BIG IMPROVEMENTS FOR A SMALL SUBDIVISION 4/23/09
The Trinity Village Subdivision will have a new water treatment facility soon. The
treatment plant is something that has been talked about for some time and no doubt some thought it would never happen, but
the day has arrived. We expect to have it fully operational by the end of summer.
These plants can be extremely expensive as you might expect. To help the Villagers
avoid these high cost the Trinity Village Water Company went through a 7 year application process and were able to secure
a Grant from the State which will cover the cost of the plant. This means the Villagers will not have to shoulder the burden
of paying back over a million dollars for a state of the art filtration system that will comply with the strict State standards
now and in the future. After consulting with our engineers and State of California Health Department we have selected a Pall
Aria System. It is a membrane system; specifically designed to meet the drinking water treatment requirements of small communities.
The Pall Aria systems use Microa membrane modules in a hollow fiber configuration to remove contaminants from the source water.
These modules are highly permeable which allow for high water production rates. A system already used in Hoopa and in Sonoma
County. Our system will be in the very capable hands of Bill Anderson, the Operations Manager.
The present storage facility will be restored and used and another
120,000 gallon storage tank will be added. In addition, two hydrants will be added to Denny Road and another on Flame Tree
Road. Adding these hydrants will make it easier for Hawkins Bar, Federal and State fire agencies to fill their trucks making
our neighborhoods safer.
The plant is expected to be completed by the end of summer. For
those who have recently driven by the old storage facility, fear not, for it might look well bulldozed at present, the final
project will be more park-like rather than industrial. A pleasant addition to the neighborhood, it is our hope to be a model
site for the State Representative to point to and show other small water companies what is possible to keep it ‘green’.
Once the plant is operational the State will no longer require
the boil water notices to be in effect during the summer months when we use the most water.
The grant funds from the State of California will cover the cost of rebuilding the
water treatment facility, a new storage tank, a new main line from the river and new hydrants. It does not cover the distribution
system, the lateral lines from the main to each meter. The Trinity Village Water Company has had the engineers put the plans
together to replace the lateral lines and applied for funds under President Obama’s shovel ready projects. We are awaiting
the answer on that application.
To answer the rate increase question, it’s a little too soon, but as you can
see we are doing all we can to keep the rate increases to a minimum. You should also be aware any increases must be justified
and approved by the California Public Utilities Commission. So in all honesty there may be rate increases, any incidental
costs not covered by the grant funds will be passed on to the customers, and the standard cost of living increases. But these
costs are small in comparison to what it would have been without help from the grant funds.
The Trinity Village subdivision will be very proud to have a brand
new water treatment facility that would be the envy of any large community. This could not be possible without the efforts
of Josh McKnight of Trinity Valley Consulting Engineers, Rick Reinhard of Whitsons, Jeff Zabel of Mercer-Fraser, Tony Weidemann
and Mey Bunte of the Department of Health Services, Bill Anderson and Kay Heath of TVWC, and many other too numerous to list
we owe our gratitude and thanks.
The Trinity Village Water Company
the
envy of any large community. This could not be possible without the efforts of Josh McKnight of Trinity Valley Consulting
Engineers, Rick Reinhard of Whitsons, Jeff Zabel of Mercer-Fraser, Tony Weidemann and Mey Bunte of the Department of Health
Services, Bill Anderson and Kay Heath of TVWC, and many other too numerous to list we owe our gratitude and thanks.
The Trinity Village Water Company
