A water filtration plant at Salmon Creek would allow the secondary water source to be used all year and could potentially increase its capacity, Engineering Director Rorie Watt told the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Committee of the Whole Monday evening.
Juneau receives the majority of its drinking water from the Gold Creek water supply in Last Chance Basin, but the possibility of mining development near the basin, as well as interest in a redundant water source for the city and an Environmental Protection Agency regulation that will require a secondary disinfection system for Salmon Creek, has spurred discussion over the Salmon Creek supply.
Initial conversations about how to meet the federal regulation focused on using ultraviolet radiation to treat the water from Salmon Creek for parasites and viruses, according to Watt. He said a UV radiation system would cost approximately $1 million.
However, Watt added, staff have more recently been considering a water filtration plant that could both disinfect the water and curb turbidity, cloudiness of the water that can occur seasonally and has caused the Salmon Creek water supply to be taken offline several times since 2005, according to a draft Municipal Drinking Water Supply Plan dated June 12, to which Watt referred several times during the work session.
“Filtration allows us to use Salmon Creek, or would allow us to use Salmon Creek, during periods of turbidity and use it year-round,” Watt said.
Watt estimated project costs for a filtration plant at Salmon Creek would fall between $3.5 million and $6 million, depending on the size and capacity of the plant.
A larger plant would effectively double Salmon Creek’s output capacity — when it is being tapped, the Salmon Creek source typically provides between one million and two million gallons of water per day, Watt said after the work session — and would be able to accommodate future growth. But Watt told the committee that it would not be used to its full capacity of four million gallons of water per day in the “short to medium run.”
“It would be a quite a while before we would use that much water from Salmon Creek, barring any number of things happening,” said Watt. “I think that if we look at a filtration plant at the nearer term, we would probably look at phasing it and building maybe a plant half that size, and anticipating a larger plant in the future.”
Watt said staff recommends making Salmon Creek a year-round supply while simultaneously keeping Gold Creek online, as well as working to “protect” the latter supply in case of mining activity around Last Chance Basin.
If the Gold Creek supply were taken offline, water distribution system upgrades to establish Salmon Creek as a reliable primary source for all of Juneau would cost between $1 million and $2.3 million, according to a Nov. 30 memorandum Watt discussed with the committee. Those costs are based off an assessment by Carson Dorn Inc., the technical memorandum from which is also dated to last Friday.
On a motion by Assemblymember Johan Dybdahl, the Committee of the Whole forwarded a draft resolution supporting the Municipal Drinking Water Supply Plan recommendations to the full Assembly for public hearing.
After Assemblymember Karen Crane said she wants to ensure public testimony will be heard on the resolution, Mayor Merrill Sanford said he would work with staff to keep it off the consent agenda, which is typically adopted without discussion.
Assemblymember Jesse Kiehl, who questioned Watt during the committee work session, said afterward that he is concerned that the Salmon Creek water supply project costs will go beyond the cost of a filtration plant alone.
“I think we need to be able to use Salmon Creek year-round and have the increased capacity,” said Kiehl. “But I don’t believe in blank checks.”
The committee very briefly discussed Assembly goals for the coming year. Setting those goals and Assembly priorities has been an ongoing process since the Assembly’s retreat in late October.
“The mayor and the manager have sent us the top action items, responsibilities, timeframe and status as a result of our discussion on the retreat and our last meeting,” Deputy Mayor Mary Becker, chairwoman of the Committee of the Whole, told her fellow Assemblymembers.
A list provided at the committee work session identified the Assembly’s “overall goals” as being to “preserve and improve local quality of life,” “improve infrastructure and services to and within our community,” “promote a healthy, growing economy,” “improve Juneau as a regional center and as Alaska’s Capital,” and “enhance the effectiveness of Juneau’s local government.”
Those goals included a number of “implementing actions.” Numbering among them are several “top action items,” including hosting a meeting with builders, lenders and property owners on housing development; developing the municipal water supply; completing a feasibility study on the A-J mine; and electrifying Veterans’ Memorial Highway to the end of the road, among others.
Mayor Merrill Sanford encouraged Assemblymembers to review the list and advise him of any changes they recommend. He said he will be working with staff as well on the details of the list.
• Contact reporter Mark D. Miller at 523-2279 or at mark.d.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (23)
Add commentNumbers, Mark
So if the plant can produce 4 million gallons per day...how many gallons does Juneau typically use?
Seems like a pretty elemental piece of info to provide your readers.
Good
We need a secondary source of water, mine or not. I like Kiehl, you can tell he is a good person right away after meeting him; and he is always thinking about keeping the spending reined in. Not a negative towards any other Assembly person, just and observation about him. Thank you to the Mayor and all Assembly for making sure the public voice will be heard; we have a good team looking out for Juneau.
@Lat - I was wondering that as well; also, if this would allow us to sell the maximum amount to cruise ships in the summer. I think the latter would be a good source of more revenue. Right now we can not supply their demand. I would like to see these other data; but unless JE is going to do a follow up, I am going to do a little research. If I find the answer I will let you know Lat, please do the same if you discover it first.
Karen Crane and Jesse Kiehl
Karen Crane and Jesse Kiehl are two of the best assembly members. They are ensuring public testimony and open discussion. This is how we get transparency and accountability from our government folks. Its the democratic way. Crane and Kiehl also deal in factual data, ask the tough questions; they are looking out and working for the public. Good Job!
I can't say this for Randy Wanamaker, Johan Dybdahl or Jerry Nankervis. I was shocked, speechless really, when they worked to - TABLE - concerns raised by the public about fireworks. No chance for public input, open discussion, or problem solving. Over 300 signatures were collected wanting CBJ to address fireworks. I think all those people had something to offer; they certainly had a right to be heard.
Drop the fireworks already.
Drop the fireworks already. If someone is setting them off and causing too much noise or are being dangerous call the cops and tell then where it's happening. We have laws on the books that will deal with this. A guy was firing off fire works too late and too many if them in my neighborhood. I called the cops and watched them confiscate all of his stuff. Problem solved.
Someone was complaining they called the cops and the cops didnt show up, instead of accusing the cops of not caring I kind of figured they were busy with more important things instead of some loud popping noises.
I think
Water usage was said to be about 150 gallons per day per person
AKstu- People are telling CBJ
AKstu- People are telling CBJ that they are having serious problems with fireworks next to their homes. The topic was tabled by CBJ. Does this make any sense to you?
The fact is noise from fireworks is too loud for human ears. This is fact. Human ears have not evolved to deal with the LOUD NOISE of fireworks, it damages ears. This is fact.
There are hundreds of people in Juneau telling CBJ that the fireworks next to their homes are too loud. There needs to be a discussion on this a solution is needed. We have a gun range for guns. CBJ should designate an area for people to go and shoot off their fireworks. Fireworks should not be forced on anyone. Not one person in this town should be forced to endure LOUD NOISE when they are saying it is hurting them. But this is what is happening. The public is being forced to endure hazardous noise levels next to their homes. Anyone the shoots at the gun range knows noise at this level is serious and will result in permanent hearing loss. These are the facts. Fireworks are as loud as shotguns People in Juneau are saying they are being hurt by the loud noise. I say something has to be done about it.
The unit used to measure environmental sound intensity is the decibel (db). Zero decibels is approximately the softest sound the healthy human ear can hear. The scale increases logarithmically; that is, the level of perceived loudness doubles every 10 decibels. Every expert says that exposure to noise above 85 dBA is harmful to our ears and fireworks average 140 db. This is a fact.
Not sure how fireworks ended
Not sure how fireworks ended up on this article. Really though, unless you're in close proximity, OUTSIDE, when the fireworks are going off, the noise that anybody is experiencing in their house is rarely louder than a television at medium volume. Let's not be overly dramatic about this. Is it annoying? Sure, to some. Are there really "hundreds" of people telling CBJ about this? Odd. I dispactch at JPD during 4th of July. If there are hundreds of people complaining, they sure aren't calling the cops about it. And think about it....hundreds? Let's say 900 (that's about as many hudreds as you can get without going into thousands) are telling CBJ about the problem. Man, that's one really huge assembly meeting! I must have missed that one. Even if it is a thousand people....do we really have to cater to such a small segment of the population? And if the noise is so damaging to the ears, why isn't there some kind of bloodbath downtown during the fireworks display? And to say nothing is being done about it isn't at all accurate. There are laws on the books about these kinds of things. If you have a problem with fireworks and you call JPD with some kind of description and location, they will send an officer when one becomes available.
akbridge - Do you really
akbridge - Do you really think people should be forced to stay in their homes so a minority of people can shoot off fireworks?
Yes, there were over 300 signatures collected requesting action on fireworks but CBJ - tabled - the topic before it moved to a public hearing.
I think the barge is about 1/4 mile from the public. It is also a planned public event, so people know what to expect and they are willing participants. This is not the case for the people that are having issues with fireworks next to their house.
JPD has indicated to the public that they do not respond to calls about fireworks unless the firework is directed at a person.
Guru, you must have missed
Guru, you must have missed above where they said 300 signatures were collected wanting action on fireworks. Whether you, I or anyone else have an opinion on this, CBJ should respect the will of the citizenry and give it its due process. That is what is expected in a democracy.
So, 300. Yeah, that's an
So, 300. Yeah, that's an even smaller number. Nobody is being "forced" to stay in their home. I have pretty severe hayfever allergies and I hate it when my neighbor mows his mostly dirt/silt yard when it's really dry in the summer. Perhaps I should lobby the city to ban the use of lawnmowers on dry days because I have hayfever? It's not like the fireworks are a mystery. Would you like me to set a reminder to email you in late June so you don't forget that the other 99% of the people in Juneau might be partaking in 4th of July festivities?
Akstu - hay fever/ allergies
Akstu - hay fever/ allergies are naturally occurring, they don't cause permanent damage, and the problem is solved by a taking a pill.
Fireworks are not a minority or majority issue.
The fact is the noise is too loud and people are being harmed by the noise this is the issue.
If CBJ wants to allow the activity then CBJ should designate a place for the activity. Then people can go and set them off without causing injury to others. I think that’s pretty reasonable don't you. I call it a win/win.
CBJ Salmon Creek Water Use
The city does not have rights to that water supply. The power company does. The city as well as DIPAC are in contract to use this water and there simply isn't enough water flow for everyone. The filtering would only take place during the wet seasons when there is excess flow. The water is taken directly out of the same pipe supplying both the salmon Creek powerhouse and DIPAC hatchery. Unless they plan on running their own pipe there is going to be conflict. Interesting that they aren't taking this into consideration.
Exactly. I take a pill and
Exactly. I take a pill and use my inhailer. I'll drop off a set of ear plugs for you. Case solved.
KP, I made my comment about
KP, I made my comment about fireworks on this comment thread because this is an article primarily about Salmon Creek water and has nothing to do about fireworks. I saw a post about fireworks and wondered how it ended up attached to this article because I didn't see any reference to fireworks in the article at all.
akstu -I don't believe people
akstu -I don't believe people should have to wear earplugs. Businesses have noise restrictions to protect people.
Firework activity needs to be restricted to a location to protect people, what the helll is wrong with that.
selfish
Really you have been beating this noise issue for too long leave town on the fourth then you can see what noise is really about, maybe then you will stop making my ears bleed with your babble!
i've never had more desire to
i've never had more desire to go out and buy fireworks than I am right now.
I am certainly glad to see
I am certainly glad to see open discussion on filtration at Salmon Creek but it appears to me we have some bullying activity going on with fireworks in Juneau.
They were bundled on the
They were bundled on the city's agenda. One was discussed and one was tabled with no discussion. Seems to be bothering some, on both sides. I don't have a particular position, but hate to see 'crats ignore the will of the people.
Guru, If you don't like lawn mowing on dry dusty days (both of them) then start a petition to submit to the city. Hopefully they won't ignore it...
Bullying?
Bullying?
Yes akbrdgure bullying. It is
Yes akbrdgure bullying. It is an imbalance of social power. Bullying occurs when a person is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons. The negative actions occur when a person intentionally inflicts injury or discomfort upon another person, through physical contact, through words or in other ways. It does appear to me this is the case here. I think if you were to ask someone that signed one of the mentioned petitions if they felt bullied, they would say yes. Adding insult to injury was when CBJ chose not to allow any open public discussion on the issue.
@islandhopper & @morealaskanthanyou & @SEfisher
@island: Thank you for that statistic. If that is right, that is 4.5 million gallons used per day (rounding to 30,000 for population). Drawing 4 million a day would not quite be enough to see it as a stand alone source, but in a pinch that would probably be good enough, with individuals being warned to limit their usage until the basin source was back up.
@morealaskan: If the City did run its own pipeline would this circumvent the competing for the water that you are speaking of? And are you saying that AEL&P has sole water rights to Salmon Creek? That sounds like an odd thing for the City to award them, if I am understanding your post correctly. Also, can you tell me where you found this information? Or is it something that you just personally already knew about? Thank you for the information in advance.
@SEfisher: I agree that this is a topic that should involve the public to ensure that all concerns are on the table. Like I have said in the past 30,000 heads are better than 1 (of course there are times when that could be the opposite). However, I still see value in Wanamaker, Nankervis, and Dybdahl; they all have vast knowledge in their individual fields of study and life experiences; and have given up their spare time to serve the public. But I do agree with you, this should be open to the public, no argument there. However, if the Assembly members agreed on everything, they would be subject to groupthink and that would be worse for all of us. I hope people with information or concerns take advantage of this and go to the open forum.
Remember everyone, this forum is not telling the City your thoughts; you must attend the meetings, or write the Assembly to get your voice heard.
ah yes. bullying. it's the
ah yes. bullying. it's the new cause du jour. i'm sure there's a bracelet and/or ribbon available in stores now. until the assembly starts pushing people down on the playground, stuffing them in lockers and dunking their heads in toilets, i'll not take "bully" comments with any level of seriousness.