Internship Program
This past year, the Company started a “Water Profession” Educational Internship Program. The purpose of this program was to expose high school students to the water industry as a career objective in domestic, recycling, and waste water treatment. In addition, we wanted to give the students an opportunity to see where their water comes from and learn the day-to-day operational activities of the Company and the industry. The Company selected four (4) high school students that lived within the Company service area. These four students worked with both the field and the office staff. The interns helped perform various day to day jobs throughout the Company. We hope that this program has some success in the community and would like to continue this program next summer.
Geographic Information System (GIS)
The Company has been very proactive in using technology whenever possible. One outdated resource that needed upgrading was the Company’s water system mapping. This year, the Company upgraded to a GIS mapping system that allows the staff to compile all of the water system information in one location. This includes work orders, system maintenance and repairs, design drawings, customer information, shut-down procedures, virtually anything staff could need to perform their job. We have been working on developing a GIS software that will benefit both the Company and the customer. The development and implementation of the system has been underway for over a year and is now being utilized in the day to day operations to track work orders and other tasks. Development entails surveying the entire water system, locating waterlines, valves, hydrants, meters and other infrastructure. We have completed about 50% of the surveying. In the coming year, if you see blue paint dots on or near your property, this means the Company has marked facilities for the surveyor. These marks are usually within the landscaping or on the street. You may also see small blue flags and we ask that you please leave them in place and we will remove them.
2018-2019 Waterline Projects
Reservoir No. 5 Waterline
In 2018-2019 the Company completed the replacement of an old 1940, 6” waterline that went up to our reservoir site with a 10” waterline.The old pipeline ran approximately 1,500 feet and was inaccessible.The new 10” waterline is now within the reservoir access road and has improved fire flow to meet the current standards.
North Cameron Avenue
The Company replaced 2,500 feet of an old 6 inch waterline with 8 inch waterline on North Cameron Avenue from Limecrest Drive north to Grand Avenue.In addition, there was the installation of approximately 600 feet of new waterline on the east side of Grand Avenue.This project is part of the Company’s ongoing efforts to replace aging infrastructure.
2019-2020 Capital Improvements
The Company is working on the replacement of approximately 200 feet of 6 inch waterline with 12 inch waterline that goes under the 10 freeway from Garvey Avenue to Park View Drive. This project has been in planning for several years and is now moving forward as a result of the planned developments on Park View Drive. This year we will see the construction of a 110 bed senior facility (Oakmont) and the construction of a Kaiser Permanente medical building. These projects will contribute to these improvements.