Request for Access - South Y Sewer Line CCTV SurveyFrom:Ivo Bergsohn
To:Grey, Brian@Waterboards (brian.grey@waterboards.ca.gov)
Cc:Chris Stanley; Shannon Cotulla; John Thiel; gkvistad@bhfs.com
Subject:Request for Access - South Y Sewer Line CCTV Survey
Date:Monday, February 11, 2019 12:11:52 PM
Dear Brian,
This email follows our recent conversations regarding PES' Environmental, Inc. (PES) request to
access certain sewer lines owned by the District. We understand that the Lahontan Regional Water
Quality Control Board (Regional Board) supports PES’s request. While the District desires to
cooperate with the investigation, we do have certain concerns that need to be addressed.
As background, PES requested access to perform a closed-circuit television video (CCTV) survey of
the sewer lines located in Tucker Avenue, Glorene Avenue, and Lake Tahoe Boulevard (10-inch
sewer main section extending from manhole TK-578 to TK-576 along Glorene Avenue ;and from
manhole TK-576 to TK-536 along Tucker Avenue). Hydro-cleaning was also requested prior to
performing the CCTV survey. We understand that the proposed work is required by the Responsible
Parties' Preferential Pathway Evaluation Work Plan (PES, 9/28/2018) submitted to the Regional
Board pursuant to Cleanup Abatement Order R6T-2017-0022. However, the District does not allow
third party hydro-cleaning or other access to its facilities for health and safety reasons. As I am sure
you are aware, CCTV'ing of wastewater collection pipelines without hydro -cleaning in advance is
ineffective and occasionally leads to equipment being stuck in the pipelines. The District is also
concerned about possible damage from hydro-cleaning due to the age of these sewer lines (the
section of sewer line identified for Stage 2 Proposed Video Survey was constructed in 1960). For
these reasons, the District was unable to allow PES access to its facilities.
The District staff has discussed PES’ request after our recent conversations in an effort to cooperate
with the Regional Board's investigation of the PCE plume. In order to provide assistance, the District
would like to understand exactly what information PES and the Regional Board seeks to obtain from
an investigation of the interior of the District’s sewer lines. In the Work Plan, the approach for the
Stage 2 investigation is left open to modification based on the findings of the Stage 1 investigation.
If the District can obtain that understanding, the District is willing to prepare an investigation
approach on how best obtain that information while limiting the potential for damage. The District
would then propose a recommended approach to PES and the Regional Board for consideration. If
acceptable, the District would perform the investigation with its personnel and equipment. Prior to
the District spending time developing an investigation approach and performing the subsequent
work, the District would require the Responsible Parties to enter into a reimbursement agreement
with the District to reimburse its costs and expense for this work, as well as any damage that might
occur to the sewer line, in order to avoid the prohibition against gifting public funds.
After you have an opportunity to consider the District’s recommendation, we should arrange a time
to discuss further.
Ivo Bergsohn, PG, HG
Hydrogeologist
South Tahoe Public Utility District
1275 Meadow Crest Drive
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
(530)543-6204