Hollister has been cleaning up its sewer act over the past two
years.
The number of annual wastewater spills around town has been more
than halved since 2001. And for the first year in nearly a decade
the sewer plant on Hollister’s west side wasn’t sanctioned for odor
problems, city officials announced this week.
Hollister has been cleaning up its sewer act over the past two years.
The number of annual wastewater spills around town has been more than halved since 2001. And for the first year in nearly a decade the sewer plant on Hollister’s west side wasn’t sanctioned for odor problems, city officials announced this week.
The figures mark significant improvements over recent years. The Monterey Unified Air Pollution Control District sanctioned Hollister for at least seven consecutive years before 2003, city officials said. And Hollister had become notorious with the regional water board for its high number of spills.
City officials recently submitted a sewage overflow report to the state water board – the same agency that penalized the city for the 15-million gallon spill in 2002.
After that major spill, the water board in late 2002 sanctioned the city by placing deadlines – with $1.2 million in potential fines – on several projects relating to completion of a new sewer plant. And the board ordered a moratorium on building permits until that plant goes online. It’s scheduled for late 2005.
After having more than 100 overflows from drains citywide in 2001, Hollister experienced 71 in 2002 and only 42 in 2003, according to a city report to the regional board.
“We’re headed in the right direction,” Utility Supervisor Mark Clifford said Wednesday.
Officials attributed the drop in spills – which mostly occur out of man holes and often because people pour grease down drains – to an improved monitoring program.
Under the old system, city workers merely responded to spills as those overflows were reported or observed, he said.
Now, a computer system allows for “minute to minute feedback” on the sewer pumps, Clifford said. And the city has used small video cameras to examine and repair the underground sewer system before spills occur, he said.
“Mark and his people have done a real good job of knocking the numbers down,” said interim City Manager Clint Quilter.
Hollister City Councilman Tony LoBue acknowledged the city historically had been too “reactive” in handling its sewer problems.
“It’s just another example of positive actions being taken to be proactive in solving some of our problems,” LoBue said.
Mayor Tony Bruscia said the improvements have raised the quality of life for many residents. Referring to sewage backing up into streets and sidewalks, and sometimes into homes, he said, “That’s just nasty.”
Both Clifford and Rose joined the city in the past couple of years to help rework how the city oversees its sewage.
Rose didn’t know exactly how far back Hollister’s run of sanctions went, and the air district couldn’t provide a figure by press time. Bruscia, though, believes it was closer to 10 consecutive years with violations.
Air district engineering manager Lance Ericksen confirmed Hollister hasn’t been cited in the last year.
“That’s a good thing compared to their past history,” Ericksen said.
An annual escalation of sewage caused by San Benito Foods’ tomato canning operation – which runs for 10 weeks during the summer – often has caused the odors, Rose said.
But the city’s investment to replace 20 aerators that cost about $20,000 to $30,000 each has paid off, he said. And the cannery’s $100,000 investment in the past two years, toward taming its sewage, has too.
