Sani5 News

NOTICE is hereby given to the residents of East View Ave, Alcatraz Ave, Main St, Bellevue Ave, Beach Rd, Harbor Oak Dr, Mariner Way, Esperanza St, Racoon Ln, Vistazo W St, Centro W St, St Bernard Ln, Centro E St, Paradise Dr, Mar Centro Dr, Mar E St, Linda Vista Ave, Spanish Trail Rd and Ridge Rd that starting Thursday, October 27, 2022 and continuing until Friday, February 24, 2023, Hardiman Construction/ Trenchless Titan (HCTT) will be performing the sewer work on this project. Please be assured that construction at or near your property will only occur for a small portion of that time.

IMPORTANT: Per Sanitary District No. 5's ordinance for their capital improvement projects, HCTT will be accessing all properties within the work site and the private sanitary sewer lateral pipes serving them to confirm connections to the new sewer main. Residents will be notified if their lateral will be impacted by the assessment or should any issues arise regarding the rehabilitation of the sanitary sewer system.

NOTE: HCTT is offering FREE sewer lateral assessments for those who would like them. The fee to install a lateral will be significantly reduced if replaced during the Rehabilitation Project. Please contact HCTT at            415-924-2555 for a FREE assessment.

CONTACT: HCTT at 415-924-255 should you have questions or concerns.

June 15, 2021 - WE ARE NOW OPEN!

Here are the new guidelines for Office Entry at SD5:

What does this mean/look like at SD5?

Face Mask Policy at SD5

It’s no secret: everybody poops. Marin County Public Health has partnered with local sanitary agencies and University of California Berkeley to do regular sampling of wastewater supplies in Marin County as part of broader COVID-19 outbreak surveillance. Anyone that is infected with COVID-19 is emitting the virus in their bodily fluids, which ends up passing as waste in the toilet. UC Berkeley scientists can detect RNA for the virus in wastewater. Dr. Matt Willis explains more about how the research project works and why its an important tool for the long-term response to COVID-19.

https://youtu.be/WXyfZ9m4KuE

Link to story by Deirdre McCrohan - Ark News Paper

https://www.thearknewspaper.com/single-post/2020/11/18/researchers-hunt-for-coronavirus-in-tiburon-peninsula-sewage

PUBLIC NOTICE

OFFICE CLOSURE EXTENTION THROUGH:

MAY 3, 2020

Dear valued customers,

As government agencies and communities continue to work together to reduce the spread of the COVID 19 virus, Sanitary District No. 5 of Marin County has made the decision to cease office operations involving direct contact with the public, until April 1^st, at which time management will determine if it is in the best interest of the health and safety of staff to reopen the office to the public.

Treatment and testing of sewage as well as maintenance of District equipment will continue as normal. We will still be taking calls and responding to emergencies.

We understand that this may be disruptive to our customers, but the health and safety of our staff as well as our community is paramount.

If you need to contact District staff, please contact the office via phone at 415-435-1501 (press “1” for Staff Directory).

Thank you for your understanding as we work together to fight this pandemic. 

With regards,

SD5 Management

PUBLIC NOTICE

OFFICE CLOSURE

3/16/2020 - 4/7/2020 

Dear valued customers,

As government agencies and communities continue to work together to reduce the spread of the COVID 19 virus, Sanitary District No. 5 of Marin County has made the decision to cease office operations involving direct contact with the public, until April 1^st, at which time management will determine if it is in the best interest of the health and safety of staff to reopen the office to the public.

Treatment and testing of sewage as well as maintenance of District equipment will continue as normal. We will still be taking calls and responding to emergencies.

We understand that this may be disruptive to our customers, but the health and safety of our staff as well as our community is paramount.

If you need to contact District staff, please contact the office via phone at 415-435-1501.

Thank you for your understanding as we work together to fight this pandemic. 

With regards,

SD5 Management

(415) 435-1501

SANITARY DISTRICT NO. 5 OF MARIN COUNTY

PRESS RELEASE

March 26, 2020

Sanitary District No.5 of Marin County closed a bond refinancing transaction during the week of March 23, 2020 to refinance an existing obligation at lower interest rates, achieving significant savings for the District.

The existing obligation was the 2012 Main Plant Rehabilitation Project Bond that allowed the District to upgrade its Wastewater Treatment Facility located at 2001 Paradise Drive.

On March 26^th, the District closed on a 2020 Revenue Refunding Loan Agreement that was sold to a private bank investor via a competitive private placement offering by DA Davidson & Company. The District issued $7.9 million in bonds and used the proceeds to pay off its outstanding 2012 Revenue Bonds. The 2012 Bonds were set to pay a 5% coupon rate from 2023 through its maturity of 2031. The new Bonds have a matching maturity to the 2012 Bonds of 2031 and were sold to investors at an interest rate of 2.48%. The effective lowering of the rate from 5% to 2.48% will allow the District to save a total of $553,458.60 in cash flow savings. Annually the District will save approximately $46,000 per year through 2031.

These savings will greatly assist the District in completing projects listed on its 10-year capital improvement program schedule. Especially considering the District is about to undertake a large capital project that consists of installing a new 2100 linear foot Cove Road Force Main Sewer Line, (Belvederes main sewer line that conveys sewer from Belvedere to the treatment plant located on 2001 Paradise Drive) The Projects estimated cost is around $1 Million Dollars. This project is estimated to cut into half of Belvederes Capital Improvement Reserve.

The District’s Board and Staff worked diligently with its Municipal Advisor, Wulff, Hansen & Co. and its Bond Counsel, Jones Hall, over the course of the winter to refinance this obligation at a time when the market was seeing unprecedented volatility and interest rates were approaching all-time lows never seen before in the bond market.

For more information regarding the Districts refinance or its future Cove Road Force Main Rehabilitation Project, you may contact our office at any time. 415-435-1501

PUBLIC NOTICE

OFFICE CLOSURE

3/16/2020 - 4/7/2020

Dear valued customers,

As government agencies and communities continue to work together to reduce the spread of the COVID 19 virus, Sanitary District No. 5 of Marin County has made the decision to cease office operations involving direct contact with the public, until April 7th, 2020, at which time management will determine if it is in the best interest of the health and safety of staff to reopen the office to the public.

Treatment and testing of sewage as well as maintenance of District equipment will continue as normal. We will still be taking calls and responding to emergencies.

We understand that this may be disruptive to our customers, but the health and safety of our staff as well as our community is paramount.

If you need to contact District staff, please contact the office via phone at 415-435-1501.

Thank you for your understanding as we work together to fight this pandemic. 

With regards,

SD5 Management

The purpose of this notice is to inform you and your neighbors of an upcoming construction project in your area that will improve and rehabilitate the sanitary sewer system. The 2019 Sewer Rehabilitation Project for Tiburon and Belvedere was sent out to bid in May of 2019. The Board of Directors for Sanitary District No. 5 has awarded the project to Glosage Engineers, Inc., and the construction project is expected to begin the first two weeks of August. The duration of the project will be approximately 16 weeks. Please be assured that construction at or near your property, however, will only occur for a small portion of that time.

Approximately 4,300 feet of old vitrified clay pipe is being replaced. In some places, the existing sewer is located in an easement behind the homes in others the existing sewer is located in the roadway. The sewers are being replaced by the pipebursting method which replaces the existing buried pipeline by pulling a polyethylene pipe with an expander head through the existing pipe without the need for a conventional construction trench. There will be some digging where your individual sewer lateral connects to the existing sewer.

The work will involve mechanical or hand digging to connect the lower laterals to the new sewer main. The work areas will be covered with plywood or similar material and barricaded off. The District's  contractor will work with each property owner in determining where the sanitary facilities are located. Any paved, concreted or landscaped areas affected by the project will be restored as nearly as possible to the pre-construction conditions.

When your lower lateral connection is dug near the sewer main, there will be a cost-effective opportunity for you to hire the contractor to televise your upper lateral and view its condition. Since the connection is exposed, your upper lateral can be replaced at this time at your expense for a lower cost than you would pay if you did this work as a standalone project. We urge you to avail yourself of this opportunity to replace your lateral at a greatly reduced cost. You may contact the contractor at (510) 815-4505

The construction will be inspected by Nute Engineering for Sanitary District No.5. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mark Wilson at (415) 453-4480, ext. 208.

Download the full letter from Tony Rubio, District Manager

Sanitary District No. 5 of Marin County cordially invites family and friends

to attend a memorial ceremony honoring the late Randy Armbruster, a

devoted member of the SD5 Team for over 30 years.

A commemorative, bronze plaque will be dedicated in Randy’s memory on

Wednesday at 3:00 PM, on July 11^th, 2018,

at the newly renovated Tiburon Pump Station # 5.

Please be advised, Tiburon Pump Station #5 does not have a formal address.

TPS#5 is located approximately one block east on Mar West Street from

the Mar West/Tiburon Boulevard intersection, on the left.

We welcome everyone who wishes to attend.

In the District’s continued effort to protect public health and the receiving waters of the State of California, the District is required to perform a cleaning activity during the low-flow hours of the night and into the early morning (between 10 p.m. – 5 a.m.), on an annual basis as preventative maintenance. 

This annual preventative maintenance activity includes the cleaning of the grit chamber located at the front of the treatment plant’s office, located at 2001 Paradise Drive. The grit chamber cleaning is accomplished via high-powered vactor trucks which vacuum the settled debris that has been deposited at the bottom of the chamber. If this activity in not performed on schedule, the District runs the risk of damaging plant equipment by allowing this debris to flow in to the plant uncontrolled.

The District understands our neighbors closest to the plant – those in the Pt. Tiburon Bay Side Association, those located directly above us on Centro and Diviso Streets, and those on Paradise Drive on the bay-side of the plant – may be affected by the noise and light emitted from the cleaning project. The District is providing this courtesy notice to our Neighbors, to warn you of our upcoming mandatory annual activity, which ensures the safe and continued efficient operations of the SD5 Main Plant.

The cleaning will begin on Thursday, December 28, 2017, starting at 10 p.m. continuing through 5 a.m., on Friday, December 29, 2017.

Please contact Tony Rubio, District Manager (415.435.1501, ext. 106), with any questions.

We greatly appreciate your understanding while we conduct this required, preventative maintenance at Sanitary District No. 5’s Main Plant. 

The Mar West Pump Station, Phase II, Improvement Project was sent out to bid in in April, 2017.  The Board of Directors for Sanitary District No. 5 awarded the project to TEAM Ghilotti, Inc. Construction began in June of 2017, with an expected completion date of November 31, 2017. The project is now nearing completion which will enhance the operation of Tiburon’s largest pump station and improve employee safety with the removal of hazardous conditions at the site.

Phase II includes replacing the current service pumps, which will require some modifications to the structure where the pumps are housed. During this process the structure will have to be taken off line which will require bypass pumping so the contractor can continue their construction activities. A dry pit configuration will be converted to a wet pit configuration, and the replacement of dry pit vertical shaft driven centrifugal pumps will be replaced with District standardized Flygt Submersible pumps. Pump maintenance in the future will be simplified by these changes.  The new configuration will allow staff to remove pumps for maintenance by lowering a hoist attachment down into the pit and lifting them out with the push of a button, rather than having 4 staff members subject to a confined space entry, leaving them free to work on other projects and maintenance activities.   

District staff, Nute Engineers and TEAM Ghilotti, Inc., are committed to giving a high degree of attention toward finishing this project on time and anticipate having this pump station back online in the few weeks.

The District is committed to ensuring the projects identified in our 10 year Capital Improvement Program are completed in a timely manner for continued efficient operation of the District, as well as the continued protection of public health and receiving waters of the state of California.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our office for additional information regarding this project.

Sincerest regards,

Tony Rubio
District Manager- Chief Plant Operator

The purpose of this notice is to inform you and your neighbors of an upcoming construction project in your area that will improve and rehabilitate the sanitary sewer system. The 2016/2017 Sewer Rehabilitation Project for Tiburon and Belvedere was sent out to bid in in January, 2017. The Board of Directors for Sanitary District No. 5 has awarded the project to Pacific Trenchless, Inc., and the construction project is expected to begin sometime in April.  The duration of the project will be approximately 12 weeks. Please be assured that construction at or near your property however, will only occur for a small portion of that time.

Approximately 2,600 feet of old vitrified clay pipe is being replaced. In most places, the existing sewer is located in an easement behind the homes. The sewers are being replaced by the pipe-bursting method which replaces the existing buried pipeline by pulling a polyethylene pipe with an expander head through the existing pipe without the need for a conventional construction trench. There will be some digging where your individual sewer lateral connects to the existing sewer.

The work will involve mechanical or hand digging to connect the lower laterals to the new sewer main.  The work areas will be covered with plywood or similar material and barricaded off. The District’s contractor will work with each property owner in determining where the sanitary facilities are located.  Any paved, concreted or landscaped areas affected by the project will be restored as nearly as possible to the pre-construction conditions.

When your lower lateral connection is dug near the sewer main, there will be a cost effective opportunity for you to hire the contractor to televise your upper lateral and view its condition. Since the connection is exposed, your upper lateral can be replaced at this time at your expense for a lower cost than you would pay if you did this work as a standalone project. We urge you to avail yourself of this opportunity to replace your lateral at a greatly reduced cost.

The construction will be inspected by Nute Engineering for Sanitary District No.5. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mark Wilson at (415) 453-4480, ext. 208.

 Sincerest regards,

 Tony Rubio

 District Manager

 Sanitary District No. 5 of Marin County

2016-2017 Sewer Rehabilitation Project:

Areas to be effected by Sewer Rehabilitation Project

 TIBURON:                                                 

• Between 45 Rolling Hills Rd and 85 Spring Lane
• 5 Heathcliff Drive down to 141 Lyford Drive
• Spanish Trail Easement near 2477 Spanish Trail Rd & 1970 Straits View Dr
• Ridge Rd between 460 and 480 Ridge Rd
• Raccoon Path Easement between Centro West and Mar West 1800 Centro West -1828 Centro West and 1801 Mar West -1809 Mar West

BELVEDERE:

• Buckeye Road to Bay View Ave- 10, 35, 45 Buckeye Road
• Golden Gate Ave to Belvedere Ave 4 Eucalyptus Rd, 6 Eucalyptus Rd, 111 Golden Gate Ave and 107 Golden Gate Ave.
• Eucalyptus to Golden Gate Ave- 215 Golden Gate and 217 Golden Gate
• Beach Road 470 Bella Vista Ave-404 Bella Vista Ave.

Maps of areas effected are available at the SD5 Office:

2001 Paradise Avenue, Tiburon, CA  94941

Call us with any questions: (415) 435-1501

Date:           May 25, 2016

To:               Neighbors of the SD5 Main Plant

From:          Tony Rubio - Wastewater Facilities Manager & District Manager

Subject:       Upcoming Night Time Work

In the District’s continued effort to protect public health and the receiving waters of the State of California, the District has been required to perform cleaning activity during the low-flow hours of the night and into the early morning (between 11pm -5am), on an annual basis as preventative maintenance.

This annual preventative maintenance activity includes the cleaning of the grit chamber located at the front of the treatment plant’s office located at 2001 Paradise Drive. The grit chamber cleaning is accomplished via high-powered vactor trucks that operate to vacuum out all of the settled debris that has been deposited at the bottom of the chamber. If this activity is not performed on schedule, the District runs the risk of damaging plant equipment by allowing this debris to flow in to the plant uncontrolled.

The District understands that our neighbors closest to the plant – those in the Point Tiburon Bay Side Association, those located directly above us on Centro and Diviso streets, and those on Paradise Drive on the bay-side of the plant – may be affected by the noise and light emitted from the cleaning project.  The District is providing this courtesy notice to you, our Neighbors, to warn of our upcoming mandatory annual (only once/year) activity, which ensures the safe and continued efficient operations of the SD5 Main Plant.

The cleaning activity will begin on Thursday, May 26, 2016, starting at 11 p.m., continuing through 6 a.m. on Friday, May 27, 2016.

Please contact Tony Rubio, District Manager (415.435.1501, at ext. 106), with any questions.

We greatly appreciate your understanding while we conduct this required, preventative maintenance at Sanitary District No. 5’s Main Plant.

Sanitary District No. 5 is seeking qualified applicants for the WWTP Maintenance/ Collection System Technician position. The salary range is $5,041.34/month – $6,755.88/month, depending on qualifications, plus excellent benefits.

Visit the Job Openings page for more information.

Sanitary District No.5 of Marin County Ordinance 2014-02 has new lateral inspection requirements that apply ONLY if you are (1) buying or selling a property, (2) doing more than $50,000 worth of building or remodeling within a 3 year period, or (3) if there is a sewer main or road resurfacing project is taking place in a vicinity near you. Additionally, you may voluntarily have your PSL checked to be in compliance with the SD5 Sewer Use Ordinance when you are having work performed on the lateral without meeting any of the triggers. 

Exceptions from the PSL Triggers 

Your PSL is excepted from these new requirements if: 

• It was originally installed or has been replaced within 20 years prior to the date of application for a building permit, listing the property for sale, or the road work of sewer repair. 
• It was inspected within 3 years of the date the inspection would have otherwise been required and all necessary repairs were carried out. 

Complying with the PSL Inspection Requirements 

Generally, to comply with PSL inspection requirements, the following steps should be taken: 

Contact Sanitary District No.5 of Marin County @ 415-435-1501 or 2001 Paradise Drive and get additional information and questions answered about the new requirements 

• Hire a contractor to inspect your PSL. Commonly, this consists of a closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspection allowing for the contractor and you to visually see the condition of your PSL, including instances of offset joints, root intrusion and cracked or broken pipe segments which would prevent your PSL from compliance. 
• The CCTV inspection should be on DVD for submission to the Sanitary District for review. 
• If your PSL does not comply with ordinance 2014-02, have your PSL repaired or replaced. 
• If your PSL is free of leaks and in compliance with ordinance 2014-02 a permit will be issued confirming compliance 

Ordinance Effective Date 

Ordinance 2014-02 went into effect on March 4, 2015 District wide. 

Our District service area covers the City of Belvedere and the Town of Tiburon East of Gilmartin Drive. 

Completion of the Main Plant Rehabilitation Project:

Historical Overview

The District, in 2010, conducted a condition assessment that found the main wastewater treatment plant well maintained, although considerable signs of aging were apparent. Due, in part, to the close proximity to the San Francisco Bay, which creates a very harsh and corrosive environment for the treatment plant’s machinery and electrical components, the main plant’s equipment was at or beyond its expected useful life and below efficient energy, environmental, and safety standards.

The main plant was last rehabilitated in the early 1980s, with the original primary plant dating back to the 1960s. It was anticipated that routine maintenance costs would rise to significant annual expenditures. The Board of Directors of Sanitary District No. 5 of Marin County, therefore, authorized a report for the Preliminary Design of the Main Plant Capital Rehabilitation and Replacement Project that was completed in 2011. Upon receipt of that report the District then deemed the Main Plant Rehabilitation (MPR) Project appropriate for the District's needs, and construction began in June, 2012, and was completed in October, 2014.

Update as of November, 2015

On October 22, 2014, the District filed a notice of completion on the MPR Project completed by low bidder Auburn Constructors, Inc. (ACI), of Sacramento, CA. ACI began construction on June 11, 2012. The total bid amount for the construction of the project was $8,922,300. The total paid to Auburn Constructors was $9,636,402 which amounts to an 8% increase due to change orders encountered during construction. Major change orders included: removal and replacement of the primary and secondary clarifier sludge skimming equipment, solids dewatering automation, replacement of 2 check valves on the critical wet weather pumps, replacement of the main switch board receiving PG&E power, and radio communications from remote pump stations to the Main Plant.

Overall, the project was a huge success for the District. The District remained well within permit limits for the duration of construction in spite of the multiple shutdowns and pump-arounds required throughout the project. SD5 and Auburn Constructors staff worked closely together on the project, producing positive results and with no accidents.  In the end, Sanitary District No. 5 of Marin County was left with an up-to-date, reliable and efficient treatment plant, which will serve the community for many years to come.

NEWS RELEASE

Non- Chlorinated Treated Wastewater Release from Sanitary District No. 5’s Main Wastewater Treatment Plant at Paradise Drive and Mar West Street

On May 15^th at 6:45 p.m. a Sprint/ Nexgen contractor accidentally broke a small pipe while replacing batteries at their Cellphone Substation and caused the released of 3,300 gallons of non-chlorinated treated wastewater to a storm drain that leads to San Francisco Bay at Raccoon Straits, near the Sanitary District No. 5’s Main Wastewater Treatment Plant at Mar West St. and Paradise Dr. District staff notified the Environmental Services Department of Marin County and placed wastewater spill warning placards at the shoreline where the spill entered the bay. Bay water samples have been collected for bacterial testing to determine the level of hazard posed to the public in connection with water contact recreational activities near the shoreline. 

The District has invested $1.95 MM on construction of the new Paradise Cove treatment facility and the new Paradise Drive sewer main. The new facility serves Paradise Drive residents from Trestle Glen to Teaberry Lane, including the residents of the Seafirth subdivision who recently decommissioned their private treatment facility and connected to the new forced main.

Though the plant is now fully operational, only a few property owners along Paradise Drive have taken advantage of the opportunity to decommission their aging septic systems and connect to the new forced main to contribute to cleaner, safer, and more environmentally sound sanitary service. The District has done its part. It's time to do yours.

In 2008-2009, the Board of Directors voted not to enact the previously approved 9% rate increase (approved as part of the last "Prop. 218 process"). It did vote to enact the previously approved 2009-2010 4% rate increase and has initiated a new 218 process to investigate rate increases which would take effect in 2010 through 2014. Stay tuned for more information.

Financial Statements Are Online

Audited financial statements for the District's 2010-2011 Fiscal Year, as well as the District’s FY 2012-2013 Budget, are now posted. You are encouraged to peruse them both.

Despite the diligence of the District's maintenance program, overflows do still occur. Culprits include: diapers and other hygiene products that should not have been flushed down the toilet; fats, oils, and grease (FOG) that should not have been poured down the drain; and construction debris introduced into the collection system. In short, overflows are usually preventable. Overflow cleanup is costly and has the potential to introduce pathogens into the environment. If an overflow reaches a storm drain or watershed, the District is required to report the incident to environmental agencies, raising the potential for fines or litigation (under provisions of the Clean Water Act) by environmental watchdog groups. In fact, the District recently settled (for $17,000) with such a group whose cause of action was based simply on the fact that overflows had occurred.

If a blockage occurs in the sanitary sewer system, sewage will rise through a manhole and overflow to the surrounding area. However, if your house plumbing is below the level of the overflowing manhole, the sewage can backup through your house side sewer lateral and enter your home through your plumbing drains. Backflow prevention devices are designed to prevent sewage from entering your home and are mandated by building code as well as District ordinance. When the need for a backflow prevention device is overlooked or ignored, the consequences can be devastating.

Water recycling

With cost estimates approaching $600,000, limited storage capacity and a lengthy payback period (40+ years), a program to deliver "Title 22" recycled water to the community-at-large is difficult to justify even if funds were available. Undaunted however, the District is pursuing opportunities with individual home-owners where their proximity to its facilities makes it feasible.

Alternative Energy

Although the main plant is located in a south-facing, "solar-power sweet spot," the District's facilities are without sufficient roof-area or adjacent real-estate for the installation of photovoltaic panels to make a meaningful contribution to its energy needs. However, through its participation in PG&E's demand reduction programs and through the use of the methane gas that is a byproduct of operations, the District was able to reduce its utility costs by 1.5% over the previous year.

Sanitary District No. 5 will be performing smoke testing of its collections system on September 28, 2009 and will continue testing through September 30, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Smoke testing of sanitary sewer collection systems was initiated in 1961 at McPherson, Kansas.

The Environmental Protection Agency endorses smoke testing as a way to identify where infiltration of storm water into the collection system, may be occurring. (Usually roof drains or storm drains plumbed to the collection system.) Smoke testing uses no explosive material and will leave no visible residue.

The District will start testing in the Belvedere Zone along the following streets. Lower Beach Road, all of San Rafael Ave, Leeward, Windward, Edgewater, Lagoon Road andPeninsula Road.

During the testing period, do not be alarmed if you see smoke emanating from a storm or roof drain.

Please contact the District Office at 435-1501 if you have any question or concerns.

Paradise Cove's new self-contained wastewater treatment plant is slated for delivery and installation in June and will replace an existing plant that is currently twenty years older than it's projected twenty year service life. The new 'plant' is actually two plants that will operate in tandem, increasing capacity, reducing the load on any single plant and also facilitating regular preventative maintenance. One plant can stay on-line while the other is undergoing maintenance.

Kudos to the District's staff for keeping the existing Paradise Cove plant operational and incident-free for over forty years!

The engineering firm responsible for installation of the new plant had planned to use a helicopter to deliver the equipment, but our ever vigilant District Manager, Bob Lynch, convinced them that he could have it delivered by barge at significantly less expense and without the disturbance to the neighborhood that the helicopters would have created. This saved the District between $60,000 and $80,000.

On May 13, 2008 between 12:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. the main treatment facility located at 2001 Paradise Drive released 67,500 gallons of water into Raccoon Straits in the usual method.  However, the discharged water had undergone only Primary treatment and Disinfection, not the usual Secondary treatment.  Under our NPDES Permit, releasing water with only primary treatment is allowed only during extreme wet weather.  Therefore, the District immediately notified the State Office of Emergency Services, Regional Water Quality Control Board, Directors of Environmental Health, Marin County Department of Health Services and the County Public Health Officer.  Within thirty minutes of reporting, warning signs were placed along the Bay notifying the public to stay out of the water.

Sewer Service Charge Increase Proposed to Ensure Continued Public Health and Environmental Protection

Although wastewater collection and treatment is a service we all rely on many times each day, it works so well that most of us never stop to think about it.

But now, a sewer service charge increase is needed, and we are working to inform our customers about it. Without the increase, the District will not be able to pay for critically needed upgrades, increasing the risk of having to pay far more to regulators for not complying. In the event of a spill, there could be astronomical fines, and potential damage to the environment and public health.

Although we have taken every reasonable step to lower costs and stretch funds, it has been determined that rate increases are necessary to cover the costs of the upgrades.