November 1, 2022
The Honorable Judge Leland Davis, III
Presiding Judge
Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo
400 County Center, 2nd Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
Dear Honorable Judge Davis
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury Report titled “The Other Water Worry: Is Your Water Provider Prepared for the Big One?” issued on August 5, 2022 (“Report”). The City Council of the City of East Palo Alto (City) approved the following response to the Report at its November 1, 2022 meeting.
The City’s Responses to the Required Findings:
The Report required the City to respond to Findings F1, F2, F3, and F4, as shown on page 19 of the Report.
F1. The water provider was unable to demonstrate that it conducts the emergency exercise specified by its ERP, which may comprise its ability to supply water following a catastrophic interruption in water distribution service.
City of East Palo Alto: The City agrees with this finding.
F2. The water service provider was not able to produce documentation analyzing past exercises to test readiness and improve their performance, which may compromise its ability to supply water following a catastrophic interruption in water distribution service.
City of East Palo Alto: The City agrees with this finding.
F3. The water provider does not have three days of emergency water storage, which may comprise its ability to supply water following a catastrophic interruption in water distribution service.
City of East Palo Alto: The City agrees with this finding.
F4. The water provider does not have three days of emergency fuel storage, which may comprise its ability to supply water following a catastrophic interruption in water distribution services.
City of East Palo Alto: The City disagrees with this finding.
Since the Grand Jury’s investigation, the City determined there is adequate fuel storage for at least three days.
The City has only one facility that requires fuel storage to operate a standby generator, the “Gloria Way Well” and treatment system. The facility has an above ground storage tank that holds 516 gallons of diesel fuel and a Kohler Model 100REOZJF standby generator. The standby generator operating at 75% load, uses 6.6 gallons per hour or 475 gallons over three days, which is adequate to operate the emergency generator for a period of at least three days.
The City’s Responses to Required Recommendations:
The Report required the City of East Palo to respond to Recommendations R1, R2, R3, and R4, as shown on page 19 of the Report.
R1. The Grand Jury recommends that, by March 31, 2023, the water provider perform emergency preparedness exercises consistent with its emergency response plan.
City of East Palo Alto: This recommendation has not yet been implemented but will be implemented by the deadline of March 31, 2023.
The City’s water operator, Veolia North America, Inc., (Veolia) will update its emergency response plan to identify the necessary actions to address its ability to supply water following a catastrophic interruption in water distribution service for at least three days. The City, Veolia, and the Menlo Park Fire Protection District (Menlo Park Fire) will conduct a joint emergency preparedness exercise.
R2. The Grand Jury recommends that, by March 31, 2023, the water provider perform an analysis and document an After-Action Report consistent with the emergency response plan.
City of East Palo Alto: This recommendation has not yet been implemented but will be implemented by the deadline of March 31, 2023.
The City, Veolia, and Menlo Park Fire will perform an analysis of the exercise and prepare an after-action report.
R3. The Grand Jury recommends that, by March 31, 2023, the water provider develop plans to increase water storage sufficient to provide emergency water for a period of at least three days.
City of East Palo Alto: This recommendation has not yet been implemented but will be implemented by the deadline of March 31, 2023.
The average daily water usage is 1.5 million gallons per day or 4.6 million gallons over three days.
On October 4, 2022, the City Council adopted a resolution approving and adopting the 2022 Water System Master Plan. As part of the plan, the City identified two water storage projects, the “Pad D” tank at the corner of E.
Bayshore Road and Clarke Avenue and a second storage tank at 375 Donohoe Street. The two planned storage tanks have a combined capacity of 1.65 MG.
The “Pad D” water storage tank has been constructed by a developer and will be conveyed to the City in the future. The City is also working with the developers of the Ravenswood Business to construct and/or fund additional water storage facilities.
The City will develop a single plan to increase water storage sufficient to provide emergency water for a period of at least three days.
R4. The Grand Jury recommends that, by March 2023, the water provider develop plans to increase the emergency fuel storage sufficient to provide to provide emergency fuel for a period of at least three days.
City of East Palo Alto: Not applicable. Refer to City’s response to Finding F4.
On behalf of the City Council of the City of East Palo Alto, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on the above referenced Grand Jury Report.
Sincerely,
Ruben Abrica, Mayor
City of East Palo Alto