WATER – A total of 33,240,776 gallons of water were treated and delivered, 7,347,000 gallons from Alder Creek treatment plant, 11,785,000 gallons from Brownell Springs and 14,108,776 gallons purchased from City of Portland. Maximum day production was 1.6 MG on January 15th. 5.41 inches of rainfall were recorded at the treatment plant site during the month. A 6″ water main on Bluff Rd. north of Kelso broke (see photo) and was repaired on the 3rd. The temperature was in the 20’s at the time. We also responded to about a dozen calls regarding burst or frozen pipes on customer premises. PW staff replaced a defective valve in a pressure regulating station during the wee hours of the 18th and 19th so that few customers would be affected by the shutdown.

WASTEWATER – A total of 53,800,000 gallons of sewage were treated and discharged to Tickle Creek. Minimum flow was 1.17 MGD on the 31st. Maximum flow was 2.81 MGD on the 18th. Rainfall was 1.0 inches on the 17th and 0.35 inches on the 18th. A total of 5 inches of rainfall were recorded at the treatment plant site during January. BOD concentration was 6 mg/l; BOD loading was 85 lbs; permit allows 10 mg/l and 125 lbs.; SS concentration was 3.5 mg/l; SS loading was 68 lbs.; permit allows 10 mg/l and 125 lbs.  We were in compliance with our waste discharge permit for the month of January. No sludge was processed, hauled or spread during the month. The pumps at Marcy St.; Northside, Southside, Southeast, Southwest and Meinig Ave. lift stations ran a total of 448 hours with no significant problems.

STREETS & STORM – The street sweeping contractor spent 88 hours sweeping streets and collected more than 65 tons (91 cu. yds.) of debris, covering 364 lane miles. PW staff was busy during January deicing, plowing and sanding streets. we used over 100 tons of sand and over 2,000 gallons of de-icer. The wintry weather caused a temporary shortage of de-icer from the sole supplier in the state. We were down to less than 300 gallons at the end of the month. Shortly after all the sand was swept up strong east winds dropped a lot of tree debris on City streets.

PARKS, BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS –  PB&G staff was kept busy clearing snow off sidewalks and parking lots at City buildings and parks. The strong east winds also dropped a lot of branches and debris in City parks which we started to clean up once the snow was gone.