KIDS CARE FEST SAT. SEPT. 26 in LA MESA
Printer-friendly version September 25, 2009 (La Mesa)–Kids Care Fest is a fun, free interactive family event sponsored by Grossmont Healthcare District, La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation and City of La Mesa. The event takes place Saturday, Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Briercrest Park and the Grossmont Healthcare District office next door, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa. There will be more than 50 exhibits designed for families with children under age 12 to receive free health information from healthcare professionals, including hearing, dental, podiatrist and chiropractic, as well as scoliosis spinal exams. Receive free medical information from pediatricians, dermatologists and pharmacists. Additional free hands-on activities include: arts and crafts, sports activities, children reading a story to a dog, astro and bungee jump, pony rides, displays from La Mesa’s Fire and Police Departments and Lemon Grove’s Fire Safety Trailer will all have interactive displays. Each child receives a goodie bag to put their projects in when visiting each booth. Free new reading books along with coloring books and crayons will be available for children to take home and keep. A free lunch will be served to children while supplies last. Kids Care Fest is a smoke-free event. Free parking is available at Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s Brier Patch Campus at 9000 Wakarusa Street and Grossmont Medical Terrace at 8870 Center Drive. Printer-friendly version
HELIX PIPELINE UPGRADE SENDS WATER FLOWING FOR 3 DAYS IN EL CAJON NEIGHBORHOOD
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery September 24, 2009 (El Cajon) –Why was water left to flow for three days from a pipeline on Pepper Drive? After a reader e-mailed East County Magazine to say that Helix Water had failed to repair an apparently ruptured pipeline a day and a half after it was first reported, we contacted Helix Water District to find out why. Michael Marx said he first called the water district at around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22 to report an exposed, apparently ruptured underground pipe in the middle of the street. Water was flowing at a volume similar to an open garden hose. “I’d estimate perhaps a gallon a minute,” Marx said (an estimate that Helix Water later confirmed was precisely accurate). “The answering party at Helix Water acknowledged that several calls had already reported the same incident and that a work crew had been dispatched to handle the problem.” By Tuesday night, orange cones and warning signs had been posted, but water still flowed unabated. The next day, Wednesday afternoon, Marx phoned again and was told that 50-year old pipes are deteriorating and need to be drained before they are replaced. “Come on folks!” Marx wrote in an e-mail to East County Magazine. “Surely the water can be pumped, diverted, contained, extracted or otherwise salvaged and not just run down the roadway and into the storm drain for in excess of 24 hours…Seems like a public relations nightmare in view of the water crisis, rate hike proposals, roadway erosion, and a significant traffic hazard!” We asked Kate Breece, public affairs manager for Helix Water District, to respond. She explained that the water flow was part of a program to replace cast iron pipelines with PVC over a 12 year period. To date, of the 710 miles of pipeline in the District’s distribution system, about 45 miles of cast iron pipeline remain to be replaced. Replacement projects are prioritized based on age and location of the pipe, soil type, and potential for breakage. “One break in an area may indicate the need to investigate the condition of an entire length of pipe,” Breece said. Total cost of the replacement project is about $1 million a mile, including engineering, surveying, contracting, and inspection services. The District budgets for pipe replacement as part of its capital improvement program. The water flow that Marx observed involved 7,200 feet of cast iron piping on Pepper Drive, Second and Dawson that was installed in the 1940s and is slated for replacement between July and December. “Projects of this type require shutdowns to allow for the old pipelines to be abandoned and the new to be connected to the system,” Breece explained in an e-mail to ECM. “Yesterday’s shutdown affected 70 residences. In order to keep water services for the immediate residences while crews (both Helix and a contractor) completed the tie-ins to the new pipelines, a whip-hose (drain) was used to relieve pressure from the old pipe. This was necessary due to the configuration of the existing piping, the specific connection points, and a 1950s gate valve that was not water tight.” Crews were left with limited choices as to where to discharge the water, due to the connection points and lack of available storm drains in the area, Breece said, adding, “A surface discharge was necessary.” The whip-hose discharged about one gallon per minute intermittently over three days, until completion of the discharge at 8 a.m. today. Total discharge was approximately 3,000 gallons—amounting to approximately $20 in water costs, according to Breece. “Helix has always been sensitive to water discharges,” Chief Engineer Carlos Lugo stated. “During these times of water shortage, the District has a heightened awareness to water loss and has modified its practices to minimize the discharge of water.” Some water discharges are necessary for health and safety, Breece noted. For instance, discharges after line work assure safe levels of chlorine in the water and are needed to comply with state and federal health regulations. Fortunately, discharges account for only a small fraction of the District’s total water usage. “In general,” Breece assured, “for every gallon of water that Helix sells to its customers, ½ teaspoon is used in water discharges for health and safety purposes.” Printer-friendly version
FIRE DEVASTATES SANTEE HOME
Printer-friendly version Story by Peter Diehl, Incident Page Network Photos by Scott Bolle, www.code3photos.com September 24, 2009 (Santee)–An early morning fire in Santee on Thursday required a response of engines and trucks from Santee, El Cajon, and Lakeside. The first engine arrived on the fire scene at 10530 Flora Veda, minutes after a call came into the Heartland communications center. Although the fire was knocked down quickly, extensive overhaul was required because of the large amount of materials stored in the garage. Fire crews were at scene for three hours removing debris from the garage and house to make sure no fire danger remained. Deputy Chief Mattick of the Santee Fire Department estimates the dollar loss to be approximately $300,000. In addition to damage to the structure itself, three motorcycles, a van, and a passenger car were a complete loss. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Printer-friendly version