World Water Day

by Robin McKillop

Today is World Water Day. First declared in 1993, World Water Day has been observed every March 22 for the past 20 years. Recognizing that the fulfillment of basic human needs, our environment, socio-economic development and poverty reduction are heavily dependent on water, the United Nations declared 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation. The objective is to raise awareness of the potential for, and value of, increased cooperation in relation to water.

In many parts of the world, there is no indoor plumbing and people must travel long distances each day to get water. This chore falls mainly on women and girls who walk an average of 3.7 miles a day, carrying loads of 40 pounds in order to obtain water for their families. This job can take as long as six hours per day even though an average person in sub-Saharan Africa uses only about four gallons of water per day. Unfortunately, the daily chore of finding and transporting water often takes the place of education or other opportunities.

In the United States and other developed countries, technology has made using water very easy. We turn on the tap and clean water pours out, seemingly in an endless supply. A complex system of pipes, storage tanks, treatment plants and pumps is used to treat and deliver water to our homes, businesses, parks and institutions every day. In large part these systems are invisible to many of us. We don’t need to think about where our water comes from or where it goes after we use it. We just count on it being there when we need it.

This ease of use has resulted in a drastic increase in the amount of water we use today as compared to 100 years ago. Back in the “old days” many people had to pump and haul their own water for washing, cooking, bathing and other needs, creating a built-in incentive towards strict conservation. These days, the use of water is made even easier with appliances taking over chores like laundry and dishwashing. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that on average a person in the United States today consumes about 100 gallons of water per day. The good news is that progress has been made over the past 40 years in stretching our water supplies through water conservation efforts and the introduction of new technologies like high-efficiency toilets, low-flow showerheads, and front-loading clothes washers.

Here in Marin, we are fortunate to enjoy a reliable supply of high quality water and a strong conservation ethic. Please show your support for World Water Day by taking action to conserve water, both today and beyond. Visit the official World Water Day website for additional information about the importance of freshwater and the need for sustainable management of freshwater resources.

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MMWD’s 2013 Water Main Flushing Program Starts Today in San Geronimo and Ross Valleys

An MMWD employee “flushes” a water main by releasing high velocity water from a hydrant.

MMWD’s annual water main flushing program to help maintain water quality gets underway today, January 9, in Fairfax. The 2013 program also includes the San Geronimo Valley, San Anselmo and Ross. Flushing will occur most Wednesdays through March 13 between approximately 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Water main flushing is recommended by the California Department of Public Health to remove sediment buildup in transmission and distribution pipelines because the sediment can impair water quality.

Each year MMWD “flushes” approximately 20 percent of its water mains. To flush a water main, selected hydrants along a section of the main are opened. The high velocity of the released water scours the main, removing any collected sediment. After the chloramine is removed by dechlorination tablets, the water is released onto the street and enters the storm drain system. Flushing averages about 15 minutes for each hydrant.

In the past, MMWD performed flushing at night to minimize the impact on residents. In 2011 the district began flushing the pipes during the day to save the overtime costs of sending crews out at night. This year the district will again be flushing the mains in the daytime to reduce costs without compromising water quality.

In addition to water in the street, during flushing customers may notice effects on their own plumbing, including slight pressure drops, air in the lines or “dirty” water. If you notice these effects, we recommend restricting water use during flushing and then running the cold water for a short time afterward to remove any loosened sediment in the pipeline. Be assured the temporary discoloration is not a health concern.

2013 Water Main Flushing Schedule

January 9: Western Fairfax

January 16: Southeastern Fairfax; San Geronimo Valley Floor (Lagunitas/Forrest Knolls); Upper Woodacre

January 30: Town of Woodacre; Cascade and Scenic areas of Fairfax; Oak Avenue in San Anselmo

February 6: Sir Francis Drake Boulevard from Butterfield to “the Hub”

February 13: The Alameda, Oak Springs and Fawn Drive in San Anselmo; Sky Oaks area of Fairfax

February 27: Sleepy Hollow; Scenic Avenue in San Anselmo

March 6: Downtown Ross and San Anselmo

March 13: Oak Manor and top of Fairfax Manor in Fairfax; Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Ross; Laurel Grove in San Anselmo/Ross

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Volunteers Help Keep Water Tanks Graffiti-Free

Before: Graffiti on an MMWD facility (photo courtesy of John Lannom)

Graffiti is on ongoing challenge for MMWD. We do our best to clean up obscenities and respond to customer complaints. But with over 200 storage tanks and pump stations throughout our 147-square-mile service area, including many in remote locations, the district simply doesn’t have the staff and resources to remove every tag.

After: The same site after graffiti was painted out. Thank you to MMWD’s awesome neighbors who help keep our tanks graffiti-free!

However, a small group of volunteers is making a difference in their own neighborhoods, “adopting” their local tanks and painting out graffiti when it appears. MMWD supplies the paint and equipment, while these unsung heroes give their time and labor. One dedicated volunteer has been keeping his local tank graffiti-free for eight years.

The district is also taking steps to cut down on graffiti, such as putting in plants to cover blank walls and installing security cameras. You can help, too. Keep an eye on the water facilities in your neighborhood—after all, they belong to all of us! If you see vandals at work, contact the MMWD Operations Center at 945-1500, 24-hours-a-day, and we will notify police.

If you are interested in volunteering to clean up graffiti on your local tank, contact our Volunteer Program at 945-1128 or volunteerprogram@marinwater.org.

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Our Oldest Reservoir, Lake Lagunitas, Pre-dates MMWD

The earthen dam that forms Lake Lagunitas was built in 1872 for $95,000 by William T. Coleman’s Marin County Water Company. Coleman established his company to facilitate the sale of real estate in his private development of Magnolia Park (now the Dominican neighborhood in San Rafael) and to supply other potential development in the San Rafael area and the state prison at San Quentin.

The dam was designed by Herman Schussler, chief engineer of the Spring Valley Water Company in San Francisco and built in less than four months by Chinese workers who were paid just $20 per month. The crest of the dam was 480 feet in length with a width along the crest of 20 feet. Capacity was estimated at 150,000 gallons, enough to last San Rafael for two years.

In December 1877, Marin County’s first telephone line was completed between the Marin County Water Company’s office on C Street in San Rafael and the lake keeper’s house about 100 yards below the dam (the cottage was destroyed by fire in 1925). The company built the 6 miles of line and rented the phone equipment for $5 per month.

The dam was raised two feet in 1912 (the same year MMWD was chartered) and another two feet in 1935 to its current capacity of 350 acre-feet or approximately 114 million gallons.

MMWD came into possession of the reservoir and surrounding watershed lands in 1916.

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MMWD–The Real Work Gets Started

by Jack Gibson

One hundred years ago in August 1912—three months after MMWD was chartered as the first municipal water district in California—a small group met in the Marin County Supervisors’ Chambers at the Old County Court House in San Rafael. The group’s purpose was to launch the newly created public water district. That first Board of Directors’ meeting lasted a short 30 minutes with 11 of the 13 board members present. The two most well known of the group, William Kent and Michael O’Shaughnessy, were absent, but their presence was felt in the proceeding.

The new board consisted of 13 members. Five elected members were joined by eight appointed members, one from the County and one each from Marin’s seven townships. (These appointed positions were eliminated in 1934 by the state legislature.)

In that short meeting five resolutions were proposed, and all were unanimously adopted without debate. In addition, the board hired Clarence S. Whitaker as secretary for the board and Sausalito attorney George Harlan to serve as the district’s attorney. Harlan also represented Marin in the State Assembly and had been instrumental in achieving the legislation authorizing the creation of the district. Harlan continued to serve as the district’s lawyer until his resignation in 1934.

William Kent and Michael O’Shaughnessy were the most obvious candidates for the office of board president, but the board did not appoint either. They choose Robert Trumbull of Novato instead, who was appointed to the district’s board by the County Supervisors. The decision not to choose Kent or O’Shaughnessy was made with their consent and probably their recommendation. It had been agreed that it was necessary for the top officer to be frequently in the county. Neither Kent, as a sitting member of Congress, nor O’Shaughnessy, as the engineer for the City of San Francisco, could provide the onsite time required.

The group concluded their first meeting by sending the absent O’Shaughnessy a request that he prepare an estimate of the amount of money the district might need for the first year of operation. After consideration, O’Shaughnessy estimated that $20,000 would be needed during the first year, with most of it to be spent to inventory and investigate the existing water supply and the possibilities for further development.

Also at the conclusion of that first meeting, the board directed Whitaker to publish a request for all holders of waterworks to submit to MMWD detailed and itemized proposals of sale or lease of their water rights and waterworks (document shown at right). Thus began the four-year process of assembling, from the private water companies, all the waterworks necessary to begin building the MMWD water system.

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MMWD Flushing Water Mains in Southern Marin through March 22

Water main flushing

If you see large quantities of water running down the street in Mill Valley, Marin City or Sausalito in the coming weeks, it is probably no cause for alarm: The Marin Municipal Water District’s annual water main flushing program is currently underway in southern Marin. Water main flushing is recommended by the California Department of Health Services to help maintain water quality by removing sediment buildup in transmission and distribution pipelines.

Each year MMWD “flushes” approximately 20 percent of its water mains. To flush a water main, selected hydrants along a section of the main are opened. The high velocity of the released water scours the main, removing any collected sediment. The water is released onto the street, the chlorine is removed by dechlorination tablets, and the water enters the storm drain run-off system. Flushing takes about 15 minutes for each hydrant.

In the past, MMWD performed flushing at night to minimize the impact on residents. Last year the district began flushing the pipes during the day to save the overtime costs of sending crews out at night. This year the district will again be flushing the mains in the daytime to reduce costs without compromising water quality.

During periods of flushing, customers may notice large quantities of water in the street, as well as slight pressure drops, air in the lines or “dirty” water in their own plumbing. If you notice these effects, we recommend running cold water through an outdoor tap or garden hose for a short time to remove any loosened sediment in the pipeline. This water can be safely used on plants.

Flushing began January 12 in Mill Valley and is scheduled to continue most Thursdays through March 22 in Mill Valley, Marin City and Sausalito. Click here for a complete schedule.

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Slide Repair Work Will Close Popular Roads on Watershed

Three popular roads on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed will be closed intermittently this fall for slide repairs, a result of heavy rains last spring.

Work has already begun on Sky Oaks Road, the main route to the watershed. Traffic control will be in place today through Friday, October 19-21. Expect delays of up to 20 minutes. Next week, the road will be closed to all traffic Monday through Friday, October 24-28. The repair work will continue until late November.

We also will be closing sections of Concrete Pipe Road and Shaver Grade periodically weekdays for slide repair work. The work is expected to begin this month and continue into January. Every effort will be made to open the roads to hikers, bikers and equestrians after work hours and on weekends.

For updates, check marinwater.org or follow us on Twitter (@thinkbluemarin).

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MMWD Crews Test Soulajule Pumps, Pipeline

Soulajule Reservoir

Earlier this month, MMWD crews conducted a test run of Soulajule Reservoir’s pump station and pipeline. The test—which marked the first time water had been pumped the length of the pipeline in nearly 20 years—is part of a project to replace the 1970s vintage engine driven pumps and ensure the reliability of the Soulajule water supply in the event of drought.

Built in 1979, Soulajule is the newest of MMWD’s seven reservoirs and provides 10,572 acre-feet of storage—about 13 percent of our total reservoir capacity. Constructed in the wake of the 1976-77 drought, Soulajule was designed to provide a reserve supply during such events. The reservoir was most recently tapped for water supply in 1990, the middle of a six-year drought.

Soulajule is tucked into the rolling hills of West Marin, and thus its water must make a bit of a journey before being available for use. Water is first pumped through 3.4 miles of pipeline over a series of hills, including a lift of over 500’. At the end of the pipeline, water spills into a channel and flows into Nicasio Reservoir, from where it can be pumped to the San Geronimo Treatment Plant and then on to customers’ homes and businesses.

The two diesel‐powered engines that run the pumps

Two pumps housed in the Soulajule Pump Station push the water from Soulajule through the pipeline to Nicasio. The pumps, each capable of pumping 6,500 gallons per minute, are powered by two 930-horsepower diesel engines. The aging engines date to the construction of the reservoir and don’t meet current air quality regulations. The district has a temporary permit that allows limited operation, but for the pumps to be used for water supply the engines will need to be replaced.

The test run involved 27 MMWD employees divided into 5 crews along the length of the pipeline. During the test, the pumps were operated separately and simultaneously to move water through the system. Water pressure and flow measurements were collected at the pump station and at several points along the pipeline. The data collected will be used to measure the hydraulics of the pipeline and determine design criteria for the new pumping system.

The test run also served as exercise of the district’s Incident Command System and a training opportunity. Though the pumps are tested from time to time, they haven’t pumped water the length of the pipeline since 1992. Thus the test run had the added benefit of giving a new generation of operators first-hand experience with the system and creating a knowledge base for the future.

(Click here to see more photos.)

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Bay Area Receives $30.9 Million from Prop. 84 for Regional Plan and Water Projects

Funding to Pay for Conservation, Recycling, Habitat Restoration and More

The San Francisco Bay Area has been awarded $30,093,592 in Proposition 84 funds to carry out projects to improve Bay Area water resources. This award complements $842,556 in planning funds from Proposition 84 to update the Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.

Proposition 84, passed by voters in 2006, provides $5.4 billion for habitat restoration, water resources improvements and water quality benefits. Of this total, integrated regional water management (IRWM) programs in California will receive $1.0 billion in funding, of which $138 million is dedicated to the San Francisco Bay Area. The $30.9 million in implementation and planning funding announced this past week is the first allocation of the $138 million of Proposition 84 IRWM funds for the Bay Area.

“Proposition 84 funds make possible high-priority water resources management projects in the Bay Area,” noted Paul Helliker, General Manager of the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) and current Chair of the Bay Area Coordinating Committee. The Committee is the regional oversight group for IRWM programs in the Bay Area, composed of representatives of water supply, wastewater treatment, and flood control agencies and environmental regulatory, resource management and non-governmental organizations. Helliker added, “Over the next 20 years, water resources management agencies are planning tens of billions of dollars of investments in infrastructure and ecosystem improvements, and these state grant funds fill important niches.”

Integrated Management Plans

The Bay Area IRWM Coordinating Committee has received $842,556 to revise the Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. The IRWM Plan was adopted in 2006 by Bay Area counties, cities, water and sanitation districts, flood control agencies and non-profit agencies to define priorities for regional water management projects and guide state grant funding decisions. The plan update, expected to be completed in 2013, will incorporate the latest information on climate change impacts, and will include a compilation of best practices to adapt to rising sea levels and changes in precipitation. The Marin Municipal Water District will be managing the plan update, on behalf of the Coordinating Committee.

Implementation Projects

$30,093,592 of the Proposition 84 funding announced last week will be dedicated to various water resources projects that were proposed for funding in January of 2011 by the Coordinating Committee. The Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA), a joint powers partnership among wastewater management agencies in the Bay Area, and a principal partner in the Bay Area Coordinating Committee, will manage this grant. The funding will be used for the following programs and projects:

Project	Total Cost	Prop. 84 Grant Funding
Water Conservation
Regional Water Conservation Program	15,359,557	8,952,685
Water Recycling
* North Bay
Marin Municipal WD Peacock Gap Recycled Water Extension	10,136,000	500,000
Las Gallinas Valley SD Novato South Service Area Project	11,631,000	500,000
North Marin WD Novato North Service Area Project	11,392,000	500,000
Sonoma Valley CSD Recycled Water Stage 1 Project	5,000,000	500,000
Napa SD State Hospital Pipeline Construction Stage 1 Project	3,057,000	500,000
* East Bay
EBMUD East Bayshore Phase 1A-I-80	2,186,000	741,000
CCCSD Concord Recycled Water Project	4,200,000	1,030,000
DSRSD Central Dublin Recycled Water Distribution and Retrofit Project	4,100,000	1,130,000
* South Bay
South Bay Water Recycling Industrial Expansion and Reliability	5,503,000	2,485,000
* West Bay
San Francisco PUC Harding Park Recycled Water Project	8,436,000	2,114,000
Wetland Ecosystem Restoration Projects
Sears Point Restoration	18,306,981	1,250,000
Bair Island Restoration	3,185,375	1,250,000
Pond A16/17 Restoration	9,300,000	1,250,000
Regional Green Infrastructure Program
San Pablo Avenue Green Infrastructure Spine	4,220,882	2,315,882
Hacienda Avenue Green Street Improvements	4,632,556	1,999,999
Napa Valley Rainwater Harvesting	328,335	250,000
Water Quality Improvement/Flood Management/Ecosystem Restoration in Disadvantaged Communities
Stream Restoration in the North Bay	265,000	200,000
Floodplain Mapping for Disadvantaged Communities	841,550	656,550
Stormwater and Flood Control Improvements Pilot Project in Bay Point	185,000	160,000
Richmond Shoreline and San Pablo Flood Control	315,000	85,000
Pescadero Creek Flood Reduction and Habitat Improvement	103,000	103,000
Pescadero Creek Steelhead Monitoring	154,810	119,310
Floodplain and Watershed Restoration in East Palo Alto	310,800	230,000
Steelhead and Coho Indicator Monitoring	503,166	378,166
Watershed Partnership Technical Assistance	203,289	150,000
Program Administration	843,000	743,000
Total	$124,699,301	$30,093,592

Other Proposition 84 Funding for Bay Area Projects

Also allocated from the Bay Area Proposition 84 funds is $1,775,000 to pay for two other Bay Area projects in eastern Contra Costa County—the Pittsburgh Recycled Water Pipeline and ecosystem restoration projects that are part of the County’s Habitat Conservation Program. These funds, as well as $449,843 to update the East Contra Costa County plan, will be managed by the Contra Costa Water District.

The total amount allocated to date from the $138 million in Proposition 84 IRWM for Bay Area projects is $33,160,991.

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North Bay Receives more than $7 Million in Proposition 84 Funding for Water Resources Improvements

MMWD awarded $1.36 million for water recycling and conservation

The North Bay has been awarded more than $7 million in integrated regional water management (IRWM) funds under State Proposition 84. This funding is a part of the overall $33.2 million that has been allocated to Bay Area agencies from the $138 million available for the Bay Area in State Proposition 84.

Proposition 84, passed by voters in 2006, provides $5.4 billion for habitat restoration, water resources improvements and water quality benefits. Of this total, integrated regional water management (IRWM) programs in California will receive $1 billion in funding, of which $138 million is dedicated to the San Francisco Bay Area. The $33.2 million in implementation and planning funding announced today is the first allocation of the $138 million of Proposition 84 IRWM funds for the Bay Area.

“North Bay water resources managers have been collaborating for many years to define the top priorities for ecosystem restoration and water resources improvements,” noted John C. (Jack) Gibson, President of the Board of Directors of the Marin Municipal Water District Board and Chairman of the North Bay Watershed Association, a group of 16 regional and local public agencies. “We are very pleased that North Bay partners have been successful in securing these grant funds, which will provide critical support for priority projects,” Gibson added.

The $7-plus million for the North Bay will support the following programs:

• Water conservation rebate and education programs in Solano, Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties;
• Five recycled water projects in Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties;
• Restoration of wetlands at Sears Point;
• Rainwater harvesting pilot projects in Napa;
• Stream restoration work in the North Bay;
• Regional projects on flood plain mapping, steelhead trout monitoring and watershed partnerships that will include North Bay organizations.

Marin Municipal Water District Projects

As part of the funding announced today, $500,000 in Prop. 84 funds will go to the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD), to assist in financing an expansion of MMWD’s recycled water system. The addition to the system includes a new pipeline to bring water to the Peacock Gap Golf Course in San Rafael and to other customers along the way. The total cost of the system expansion is estimated to be $10.1 million, with funding to be provided from various sources. MMWD’s recycled water system, operating since 1981, serves more than 350 customers in San Rafael, including parks and other large landscapes, office buildings, car washes, commercial laundries and many others.

An additional $862,500 in Prop. 84 funds will go to MMWD to provide matching funds for water conservation program rebates. These funds will offset some of the cost of high-efficiency toilets and washing machines, as well as weather-based irrigation controllers and water efficient landscaping.

“MMWD continues to diversify its portfolio of sustainable water supply strategies,” said MMWD General Manager Paul Helliker. “This round of funding from Prop. 84 will help us reduce the demand on our reservoirs and on the supplies we purchase from the Sonoma County Water Agency.”

Integrated Regional Water Management Plan

The Bay Area received $842,556 to revise the Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. The IRWM Plan was adopted in 2006 by Bay Area counties, cities, water and sanitation districts, flood control agencies and non-profit agencies to define priorities for regional water management projects and guide state grant funding decisions. The plan update, expected to be completed in 2013, will incorporate the latest information on climate change impacts and will include a compilation of best practices to adapt to rising sea levels and changes in precipitation. The Marin Municipal Water District will be managing the plan update, on behalf of the Coordinating Committee.

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