Water Appreciation Week: Love Your H2O? Thank These Folks!

DUBLIN, CA – Shortly after midnight on a night in early September, on-call water systems operator Ray Robles received an alarm from a Dublin San Ramon Services District drinking water pumping station in central Dublin as suction pressure suddenly fallen to near zero.

Three minutes later, Dublin law enforcement called Robles to report Tuscany Drive pavement buckling due to a water main break.

As Robles arrived at the scene, Alameda County fire crews already had stopped the flow by turning off water to numerous homes, but Robles adjusted valves so only 25 homes were without water during repairs. As water drained off the street, the pavement over the leak began cracking and sinking.

Responding DSRSD employees discovered a 20-foot crack in a 14-inch water main buried 10 feet under the street, and and, as the excavation grew, the City of Dublin sent a building inspector to ensure nearby homes were safe.

On his way to the scene at 3:30 a.m., DSRSD Acting Field Operations Supervisor Levi Fuller picked up 25 cases of bottled water, one for each of the homes where water was off, and then stayed on site until 3:30 a.m. the next day, when repairs were finished.

Other staff brought in jugs of water, so residents could flush toilets, and special equipment to vacuum up mud. DSRSD’s communications staff for 10 hours handed out water, answered questions and coordinated with Torrey Pines Homeowners Association Manager Paula Asbury, who kept residents informed.

“Those poor guys worked for more than 24 hours (same guys the whole time) and didn’t leave until it was repaired,” said a resident in a Nextdoor post that expressed her appreciation for the rapid response.

“Stories like this happen every day, in every community,” said DSRSD General Manager Dan McIntyre. “Our people keep the water on and the sewers and treatment plants working 24/7, but they’re rarely visible until something goes wrong. It’s a real boost when our customers go out of their way to say thank you.”

Major pipe failures of that size are rare in Dublin and the Dougherty Valley area of San Ramon where DSRSD provides water service, according to officials.

This year, DSRSD completed a $6.7 million, eight-year modernization of its automated control system and network.

So how to applaud these often unsung heros?

California’s legislature established Water Professionals Appreciation Week, Oct. 7 -15 this year, to highlight the important role of water industry professionals and local public water agencies in ensuring safe and reliable water, wastewater and recycled water services.

To attract new men and women to the specialized field, DSRSD teamed up with other agencies and Solano Community College to offer training that prepares students for state certification exams in water operations. The Bay Area Consortium for Water and Wastewater Education offers evening courses taught by working professionals at treatment plants throughout the Bay Area, including DSRSD’s facility in Pleasanton. The 22-agency partnership also pays for students’ tuition and books.

The District office is located at 7051 Dublin Blvd., Dublin CA, 94568. For more information about the District, visit www.dsrsd.com.

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