HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/03/2009 00 Misc Distributed at the Meeting;~y
N,
" • s�vicc�• .� Public
r 128 North Second Street - Fourth Floor Courthouse - Yakima, Washington 98901
7G�Q3�G (509) 574 -23011 - 9 -800- 572 -7354 - FAX (509) 574 -2301 - viww.co.y*ma- kva.us
rr1r VKRNAI RED -IFEK FIL, Director
Yakima.County To Smoke Test Drains in the City of Yakima
FOR ]IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2009
Contacts: Jeff Legg, Yakima County Public Services Surface Water Program Coordinator
(509) 574 -2300
Lisa Freund, Administrative Supervisor & Public Information Officer
(509) 574 -2300
Yakima, WA — Yakima County officials have announced that smoke testing of old irrigation drains will
begin next week in a 2.37 square mile area of Central Yakima. Approximately 2,600 residents will
receive a letter this week announcing the testing, which will determine if there are illegal sewer
connections to Yakima County Drainage Improvement District (DID) #4.
According to County officials, the project will detect and map illegal connections by introducing
harmless gray/blue smoke into the 94- year -old agricultural drain system, which lies between Yakima
Avenue to the north, 32d Avenue to the West, 10th Avenue to the East and Wide Hollow Creek to the
South (see attached map). The project will continue through the month of March.
Property owners and residents within 500 feet of the drainage system will be notified with a door hanger
48 hours prior to testing in their neighborhood. During the test, the County's contractor will access
manholes, some of which are in backyards and side yards.
"Some homes and businesses along the drainage system may experience harmless smoke during testing,
if the building has not been properly plumbed or vented, stated Jeff Legg, Yakima County Public
Services Program Coordinator. He noted, however, that most connections are vented and the smoke will
be released through the rooftop plumbing vent.
Mr. Legg stated that Yakima County received grant funding from the Washington State Department of
Ecology to implement the project, after high levels of coliform were recorded in Wide Hollow Creek.
He stated that the coliform indicates untreated sewage, which likely comes from homes and businesses
unintentionally connected to the drainage system.
"Ultimately, we want to ensure that no sewage is entering these old drains," stated Mr. Legg. He added
that after the project is complete and connections mapped, steps will be taken to ensure that homes or
businesses connected to the drain be disconnected and legally connected to city sewer.
Background: Built in 1915, the underground drainage system was designed to improve agricultural
productivity by draining excess irrigation water to nearby streams. Although the district's orchards are
long gone, the drains remain. State law requires inactive special purpose districts such as DID #4 to
MORE...
Yakima County To Smoke Test Drains in the City of Yakima
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Page 2 of 2
revert to Yakima County, even though it is located within the city limits of Yakima and Union Gap.
Information on the smoking procedure is available at the contractor's website:.
http: //bravoenv.com/infra_smoke.asp. Or contact Yakima County Public Services Program Coordinator
Jeff Legg at 574 -2300.
Drainage Improvement District #4
Project Area