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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDonner Lake Drinking Water DONNER LAKE CITIZENS GROUP FOR DRINKING WATER P.O. BOX 10860 TRUCKEE, CA 96162 530-582-0141 Lpbraan a ips.net and et:ashtan )rod ,,.net November 20, 2002 To: Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board Members RE: Status and Questions regarding the progression of the upgrades/replacement of the Donner Lake Water System. Honorable members of the Board: Of behalf of the citizens at Donner Lake, we are here tonight to gather information to pass along to everyone at Donner Lake with regards to the progression of the replacement of our water system. At your last board meeting on 11/6/2002, Charlie White from Donner Lake asked specific questions pertaining to the Donner Lake Water System. We reviewed the notes from that meeting and have some additional questions and would like clarification on specific issues. First and foremost, we commend the TDPUD for their efforts on tackling a project such as this. We all have been very patient with the on-going construction of new water lines and gas lines and welcome the changes that have come about so far. We are coming before the board to identify some outstanding issues regarding the rebuilding of the Donner Lake Water infra system, and the assumption of Donner Lake customers into the TDPUD system. We are requesting to sit in meetings as the oversight Donner Homeowner Group, regarding the rebuilding and financing of the Donner System. The TDPUD has required the Donner Property owners to take out a bond and assume all cost of the rebuild, with no costs being assumed within the TDPUD system, until all rebuilding is completed. Since the TDPUD has no interest relative to the costs, and since all costs are being transferred to Donner Homeowners, we feel that homeowners need to represent their interests, until the construction and financing is completed and the Donner Lake property owners are taken under the financial wing of the TDPUD. Additional outstanding issues 1. We were told in prior meetings in 2000 at the TDPUD that a temporary filtration plant was to be installed at the current office location on DPR. This was to mitigate the need for excessively high chlorine levels and meet the surface water treatment rule requirements depicted in numerous compliance orders . The bond included the cost for this temporary treatment plant until such time that a new well could be drilled , within 2 years maximum, i (proposed in Coldstream Canyon area). We are still getting notices that the water quality is in non-compliance and that health risks still exist. Why hasn't the TDPUD installed the temporary treatment plant as promised to the customers to mitigate the potential health risks? If the treatment plant is not installed, are customers going to see the $1.5 million earmarked for the temporary filtration plant reimbursed? Only citizen oversight can assure the customers of Donner Lake that their interests are being served. 2. During the administrative trial with the CPUC, document of record lead all to believe that the TDPUD would be putting a well into service within a year or two. Two years have gone by and now the Board is saying at least another few years is required for well completion/dedication. Donner customers are having to experience very high levels of Chlorine, that have known health risks, which include cancer and significant alterations for those with auto immune problems,not to mention other significant health risks. We would like to know what is to be done for the health of Donner Customers to eliminate this health risk. Which well is our bond money going towards?We would have to assume that the bond money will be used for construction of a new well in the vicinity of Donner Lake and not for the development of the new TDPUD Martis well that is to serve all the new commercial property developments in Truckee. ? Only citizen oversight can assure the customers of Donner Lake that their interests are being served. 3. Why are the Greenpoint Springs shill in operation?We were told by the TDPUD that the new waterline intake extension was to increase the quantity of water and eliminate the need for the Greenpoint Springs source. The Greenpoint Springs source is subject to surface water contamination. Please provide us with the raw water sample results for coliform taken prior to Chlorination. In addition, Chlorine is not an active disinfectant when added to very cold water. The contact time with the tanks is important but also, the temperature of the water has a significant bearing on how active the chlorine is to mitigate potential pathogens. ? Only citizen oversight can assure the customers of Donner Lake that their interests are being served. 4. What is the plan for replacing the Greenpoint tanks and the Southshore tanks. For two years, we have heard that it is to happen?What action has been taken to channel the profound water drainage from the Greenpoint Tanks, until they are replaced? Citizens are discussing potential lawsuits for property damage. We the customers do not want to bear the cost of any litigation relative to this issue. ? Only citizen oversight can assure the customers of Donner Lake that their interests are being served. 5. We would like to know why the property adjacent to the Village parking lot, which originally was Del Oro's, Assessors parcel number 17-150-49 and 17-150-30 has not been turned over to Donner Lake Customers, when they paid for that property, even though it was not in service? We paid interest on the $247,000 note taken out for the purchase of the Knott property in the amounts of$8,659.00 in 1998 and $17,275.00 in 1999. This property is now on the market for Del Oro. What legal action is going to occur to secure property for the Donner Lake Customers, so they can offset the costs of the rebuild. The TDPUD advised us in earlier meetings that Del Oro property would be part of the 2 purchase and they would sell the property to off-set the cost of the bond. ? Only citizen oversight can assure the customers of Donner Lake that their interests are being served. 6. Why did Glenshire not have to take a bond out and pay for their rebuild, as Donner Customers have had to do? They are having to have new wells drilled and a new mainline installed because their pipe was apparently found to be under acceptable codes/standards for the TDPUD. We have been advised tha the TDPUD is currently selling property that Glenshire Mutual owned to off-set some costs. That system is very old also (pushing 30 years) and will need capital replacement. Why do the monthly payments for Glenshire cover the capital improvements and Donner Lake had to take out a bond ? Only citizen oversight can assure the customers of Donner Lake that their interests are being served. All these questions are of great interest to the Donner customers who are footing all responsibility for the rebuild. With homeowners oversight, we can be assured that homeowner interests are being observed. Respectfully submitted, Emilie Kashtan &Kathy Polucha-Kessler Donner Lake Citizens Group for Drinking Water CC: Town of Truckee Town Council Nick Dirga, Sierra Sun Department of Health Services Donner Lake Property Owners Denton Ave Homeowners Association Donner Lake Property Owners Association East Reed Ave. Homeowners Association Donner Lake Village Association Terry Thomas, Esq. Dennis DeCuir, Esq. 3