HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - June 6, 1990CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JUNE 6, 1990
LETTER REGARDING CITY
REOUIREMENTS OF A WATER
LINE TO SUPPLY FIRE
HYDRANTS AND FIRE
SPRINKLERS IN VARIOUS
TYPES OF STRUCTURES
AROUND THE CITY
cc -16 City Clerk Reimche presented the following letter ;•rhich had
been received from Charlie Rye regarding the City's
policy concerning the requirement of a water line to supply
fire hydrants and fire sprinklers in various typ^s of
structures around the City and a draft reply to the letter
which had been prepared by Staff:
A a concerned citizen I am writing you this letter. While
working in construction for the last 30 years, nuiy in
todi, I find it upsetting to observe the procedure the City
of Lludi , requires the building contractor to follow for the
provision of a water line to supply fire hydrants and fire
sprinklers in various types of structures around the City.
After the installation of the underground 8" fire line it
is required by the Public Works Department, City of Lodi,
to pay them a $5,000.00 deposit to obtain a double check
valve -water meter confiyuration approximately 7' - 13"
long, to be installed in line close to the City domestic
water supply. The purpose of the check valve arrangement
is to prevent water from the rev line to flow back into the
City water supply, as the my pipe might have bacteria in
it and contaminate the City's domestic water supply.
The rev pipes are installed with chlorine tablets affixed
to the inside walls, After the rev lines are filled with
water they are left full to allow the tablets to, dissolve
for 3 days in order to ki i 1 any bacteria in the rav lines.
After this process the contractor i s requ i red to connect 2"
fire hoses from the rev hydrant to the City's storm drain
and purge the system for 48 hours. The Public Woks
Department, then comes out to take water samples to their
testing lab. After 3 days the results are recorded and if
they are found to not be within the allowed limit the
purging starts again to the point of water bills of
52,000.00 to S3,0O0.00. One job required 19 acre feet of
water which equals 6,250,000 gallons. With all of this in
mind it is interesting to note the domestic drinking water
going to these buildings and all houses is not tested.
I fully understand that it is the intent of the City to
keep our drinking water safe. I just think there are
better ',rays of doing this in vi w of our drought
conditions. A simple check valve system would s c i ve their
problem it it were installed in the first place and left
slone. This would be somewhat less expensive to the
contractor, owner and the City as well.
CITY COUNCIL MEET IR1G
JUNE 6, ;990
Your attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
Charlie Rye
Nay 8, 1990
Lodi City Council
Call Box 3006
Lodi, CA 95241
Attn.: Alice Reirnche, City Clerk
Dear Council Members,
As a concerned citizen I am writing you this letter.
While working in construction for the last 30 years, many
in Lodi, 1 find it upsetting to observe the procedure
the Cicy of Lodi, requires the building contractor to fol-
low for the provision of a water line to supply fire hy-
drants and fire sprinklers in various types of structures
around the city.
After the installation of the underground 8" fire line it
is required by the Public Works Department, City Of Lodi,
to pay them a $5,000.00 deposit: to obtain a double check
valve -water meter configuaration approximately 7'-3" Lang,
to be installed in line close to the city domestic water
supply. The purpose of the check valve arrangement is to
prevent water from the new line to flow back into the city
water supply, as the new pipe might have bacteria in it
and contaminate the city's domestic water supply.
The new pipes are installed with chlorine tablets affixed
to the inside walls. After the new lines are fi1.1_ed with
water they are left full to allow the tablets to dissolve
fnr 3 days in order to kill. any bacteria in thf. new lines,
After this process the contractor is reouired to connect
2" fire hoses from the new hydrant to the city's storm
drain and purge the system for 48 hours. The Public Works
Dept., then comes out to take water samples to their tCSt-
i i!e Lab. After 3 days the results are recorded an(: if they
are found to not be within the allowed limit the purging
2.
starts again to the point of water bills of $2,000.00 to
53,000.00. One job required 19 acre feet of water which
equals 6,250,000 gallons. With all of this in mind it is
interesting to nate the domestic drinking water going to
these buildings and all houses is not tested.
I fully understand that it is the intent of the city to
keep cur drinking water safe. I just think there are
better ways of doing this in view of our drought ccn.-
ditions. A simple check valve system would solve their
problem if it were installed in the first place and Left
alone, This would be somewhat less expensive to the
contractor, owner and the city as we'il.
Your attention to this matter would be greatly apprec-
iated.
Respectfully submitted,
Charlie Rye
CR.nh
c.c. Mayor Randy Snider
Public Works Director. Jack Ronsko
Lodi News -Sentinel, Editor & Publisher. Fred Weybret
Lodi News -Sentinel. Michael Drummond
4
CITY COUNCIL
JOHN R Mandv) SNIDER. Mavor
DAVIDM HINCHMAN
Mavor Pro Tempore
EVELYN M OL SON
JAMES W PINKERTON. If
FRED M REID
Charlie R�
18450 E. Highway 88,
Lodi, CA 95240
CITY OF LODI
Space 7
071 HALL. 221 WEST PINE STREET
CALL BOX 3006
LODI. CALIFORNIA 95241.1910
(209) 334-5634
TILECOPIER (2091333.0795
May 30, 1990
SUBJECT: Testing Procedures for Lodi Water Mains
THOMAS 1 PETERSON
C1ty Manager
ALICE M REIMCHE
City Clerk
BOB M<NAT T
Ckty Attornev
Thank you for sharing your concern over Lodi's procedure for testing my water main
installations. The procedure that is being used in Lodi was developed working with
the local contractors in the Lodi/Stockton area, i.e., Claude C. Wood Company,
Teichert Construction, and Granite Construction.
Ow of your first concerns was related to the amount of the $5,000 security deposit.
This deposit covers the replacement value of the Equipment being loaned to the
contractor and ensures that if it is not returned, the cost is not borne by our
water customers. The City allows different types of deposits and vie would be happy
to share these possibiiities with you.
I can assure you that the overall installation, chlorination, and testing procedures
work well for those contractors that are experienced in water main installations and
know what they are doing. Most contractors are obtaining bacteriological approval
from the City on their first test. Therefore, these contractors are only filling
the water main one time plus the water used for minor flushing to remove tho
chlorine residual. The City does not require 48 hours of flushing.
You should be aware that if the bacteriological test fails on the first try, the
contractor has theoption to re -chlorinate or to flush. If the contractor elects to
flush, it'son yof irr to our water customers and the citizens of Lodi that we charge
the contractor for water used.
I would encourage you to talk to soErpe of the local contractors familiar with water
main installations to obtain their feelings on our standards.
With regard to installation of permanent check valves, State law prohibits the
requirement of backflow devices on Class I and II fire services which is the most
cmirn n type in Lodi.
If you have additional questions or comments you would like to make, rTy staff and I
would be happy, -to discuss this matter with you in more detail.
Jack L. Ronsko
Public Wcrks Director
11,1
JLR/mt
c c : City Manager
City Council