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Water Update

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Utilizing Technology in Our Water System

If you were out yesterday in Crocker Industrial Park, passing through North Hill to be exact, you may have noticed some guys in orange safety vests and some with hard hats looking down into a 12' x 6' hole they had dug on the lawn.  They - Redwood Engineering and a couple staff from the Brisbane Public Works Dept. - were assessing the location of the existing facilities (i.e. gas, water) below ground.  They were doing this to see where a future flow control vault station could fit at the water supply turnout location (there are 5 total, in and around Brisbane).  The purpose for installing these flow control vault stations is simply so that the City has better control over the water it receives from San Francisco Public Utility Commission (SFPUC).

Wondering how technology is a part of all this?  Well currently, the City cannot currently monitor in real-time the flow of water as it comes through SFPUC's meter valves.  After the project is completed, City engineers will be able to do this through the SCADA, or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, computer at City Hall.  Inside the vault stations, new valves and pipes will also be installed.  Valves are necessary components of any water system, and these will be specially fitted with sensors which are able to respond to changes in water pressure or flow by opening or closing the valve.

So there you have it.  Technology will play a part in the SCADA computer being able to "talk" to the valves from a remote location (City Hall), by closing and opening them, and the valves will be able to "talk back" to the SCADA computer by passing along data which the engineers at City Hall will use to closely monitor water quality, flow, and pressure.

There will be 4 more site investigations taking place today, next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to see where the existing facilities are located.  See below for the schedule and the approximate locations of where they'll be digging:

  • Thursday September 30th - Friday October 1st | 100 San Francisco Ave.
  • Monday October 4th - Tuesday October 5th | 11 San Bruno Ave. @ San Francisco Ave.
  • Tuesday October 5th - Wednesday October 6th | 1150 San Bruno Ave. @ Bayshore Blvd.
  • Wednesday October 8th - Thursday October 9th | Main Street (in SF)

For the work taking place next Monday - Wednesday on both ends of San Bruno Ave. (at Bayshore and San Francisco), there will be traffic cones placed along the shoulder where they will be conducting site investigation work.  Additionally, two flagmen will be present at the intersection of Bayshore and San Bruno to help direct traffic.  Please exercise caution when driving through any of the above site investigation locations.  And, once again, thank you for your patience as work on this very important project commences!

San Bruno Fire

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Our hearts in the City of Brisbane go out to the individuals and families affected by the San Bruno/Glenview Fire. Individuals wishing to donate towards the residents rebuilding their lives can kindly do by sending cash donations via check to the address below:

Glenview Fire Recovery Fund

First National Bank of Northern California

Millbrae-San Bruno Branch

1551 El Camino Real

Millbrae, CA, 94030

Fire Station Update

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The Brisbane Firefighters, who returned to town this past Sunday after spending three nights in Daly City, will need to return to Station 93 in Daly City (10 Wembley Dr., Daly City) during the evening hours for the time being.  A trailer, located beside the Fire Station on Bayshore Blvd., was originally intended to be used for staging purposes and thus did not contain sleeping quarters, a shower, kitchen, or have proper outdoor lighting.  Additionally, the Brisbane fire engine needed to be parked outdoors at night due to there being mold detected in the bay/garage area of the fire station.  Earlier this morning, fire administration and city management decided that in the interest of the firefighters' safety, the best solution at this point in time was to relocate the firefighters back to Daly City during the evenings, but have them be in Brisbane during the day.  In Daly City, the firefighters will have gotten the rest they need, have ready access to the fire engine and their gear, and be able to shower and cook while concurrently, a longer-term solution is worked upon and investigated.  We will update the community when any other additional information becomes available.  Thank you for your understanding and patience regarding this matter.

Turning Across Double Yellow on Visitacion Ave

Arrange an Out of Area Contact Person and Complete an Out of Area Contact Card

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July’s tip of the month is to arrange an out-of-area contact person and complete an out-of-area contact card for each of your family members.

During disasters, phone services and other means of communications often become disrupted. Anxiety adds to the stress of the event as you wonder if your loved ones are safe. An out-of-area contact can ease worry regarding your family’s well-being.

If you are separated from your loved ones when disaster strikes, you will wonder how and where they are. The stress of the event may make it difficult to remember information as routine as phone numbers. We recommend every family member in your household have an out-of-area contact card in their wallet, purse, or backpack at all times.

Ask an out of area-of-area friend or family member to be your contact person. This is the person each of your family members will call to let them know how and where they are. This information will be relayed back to each of your family members as they call and report their status as well.

Phone lines were “hardened” years ago to withstand nuclear attacks and are quite resistant to damage. It’s difficult to make local calls not because of damage, but because of the number of people that are trying to make phone calls at the same time. However, you are typically able to make long distance calls. You should always keep a phone at home that does not require electricity. Cordless phones require electricity! If the power is out – your cordless phone is out!

Pay phones are part of the emergency services network, and are a priority to be restored to service. Tape coins needed to use a pay phone to your out-of-area contact card so you are always able to make a call if a disaster strikes.

Cellular phone systems may be damaged or overwhelmed during a disaster.  Since texting takes up much less of the wireless system capacity than voice-to-voice call, you may be able to get through by texting when the system is unable to make or receive calls.

Print the City of Brisbane's Out-of-Area Contact Card. Complete this card and give one to each of your family members. Remember to tape the necessary coins to to if just in case you need to use a pay phone!

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