Water System

Tim Willert WATER SYSTEM STUDY WHAT HAPPENED The council voted to pursue a $115,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct what is called a "vulnerability assessment" of the city's water system. WHAT IT MEANS The study is designed to improve water system security by examining every part of the city's water system, including building conditions and staff training. Don Froelich, Glendale's water services administrator, said the purpose of the evaluation it to examine prudent measures and improvements in hopes of providing a reasonable level of water system security.

Crescenta Valley Water District (CVWD) customers are being asked to reduce their water consumption by 25% because the district has a water shortage caused by the lack of rain this past winter. They are further being threatened that if they don't conserve enough water, the CVWD may ration water. While I concur completely that customers need to do everything reasonable to conserve water, reducing consumption by 25% is not feasible unless lawns are let die. The city of Los Angeles has rationed water twice over the past 50 years, and although there were significant reductions, it could not achieve a 25% reduction in water use even with the threat of shutting off water if consumers did not comply.

Janine Marnien LA CRESCENTA -- Larry McReynolds doesn't think asking Crescenta Valley Water District customers to reduce water consumption by 25% is a realistic goal. The former head of operations and water system planning for the Los Angeles Water System, McReynolds also said a lack of planning by district officials is partly to blame for the current water crunch, and that the district is the only water agency in southern California facing a water shortage.

Robert Chacon The Foothill Municipal Water District has a new general manager. Water veteran William Pecsi, 45, will replace Tony Zampiello, who resigned in June to accept a position with the Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster. Jay Malinowski has acted as interim manager. Pecsi, chosen from a field of more than 30 candidates, most recently served as operation and maintenance manager for water wholesaler Metropolitan Water District, overseeing the agency's largest water treatment plant, the Joseph Jensen Water Treatment Plant in Granada Hills.

OAKMONT PURCHASE WHAT HAPPENED The City Council approved an ordinance allowing the city to transfer its deed for the Oakmont View V hillside property purchase over to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. WHAT IT MEANS Transference of the deed allows the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to kick in its share of the property's $25.25-million purchase price and ultimately seal the city's deal with Gregg's Artistic Homes. VOTE The council voted 5-0 in favor.

Citizens are being asked to vote for changes in the city charter so that it will be written to make sure the City Council can take revenues from Glendale Water & Power when needed, up to 25%. I highly recommend that everyone do their homework in understanding the financial condition of our utility. First off, it is in deep financial trouble and cannot pay for capital improvements needed right now. The water system needs improvements, Grayson Power Plant is old, and the city is having to divest its coal plant resources from two large plants out of state.

Tim Willert GLENDALE CITY HALL -- It's called the "Cadillac" of the industry, but a home filtration system that claims to remove chromium and other contaminants from drinking water has raised some eyebrows at Glendale Water and Power. An advertisement for the product, which retails for $495 and promises to deliver purified water "for life," appeared in Saturday's News-Press. The system, the ad claims, will remove chlorine, chromium, nitrates, fertilizer, lead, dirt and "scores of other contaminants."

ADA ACCESS PROJECT The City Council gave the green light to a project to construct 55,000 square feet of ramps and sidewalks in west and northwest Glendale in an effort to meet federal Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Crews will also install 19,000 square feet of driveway aprons, 2,000 square feet of curbs and gutters and other items, including curb ramps, to bring the city into compliance. In all, the project is estimated to cost $900,000 to $1 million, according to a city staff report.

Gary Moskowitz NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- Ten years ago, Catherine Mulholland began researching her grandfather -- William Mulholland -- with one goal in mind. She wanted to tell his story straight, without bias. But she was committed in her research to disproving -- or proving -- rumors and controversy that surround her grandfather. William Mulholland is best known for building the Los Angeles Owens Valley Aquaduct, a man-made river that stretches 238 miles from the Owens River to Los Angeles.

The City Council on Tuesday is expected to approve a new contract with the Glendale Firefighter's Assn., which includes no pay raises through 2013, higher employee contributions to pension plans and a two-tier retirement system with a higher retirement age for all new hires. Firefighters last year voted to postpone a scheduled pay increase for two years. Under the proposed agreement, the raise would be pushed out two more years, meaning firefighters would remain at current salary levels until July 2013.