Flushable Wipe Video - HILARIOUS!

Then follow this link to more fascinating news:
http://foresternetwork.com/daily/water/water-treatment/wet-wipes-gone-wild-case-studies/?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=Forester%20Full+Forester%20Daily%20Newsletter+Forester%20Daily%20Newsletter&utm_campaign=FDN-02262016-Water

New Times, New Sewer!

Read the New Times very comprehensive article here as to money available to help out with laterals: as hooking up begins next month!

http://www.newtimesslo.com/news/13476/hooking-up-slo-county-and-department-of-agriculture-offer-sewer-subsidies-to-los-osos-property-owners/

The New Times has announced a County informational meeting about the financial programs set for March 22 at the Los Osos Middle School. Time not yet available, but do mark the date!

Make Your Own Sewer Slime!

You don't need a sewer to make this stuff! And you can totally make it at home, but you might need to go to the store for the ingredients unless you happen to have borax sitting around and a half a cup of white glue. Anyway, check this out, and just remember, there are some cautions to using borax.*

http://www.nickelodeonparents.com/donnys-sewer-slime/

*

• Pregnant women must stay away from borax.
• Borax is not safe to be used around cats and is known to cause severe breathing problems in them.
• Borax effectively treats adult fleas and flea larvae; however, it is not known to eliminate flea eggs. Thus, re-infestation is likely and one needs to reapply the product again after a few weeks.
• Borax powders should be kept away from moisture as it can render the product ineffective. Wet carpets can also get permanently discolored or damaged if borax is used on them.
• Borax powder must never be used directly on the pets’ body for killing fleas.
• Borax should not be used near household plants as it can cause toxicity.
• Pet owners with young children and babies should use borax powder with extreme caution as ingestion in large quantities** has been known to cause severe health complications, skin allergies etc

** Has anyone defined what a "large quantity" is?

Sewer News From Maine Beach Town

Every now and then it is fun to cruise around the US and see what other sandy towns are doing (or have NOT been doing) with their sewage! Here is a peek at a small beach town where the septics have run amok, although not nearly to our elephantine scale. They will likely not need special legislation to secure their USDA loan like we did.

I think that the idea of new business and expanding population kept Los Osos from addressing the growing water problems that started in the 1970s. If we follow this along, let's see if that "threat" wrecks havoc in this small berg.

http://bangordailynews.com/2016/02/21/news/midcoast/lincolnville-seeks-grant-for-beach-sewer-system/

Minnesota Map Monitors Infrastructure

This is pretty amazing. Wish California did this...........check it out!

http://www.auditor.state.mn.us/maps/

Addendum to BOS Agenda February 23

4. Addendum to Item #20 - Request to amend the Fiscal Year 2015-16 Fixed Asset List for Fund Center 430 – Los Osos Wastewater System Fund to add one forklift, one welder, one copier, one all-terrain vehicle, one portable pump and one portable generator at a total estimated cost of $147,000. Staff is amending the item to correct the total estimated cost within the existing project budget from $147,000 to be $154,000 due to a typographical error. District 2. 
   

http://agenda.slocounty.ca.gov/agenda/sanluisobispo/Proposal.html?select=5699

BOS Agenda February 23 - Sewer Fixed Asset List!

Updated with links to relevant documents, Thursday, 2-18-16, and a correction to the item number for 25 (it was incorrectly listed as 24, sorry!).

That has to be a title that will garner this posting a negative number of readers if that is even possible. However, it is what is on the agenda for next Tuesday. That and another interesting item......

Consent Agenda - Public Works Items:

20. Request to amend the Fiscal Year 2015-16 Fixed Asset List for Fund Center 430 – Los Osos Wastewater System Fund to add one forklift, one welder, one copier, one all terrain vehicle, one portable pump and one portable generator at a total estimated cost of $147,000 within the existing project budget. District 2. 

Presentations: 

25.  Submittal of a resolution proclaiming February 29, 2016 as "Rare Disease Day" in San Luis Obispo County. All Districts.

Will we on some future agenda see "Mental Disease Day" in Los Osos perhaps? I just saw the video of the BOS meeting on Tuesday, February 16 with the usual suspects. Sigh and groan.....

LOCSD Channels Nostradamus

A friend was clearing out a spot at her house and ran across some papers that she no longer wanted. Of course, knowing how much I love this stuff, she passed this 4-page letter on to me. I had never seen it before, and when I read it, I was amazed how accurately predictions made by the LOCSD board came true. This was written in November of 2003, twelve-plus years ago.

Read it and weep. It should be crystal clear why delaying, then stopping the Tri-W project was a costly idea, not just in the $29 million that we pay for the sewer to be out of town, but in delaying remediation to a horribly damaged water supply. Very little was done to save water until 2012, when water saving measures began with the County's project. We won't be putting clean water back into the basin until mid-2016 at the earliest, if then.

As for what is going on besides the sewer project to protect our water, you might also want to check out what the Basin Management Committee is up to in their efforts to save it too:

http://www.slocountywater.org/site/Water%20Resources/LosOsos/pdf/2016-02-17%20Los%20Osos%20BMC%20Agenda.pdf

December Sewer Update! Paso Water Basin!

Just posted yesterday! The latest on our project! See the cool aerial shot of the facility! And....the ARB lawsuit simmers along.....oh well.

http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/PW/LOWWP/PM+Monthly+Update+Dec2015.pdf

On a very interesting note, our District 2 Supervisor, Bruce Gibson has an opinion piece in today's Tribune, likening the water controversy in Paso Robles to our years-long contentious sewer project. He did a great job writing and breaking down the stages of emotion around this contentious issue. I do hope people in Paso will be smart enough to NOT do what we have done - fight and deny and postpone. (Folks, it ONLY gets MORE EXPENSIVE. We know of what we speak - what was $34.6 million in 1984, is now $183 million in 2016, an INCREASE if $148 million, PLUS our water basin is in dire straits!)

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article58857173.html

Monarch Grove Late On BOS Agenda

Chairperson Lynn Compton had to ask the Board to vote on an extension to go past 5:00 p.m. at the BOS meeting on Tuesday, February 2.  The Monarch Grove agenda item had been switched with another item and went last on the agenda. There were three other issues along with Monarch Grove on this item. Staff presented their report. 

There was public comment. Roger Randall on the Board of the Monarch Grove HOA spoke. He said 74 voted to join the sewer and nine didn't vote, and he assumed that they were not opposed to hook up to the Los Osos Prohibition Zone sewer project. The Monarch Grove sewer's lines were scoped and jetted and passed muster. MG resident Martin Bragg spoke. He didn't want any complexity added to wastewater treatment and wanted to hook up to the County's sewer project. 

Adam Hill moved to pass this item, Bruce Gibson seconded and spoke on how the County was look forward to helping Monarch Grove hooked up and that the next steps would be at the Coastal Commission.  All five Supes voted yes and they did manage to finish up before 5:00 p.m.. 

Congratulations Monarch Grove! Hopefully you will be on  Coastal Commission agenda very soon!

Need Lateral Help?

I can't resist linking this brand new website on here as it offers services for everything lateral all in one place, from estimates, contractors, permits, repairs (and improvements), tank decommissioning, financing, and tank repurposing! Have a look!

http://thelocalconnection805.com

Outdoor Urinal........

..........ugh.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/nation-world/national/article57458618.html

You will have to endure an ad with this link below, but it is a pretty good video report. Where, oh where, does the pee go? As you pass by, do you get an....aroma?

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/San-Franciscos-Dolores-Park-Reopens-with-Renovations-Including-New-Public-Urinal-366800571.html

Washington D.C. Poo Creates 13 Megawatts!

Yes, there can be a lot of bad jokes made on the results of Congressional workings in Washington, but I will leave those to this year's presidential candidates and pundits. What is indisputably working in Washington, irrespective of your own political bent, is that the wastewater treatment plant (DC Water's Blue Plains plant) is one of the world's largest to convert stinky water into electricity! It is not at all practical to attempt this here, with our puny 1-plus million gallons of water per day, but for Washington's 370 million gallons per day, it works! Read all about it here:
http://www.solidwaste.com/doc/dc-water-gets-charged-up-on-human-excrement-0001?sectionCode=News&templateCode=Single&user=2124006&source=nl:44835&utm_source=et_6214354&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SOL_2016-01-29&utm_term=8B6151B5-326C-4D25-A47F-7FA24BE85D17&utm_content=DC%2bWater%2bGets%2bCharged%2bUp%2bOn%2bHuman%2bExcrement

Monarch Grove Update!

1-28-2016

Thursday night - 74 to zero - Monarch Grove HOA members voted in favor of hooking up to the sewer! Next step - the Supes, next week, vote to amend the County's Local Coastal Plan (AKA the Estero Area Plan) by moving the Urban Reserve Line on their legal maps and descriptions to include Monarch Grove!

Yayyy Monarch Grovians, welcome aboard the sewer train!

Also, from Kerry Brown at the LOCAC meeting, the County is moving ahead with the Community Plan and the draft EIR. They are working on the Habitat Conservation Plan as well and hope to release them simultaneously. She will have a better timeline at the next LOCAC meeting and there will be public meetings on this ahead.

Monarch Grove Buried On BOS Agenda, But Still Breathing

Well, the Board of Supe's agenda for the Tuesday meeting does indeed have Monarch Grove on it, but it took some digging to find it. The item comes up after 1:30 under the heading, "Hearings:."

19. Hearing to consider proposed amendments to 1) San Luis Obispo County General Plan - Land Use and Circulation Element, San Luis Bay Inland Sub Area of the San Luis Obispo Area Plan, 2) the County Official Maps – Part III of the Land Use Element/Local Coastal Plan (Estero Area Plan), 3) San Luis Obispo Sub Area of the San Luis Obispo Area Plan, 4) Title 22 of the County Code – the Land Use Ordinance for the Winter 2016 General Plan Amendment Cycle; includes approval of environmental documents. All Districts. 
    

Here is a link to the relevant documents:

http://agenda.slocounty.ca.gov/agenda/sanluisobispo/Proposal.html?select=5595

Beware—there are four items on this proposal, so you will have to dig through quite a bounty of pdfs to find the relevant documents for Monarch Grove. And good luck Monarch Grove! This ought to be a slam dunk to have the urban reserve line moved to include you guys, but you never know......

Monarch Grove On BOS Agenda!

I know, the scan is tiny, but click on the image for the larger size!

See item 2!

Tuesday, February 2, 2016, the BOS is addressing the Los Osos urban reserve line which never included the neighborhood of Monarch Grove. They are unique in that they have their own sewage package plant. But now that sewer hook-up is fact upon us starting next month, time to include them IN the line so that they can hook up to the sewer and discontinue using their old—and must-be-decrepid-by-now—plant. Tune in to Channel 21 or have a look on your computer if you want to see what happens. It will probably be a snoozer of an item but this being Los Osos and all.......... You will find the link to the show on this page around 9:00 AM, Tuesday. I will be viewing and rooting for inclusion!

http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/bos/BOSagenda.htm

I have blogged about this before, but some background info can be found off these links if you are interested:

http://www.losososcsd.org/Library/2015%20Agenda%20Packets/08.06.15/Agenda%20Item%2012B%20Approve%20Reimbursement%20Agreement%20btwn%20LOCSD%20and%20Monarch%20HOA.pdf

This was the opinion on hooking up in 2007, but the opinion might have changed by now as they won't pay as much as the single family homes that have no pipes already in the street, and the plant is 9 years further along the road to obsolescence:

http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/PW/LOWWP/BOS+Related+Items/Letter+Monarch+HOA+BOS+8-28-07.pdf

Lateralpalooza!!

Saturday's latest sewerfest was a HUGE success! 

It was squashingly well attended at all three sessions (SRO—actually, people were sitting on the floor up front), and apart from a couple of Debbie Downers wearing scowls, the mood was one of attention and curiosity. 

The program consisted of speakers (Second District Supervisor Bruce Gibson, Project Manager John Waddell, County Presenter Mladen Bandov); a Powerpoint; various county tables around the room with information (all of which is on a link off of the County's sewer website); Central Coast Green Build's table with booklets; and the largest attraction outside on the quad, was some of the vendors who will be offering their services at "lateral time." (The list of vendors is off the link above.) Yes, food, drink and munchies were served.

March 28 is the target date to start hooking up. Some of us in the last section won't hook up for a year plus. In any case, the County will send you a post card several weeks in advance, and at that point, you have six months to get the lateral trench dug and to hook up.

The advice was: Talk to the contractors and get several bids. What they do is: get the permits; dig the trench; install the latreral from the house to the stub-out (that plastic capped thing with a wire sticking out in your yard); have the inspection done by the County on the work. You will be able to decommission the tank by abandoning it, which is crushing in the lid and filling the tank with gravel or sand OR removing it. OR you have the option to repurpose it. Repurposing consists of disinfecting it with household bleach and having it inspected. Then you can use it for stormwater infiltration, rainwater harvesting (this needs a pump either inside or outside the tank) or treat the graywater and reuse it indoors for toilet flushing or other uses. Work with a professional to do these things.

Now, ANYONE can go through the training class and be certified to work under the County permit, but exactly what that entails was not delineated. Contact the County! The number/E-mail on their website for questions (any questions) is this:

Contact the County at (805) 788-2759 or rheaslet@co.slo.ca.us with comments or questions.

Check the SLOgreenbuild website for books and the decommissioning and reuse plan.

There WILL be more workshops; and in late March, weekly office hours will begin at the 10th Street office.

Rebates are still available! Costs were given for the lateral installation between $2,000 to $4,000 for easy installations, and up to $10,000 for the tough ones (like the tank is in your backyard). Low income financial assistance is available for: lateral connections; service charge discounts; and there is also a property tax deferral program if you qualify. See the County's website! Call if you have questions!

The charges that we have been seeing on our tax bills for the sewer project, around $700 a year, will be going up to around $2,000 year once the plant is running. Most homes will be hooked up this year.

We will never quite be able to mindlessly flush and forget after what we have been through, but at least the contamination will stop and the water will go to a better use than leaching out, 1,000,000 gallons a day, into the bay. Yee-haaa!

Tribune's Saturday Workshop Article

The Trib has an article on Saturday's sewer lateral open house which you can access here:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article55733220.html

My only beef is what did they do to Joe Johnston's photo? It is a pixelated mess! He is an excellent photographer and I hope he is registering a complaint! 

Anyway, the creepy king crab leg image of some red-painted machine that Joe has caputured is pretty awesome! Here is what I mean by comparison:

Postcard For Lateral Meeting!

Here is what arrived in the mail at my house on Saturday, January 16! Remember to attend one of the three workshops to get the scoopage on what to do to connect your house to the sewer pipe (lateral) in the street! See you there!!

Sludge Update!

Read what happened on Tuesday on the sludge issue:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article54396495.html

The can got kicked down the road again (this time by Arnold, Compton and Mecham)—much like the Los Osos sewer was back in the 1980s. And what happened? Why, it got more expensive to do! So my sewery prediction is, the EIR (Environmental Impact Report) that they were deciding to do or not to do was not to be done now, and the cost to do it later will expand. The yeast of time is a predictable formula for more dough$$, and in this case, more doo-doo, too.