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Sewer Odor Control Testing Begins in Shoreview Parkside Neighborhood

During the week of July 23, the Clean Water Program will be conducting a sewer odor control fan test in the Shoreview Parkside neighborhood. The sewers in this area have a history of odor complaints, and the City is testing a different method to mitigate these odors.

The odor control fan test will involve accessing manholes in the City streets and in front and back yard manholes in City utility easements. A 58-foot truck with the odor control fan equipment will be parked temporarily on Taylor and Eisenhower streets. Additional work trucks will be in the area to dewater certain manholes and sewer lines. Residents may experience minor traffic delays and brief blockages of driveways as the crews conduct this work.

The test will take approximately 4 hours from start to finish, but could take longer, depending on sewer conditions. We encourage residents to avoid indoor water use (toilets, showers, sinks, etc.) during the testing.

Work areas are shown on the maps below. Notices will be sent to the neighborhood.

We appreciate residents’ cooperation with this work.

42nd Avenue Pump Station Improvements Update

Work on the 42nd Avenue Pump Station rehabilitation began in May and is well under way. Work is expected to be complete in December 2018. Sewer service will not be interrupted during rehabilitation. To keep the pump station running reliably, the work will include:
  • Replacing pumps, valves, and piping;
  • Recoating underground vaults;
  • Replacing electrical and instrumentation controls;
  • Adding a standby generator at 43rd Avenue and El Camino Real; and
  • Installing electrical conduit in El Camino Real between 42nd and 43rd avenues.

Glendora/Shasta Sewer Relief Work Update

As part of the Clean Water Program, approximately 2,000 feet of existing sewer pipes along Shasta and Glendora drives will be replaced and upgraded. This project will replace portions of the sewer pipes in City easements in Shasta Drive residents' backyards or side yards with a new, larger pipe in the street. Improvements on Glendora Drive will occur in the street.

Most of the construction work will take place in the public right-of-way, but the construction contractor will need to access the pipes in easements on affected properties as part of this work. Any disturbances to surface features and landscaping on private parcels will be replaced in kind. In addition, the contractor performing the work will ensure that safety hazards and odors will be mitigated during the work. After work is completed, Shasta Drive will be repaved.

Construction is expected continue to Fall 2018. Door hanger construction notices were distributed to the neighborhood. For coordination of easement access, affected residences will be notified prior to the work.

This work is crucial for improving the City’s overall infrastructure, and for preventing sewer overflows that occur during heavy rains. The Clean Water Program and the City of San Mateo want to thank all residents for their continued cooperation!

Private Sewer Lateral Cost-Sharing Program

Did you know that City of San Mateo provides grants to property owners for 50% of the cost of a full sewer lateral replacement (from where it exits the structure to the main line connection) with a maximum grant of $5,000? 

All types of properties (residential, commercial, multi-family, etc.) in the city of San Mateo are eligible for the lateral replacement cost sharing as part of the Private Sewer Lateral Cost-Sharing Program. Spot repairs and partial repairs are not included in the cost-sharing program.

Applications for fiscal year 2018-19 are now available. This program is very popular, and funding is limited. We encourage you to apply early.

For additional information, please see the Cost Sharing Program homepage. 
 

To Flush or Not To Flush?

Many items should not be flushed down the toilet because they can damage plumbing, sewer lines, the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) or the environment.

In this issue, we are focusing on items that can clog plumbing or get hung up along the way. The most notorious of these is the personal cleansing wipe. Many brands of baby and body wipes are touted as “flushable,” claiming that the wipe breaks down naturally before it gets to the WWTP. But, are they really safe to flush?

Once flushed, the wipes don’t break down as claimed during the short journey to the WWTP. The wipes are small enough to pass through the bar screens, meant to catch floating debris so that it does not damage the WWTP equipment or end up in San Francisco Bay.  The clothlike material gets stuck in pipes, blocking the sewer lines, causing sewer backups, and creating costly repair issues. These The issue has worsened in recent years due to the increasing availability and marketing of, and consumer demand for, such products.

Similar flushable claims are made for many feminine products, but these experience the same fate as the not-so-flushable wipe. Paper and cloth towels, diapers, and plastic bags also cause similar issues. Regardless of what the packaging says, the best place to dispose of all these items is in the waste bin.
About the San Mateo Clean Water Program
The Clean Water Program is a 10-year comprehensive plan to upgrade the aging wastewater collection and treatment system with advanced infrastructure that will provide reliable services and protect public health and the environment for years to come. 
For more information, visit www.CleanWaterProgramSanMateo.org
Copyright © 2018 City of San Mateo - Clean Water Program, All rights reserved.


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