From the Manager
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By Teresa Herrera
SVCW Manager
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Our facilities here at SVCW are industrial in nature, posing unique hazards not otherwise encountered by workers.
Not only do we have mechanical and electrical equipment that pose hazards, there are also chemicals and biological risks. We do our utmost to protect our staff by providing:
- Proper personal protective gear and equipment for daily use
- Training on safety practices
- Daily emphasis on safety
Fundamentally, the need to be safe rests with all of us, and it’s vital that everyone who works here practices safe behaviors at all times. Recently, I was talking with one of our treatment plant operators, and he pointed out how the emphasis on safety here at SVCW has spilled over into his everyday personal life. He now thinks ahead when he has a task to complete at home, when he’s driving, and when he’s recreating. He always has safety in mind. It makes me smile when I hear stories like this, as it emphasizes to me that safety is an "always" activity.
I’m proud of our workforce, and especially proud of the fact that a robust safety culture is being fully embraced. To reflect this culture, we recently held a competition for a new safety slogan. We had over 20 submissions--many of which were fantastic--so it was challenging to select just one.
Select we did! Our new safety motto is...
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The RESCU Program includes 11 projects which constitute full replacement and
rehabilitation of SVCW’s sewer conveyance system. This will support the
safety and reliability of the community’s wastewater system and protect the San Francisco Bay through rehabilitating, re-purposing, and constructing new facilities.
Below are the latest updates on the Front of Plant and Gravity Pipeline projects, including how creative financing will save ratepayers millions of dollars.
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CREATIVE FINANCING FOR SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE WILL SAVE RATEPAYERS MILLIONS
Silicon Valley Clean Water (SVCW) will save ratepayers about $9.8 million as it moves forward with major infrastructure repairs, including the Regional Environmental Sewer Conveyance Upgrade (RESCU), which is estimated to cost nearly $500 million when completed. SVCW will finance infrastructure repairs using the least costly methods available, including government loans, wastewater revenue bonds, grants, and available cash reserves.
Under the Clean Water Act of 1972, the federal and state government provided the majority of funding for wastewater treatment plant construction. Clean Water Grants accounted for $46.3 million of the $57.9 million that it took to build the treatment plant, pump stations, and conveyance pipelines now owned by SVCW. That was 80% of the total cost. As assets have aged, the absence of federal and state funding programs puts the burden of financing repairs on local agencies and cities.
SVCW continually works to obtain the lowest-cost financing available. To date, they have secured the following financing to fund the capital improvement program and ensure that public and environmental health goals are met:
- Three separate State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans for a combined $57 million
- Wastewater Revenue Bonds that generated $310 million in proceeds
- Grant funding worth $3 million
- Members’ cash reserves contributions of $57 million
- And, most recently, a federally-funded low cost loan program called WIFIA (Water Infrastructure Financing Innovation Act,) at a value of $218 million
For more information, go
here
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Front of Plant Update
One of the RESCU program projects is the Front of Plant project, which consists of the design and construction of the receiving lift station, headworks facility, odor control facilities, influent connector pipe, civil site work, emergency overflow pipe to storage basin, and related process support systems. Work is being implemented in stages under a progressive design-build procurement process. A team of 30 is working on the project. Here are some updates:
- The excavation of receiving lift station shaft is well underway--now at a depth of 40 feet and heading to 90 feet.
- The headworks facility concrete base slab is being placed this month. It will serve as the base for the entire above-grade part of the headworks structure.
- The utility corridors for service connections to the Main Structure have been installed.
- The design is being finalized with the contractor.
The team is using virtual reality (VR) to check all the final design details. Read more
here
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Gravity Pipeline (Tunnel) Update
The Gravity Pipeline (GP) Project consists of the design, construction, permitting, start-up, commissioning, and closeout of approximately 17,600 feet of wastewater gravity FRP pipe inside a concrete-segment tunnel. The work includes three shafts and will interface directly with the front of plant (FoP) project (see above) at the receiving lift station (RLS). Work is being implemented under a progressive design-build procurement process.
This project engages approximately 60 staff. They've reached the following milestones:
- The tunnel boring machine (TBM) is in place in the launch shaft. The TBM will begin active mining in mid-September in the direction of Inner Bair Island.
- The conveyor system has been completed for moving excavated material from the head of the TBM to the surface for hauling offsite.
- The slurry plant has been assembled at the surface near the launch shaft, and tested to support the operations of the TBM as it mines.
- The design is proceeding for connections to existing piping from all of the member agencies.
- The access road has been completed on Inner Bair Island to one of the in-progress TBM retrieval shafts, which is currently under construction using pile installation equipment specifically chosen for producing nearly zero noise.
Our close partnerships are helping SVCW and the RESCU Program support the coordination of the work in the community. Partners on the Gravity Pipeline Project include:
- USFWS Refuge management (Inner Bair Island)
- County of San Mateo
- County staff at San Carlos Airport
- City of Redwood City
- City of San Carlos
- Redwood Shores Community Association
- Redwood Shores Homeowners Association
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TOP 7 THINGS MOST PEOPLE THINK ARE FLUSHABLE BUT AREN'T
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Are you sure you know what's safe to flush down the toilet and what's not?
It's not only a matter of keeping your pipes unclogged--which can be expensive to fix--but it's also a matter of pollution. To keep our water clean, and your pipes intact, never flush the following down the toilet, even if the product says it's flushable.
- Wet wipes, even those labeled "flushable"
- Cotton swabs
- Dental floss
- Feminine hygiene products
- Paper towels
- Unused medicines (use drop-off sites for proper disposal)
- Cooking grease in small quantities (can be solidified and put in the garbage)
Simply put the above items in the trash.
Here's what's safe to flush down the toilet:
- Bodily waste
- Toilet paper
If you are interested in receiving an educational PDF poster, useful for homes, daycare centers, schools, nursing facilities and more, please let us know. They are available either as a PDF or laminated.
Contact us for your free copy by calling 650.832.6279, or email your request to
shiestand@svcw.org
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