CLEARLAKE?The Clearlake Redevelopment Agency recently authorized the city administrator to negotiate a cooperative agreement with the Lake County Sanitation District address problems in the sanitation collection system. The agreement will be brought back before the RDA in the future for consideration.
City Administrator Dale Neiman is recommending that the RDA commit $2.5 million to the project.
“The sewer collection system in Clearlake does not have adequate capacity in some areas and this presents a problem to both the city and the Lake County Sanitation District (LACOSAN),” Neiman reported. “The existing line in Meadowbrook does not have adequate capacity and during major storm events the line has surcharged and as a result spillage of effluent has occurred from the manhole.”
According to Neiman, preliminary engineering work has been completed in order to find a solution to the capacity problem. It is recommended that a lift station be constructed in the Meadowbrook area. “The lift station would pump the sewage in a forced main along Old Highway 53 to Weyland then to a pump station near the end of Weyland to bypass the 2,275 feet of sewer line that is in part causing the surcharging problem.”
Neiman reported that cost estimates, ranging from $1.3 to $2.4 million have been calculated for alternatives evaluated to date. These alternatives, he said, are a “Band-Aid” approach that would result in further costs in the future.
“The band aid approach would help solve the problem in the Meadowbrook area. However, with this approach, the pump stations at Weyland, near City Hall and by the senior center will reach capacity and costly solutions will have to be constructed,” he reported. “A number of sewer lines will also reach capacity and this will require more costly solutions.”
Neiman said a global solution would involve building a lift station in the area near Clement Drive and Weyland Road and pump the effluent to either the treatment plant or the lift station near the senior center. This approach is estimated to cost approximately $5 million.
According to Neiman, if a solution is not reached it could result in a moratorium on all new development. Neiman said money could be recouped by adopting a developer impact fee for the area that benefits from the improvements.
Lake County Board of Supervisors sits as the deciding entity for LACOSAN. Second District Supervisor Jeff Smith said that there is about $2 million set aside in reserves for improvements in the second district. In addition, Smith said that he supports Neiman”s recommendation for a long term solution.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
