors, to lead the District in the coming year. It is a great privilege to live in this wonderful community and now, I am honored to serve as the President of the Yorba Linda Water District Board.
This year will also bring some challenges for the District. We will take an aggressive approach to capital improvements to our over $1 Billion in infrastructure. These capital improvements will safeguard our District and ensure the reliable delivery of our water and sewer service to all of our ratepayers. We will tackle the growing PFAS concern and take aggressive steps in protecting each and every customer’s drinking water. As a District, we have already taken a leadership role in the community and have begun a pilot study program to find the best way in which to treat and remove PFAS from our drinking water. Finally, we will continue to develop the ability to assist our First Responders by growing our number of helicopter hydrants throughout the District. With the addition of the helicopter hydrants; as well as, improving our fire hardening in the community will continue to improve our ability to keep our community safe in the event of a wildfire.
A new year means new challenges, and I am looking forward to working with our friends and neighbors as we, at the Yorba Linda Water District, continue to deliver safe and reliable water to our customers.
Happy New Year,
Phil Hawkins, Board President
Message from the General Manager
It is likely you heard about “Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)” on the news, or by information provided with your electric bill. Due to massive wildland fires experienced last year in California, and subsequent litigation of the power providers, electric utilities are preemptively de-energizing the power grid when atmospheric conditions favor fire conditions. High winds and dry humidity combined with warm temperatures making fires easy to ignite when power wires come into contact with wood or grass fuel.
One significant problem created by shutting down the power grid for multiple days is that our drinking water distribution system relies upon power. Electricity is vital to pump groundwater from our wells, and to pump both groundwater and import water into reservoirs, and into twenty different pressure zones and elevations throughout our 22.6 square mile service area. Our fourteen underground reservoirs provide robust storage of drinking water, but without power to keep their water levels within the operating range, it would not take long until our water supply will be strained. Bigger or more reservoirs may seem like a logical answer but are not practical because water goes bad if not consumed and circulated in volumes that match customer consumption.
Alternatively, YLWD has turned to several other strategies, some of which are still being developed. We are taking advantage of multiple energy sources to keep water flowing, including pumps and motors that can utilize natural gas, propane, and diesel. While we use solar to supplement power to our administrative facilities, we do not yet rely upon renewable energy for our distribution system. We are investigating renewable power sources for our distribution system, and hope to have an Energy Services Performance Contract soon as a result of working with an Energy Services Company (ESCO).
Additionally, having backup generators at all our major facilities is even more critical so we are ready for PSPS events. YLWD is developing plans to purchase several bi-fuel generator sets for locations where generators do not currently exist. By purchasing bi-fuel generators, we would be able to take advantage of both natural gas and diesel fuel sources. Natural gas costs are at times less expensive than electricity and will be used at peak demand times to shave our energy costs. Diesel is a more reliable fuel source during disasters such as earthquakes, as gas lines are easily damaged and outside of our control to fix. Diesel is readily available during emergency operations, is efficient, and stores well.
By continuing to diversify our energy portfolio, and taking advantage of emerging technologies, YLWD is fulfilling its mission of providing reliable water service at the best possible cost.
PSPS events present another challenge that YLWD is taking a leadership role in solving. We are the first water utility to help design and build the world’s first permanently installed (on the distribution system) fire hydrant for fire-fighting helicopters, the helicopter hydrant. This is a 2,700-gallon steel tank that can fill with water in 3 minutes after a receiving a remote-controlled signal from an OCFA or OCSD helicopter pilot. Once a fire is discovered, a helicopter can quickly fill with water through a snorkel, and hopefully, extinguish the fire before it spreads and threatens lives and property. Similar systems have been devised to fight established wildland fires, but ours is the first system designed to extinguish fires before they become established. While the helicopter hydrant won’t stop every fire in its tracks or save every home or life, it will provide a level of protection never before realized. We intend to add two additional helicopter hydrants at strategic locations to provide robust coverage of our service area. These helicopter hydrants are gravity-fed and have solar backup battery power to operate the fill and drain mechanisms. This provides significant improvements in fighting wildland fires even when a PSPS event shuts down power.
Marc Marcantonio, General Manager
Thank You, Director Brooke Jones
President Brooke Jones with elected officials at the recent Fairmont Booster Pump Station Dedication Ceremony.
On behalf of the Yorba Linda Water District, we say ‘thank you” to President Brooke Jones as he concludes his term as our Board President. Under his leadership, YLWD completed and dedicated the Fairmont Booster Pump Station, began a PFAS Pilot Study to determine the most cost-effective treatment method for removal of PFAS in groundwater supply, oversaw construction and implementation of the first permanently installed helicopter hydrant and helped facilitate the permanent removal of Lakeview Sewer Lift Station to prevent potential environmental sewer spill in a sensitive habitat.
A Tradition of Service
As we enter a new decade, we share some reflections some of those that have contributed to the Yorba Linda Water District’s story. Our oral history video shares many memories from former YLWD employees, Dave Barmer, Diane Dalton, Lee Cory, and Mike Payne to learn more about YLWD’s past.
A Message from Customer Service
On December 16, 2019, the District launched a new enhanced bill pay service to make paying your YLWD bill easier. Customers utilizing the available E-Bill and Auto-Pay service will be required to re-enroll in the new bill pay service to maintain your Auto-Pay activation. The re-enrollment process must be completed prior to the due date reflected on your most recent bill to ensure that your bill continues to be paid on time.
The security and privacy of your information continue to be a priority for us. We opted not to automatically transfer your data to our new online bill pay system to avoid any possible data breaches, thus requiring our customers to re-enroll.
Visit our website to re-enroll today!