1 ARS E 50 Y IRST F 1953-2003 HE T 2

This year marks the District’s 50th anniversary. We are proud of our service here in the Valley and want to thank our customers for their support and their part in our success.

Fifty years ago, water and wastewater were operated as two separate services. Today and in the future, all things wet will be more integrated: water, wastewater, recycled water, and flood control will be managed in a coordinated manner for the benefit of all our customers and residents.

Tomorrow’s challenges will be more complicated and the solutions of yesteryear will give way to more complex science, technology, engineering, management and social/consumer changes, but I am confident the District is well positioned with strong leadership, well-trained staff, and strong financing to succeed.

We are continuously looking ahead, forging partnerships, and lis- tening to the people we serve. We are committed to doing what’s right today, as well as what is right for our children’s children. For 50 years, we’ve provided our customers with reliable service and we plan to do so for another 50 years and beyond.

Sincerely,

Bert Michalczyk

Published by the DSRSD: The First 50 Years Dublin San Ramon Services District, Table of Contents Human Resources Department The Early Years: 1953-1959 ...... 3 2000-2003 District Map ...... 12 Human Resources 1960-1969 District Map ...... 4 The New Millennium: 2000-2003 ...... 13 Manager: Mary Gordon The Years of Awakening: 1960-1969 ...... 5 Park Legacy ...... 14-15 1970-1979 District Map ...... 6 Fire & Water ...... 16-17 Writers: Dale Sprouse The Decade of Urbanization: 1970-1979 . . .7 Moving Day & A Drought Garden . . . .18-19 Sue Stephenson 1980-1989 District Map ...... 8 Wastewater Treatment Facility ...... 20-21 Designer: Two Cities Are Born: 1980-1989 ...... 9 Recycled Water ...... 22-23 Jennifer Hines 1990-1999 District Map ...... 10 Suggestion of the Year ...... 24-25 Jennifer Hines Design An New Beginning: 1990-1999 ...... 11 District Awards ...... 26-27 Printed on recycled paper nteBgnig . . In theBeginning. T inactive. seven yearstheDistrictwasrelatively District areawas2,175acres.For thefirst in thehomeof oneof theDirectors.The Service Districtheldtheirfirstmeeting Directors of theParks Community Ramon existed. area before theCitiesof DublinandSan general-purpose governmentfor the Community ServiceDistrict(PCSD),the enabled theformation of theParks otherwise beprovidedbycities.TheAct essentially provideservicesthatwould one ormorecounties,specialdistricts F functions necessaryfor acommunity. tricts thatcombineallthegovernment establishing multipurpose,specialdis- the CommunityServicesAct(61000), And NorthKoreainvadedSouthKorea. powerful underworldof organizedcrime. T Democratic SenatorEstesKefauverfrom (headedby The KefauverCommittee Communists intheStateDepartment. McCarthy claimedknowledgeof weapons wasunderway.SenatorJoseph again. TheColdWar racefor annihilating construction, andbabiesboomedonce “proper andprim”werein.Biblesales, social conformity. “Neatandtrim” tive politics,economicprosperity,and ennessee) exposedawidespreadand ormed inunincorporatedterritory T On April17,1953,theBoardof In California, thelegislaturepassed imeline: he fiftieswereatimeof conserva- outlay funds. of 1954

equipment purchased outof capital : Atypewriterwas thefirstpiece 93 94 95 96 1957|1958 | 1959 1956 | 1955| 1954| 1953 | enabling theformation of theParks CommunityServiceDistrict(PCSD). 1953: Community ServiceDistrictheld theirfirstmeeting. April 17,1953: The California legislaturepassedtheCommunityServicesAct The Boardof Directorsof theParks Preservation Association Photo courtesyofDublinHistorical drainage, “thecost of whichwasnottoexceed $100.” 1955: Board authorized thefirstengineeringstudyon from theright. Highway, mergesin known astheLincoln Highway 50,also in the1950s. east, asitappeared Boulevard, looking Aerial viewofDublin 1957: in thePleasanton/LivermoreValley. the formation of afloodcontroldistrict The Boardof Directorssupported

THE EARLY YEARS: 1953-1959 3 4 District Map 1960-1969

he sixties were a time of momen- Ttous social movements and sweeping leg- islation (1964 Civil Rights Bill, 1965 Voting Rights Act), of remarkable space Current achievements (first step on the moon) and tragic assassinations (President John San Alcosta Ramon Contra Costa County F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Alameda County Bobby Kennedy), during which the

longest war (Vietnam) and most active Dougherty antiwar protest in American history took Original place. Although the economy prospered, Dublin Fallon

Ramon a social and political idealism challenged San Rd. Dublin Blvd.

the materialistic values and conformity of 580 the fifties with an energy that affected Foothill Rd. Hopyard changes throughout the American scene.

Las Positas The youth movement, with its assault on Santa Rita Pleasanton “the establishment,” gained an unprece- dented influence in American history. Bernal Early in 1960, Volk-McLain Parks Community 680 Communities, Inc., a residential devel- Service District opment company, purchased more than Boundary Expansion 4,000 acres of open land within Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Before allow- Original Boundary ing Volk-McLain to build homes on the Annexed 1961 property, the two counties required that Current Boundary a public agency be in place to furnish water, treat sewage, collect garbage, and protect the community from fire. That year the District was re-activated to set up these municipal services, and it was given a new name, Valley Community Services District.

Improvements in 1961

In 1961, the District acquired the system of of treatment and it provided as high a degree trunk sewers constructed to serve the San of treatment efficiency as any other municipal Ramon Village development, a capital invest- plant in the state. Completion of the initial ment of $800,000. Initial plant capacity of 2.5 construction amounted to a capital invest- million gallons per day (MGD) was adequate ment of approximately $1,500,000. Bonds for for an equivalent population of 36,000. The these two projects were paid off in 1992 and plant used the activated sludge process type these improvements are still in service. Honoring Rhoda Selecting DistrictColors rated andassumedmanyof theservices The changewasmade. were white,theBoardpreferredyellow. idential areas.Althoughthevehicles of the DistrictbyVolk-McLain, developers vehicles, whichhadbeenpurchasedfor when theDistrictobtaineditsfirstfire District’s Boardof Directorsin1961, That wasthequestionfacing Should theybered,white,oryellow? reservoir! the streetthatleadstoDistrict’sfirst her. Andappropriately,RhodaAvenueis aged theCountytonameastreetafter When sheretired,theDistrictencour- say, tripled—asawatermeterreader. years, Rhodaalsodoubled—orshouldwe all localelections.IntheDistrict’searly County eventuallyaskedRhodatosetup She performed thattasksowellthe the pollingplacesandelectionworkers. on behalfof theCountyClerk,finding Secretary. bookkeeper andthefirstDistrict hired in1960,Rhodafunctionedas District’s firstretiree.Whenshewas The signshonorRhodaOwen,the (off Vomac) andRhodaCourtinDublin. when youseethesignsfor RhodaAvenue D 1960 |196119621963 1964|1965196619671968

first Engineer. Black becametheDistrict’s department started;William J. District (VCSD); Volunteer fire to Valley CommunityServices 1960: San RamonVillage andotherlocalres- After thecityof Dublinwasincorpo- Rhoda alsorantheDistrict’selections on’t thinkof rhododendrons District’s namechanged 1961: expands from3to5members. parks, recreation, andsolid wastedisposal. Board distribution facilities; Acquired acomprehensive watersystem—wellsand District’s areagrowstonearly5,900 acres; 1962: f Southern SanRamonannexedto EastBayMunicipalUtilityDistrict or waterservice;PhilPhillipshired asVCSD’s firstFireChief. Services expand toinclude Swimming pooldonatedtotheDistrict byVolk-McLain; Changing Names tinued, endof discussion. “It’s alphabetical,”andthemeetingcon- cities, DirectorJoeCovellosimplysaid, raised anobjectiontotheorderof the duced ataBoardmeetingandsomeone comma. Whenthenewnamewasintro- sion, of course,wasnohyphen or words DublinandSanRamon.Thedeci- use ahyphenorcommabetweenthe Ramon. TheBoarddiscussedwhetherto the communitiesserved:DublinandSan fact, saidthatthenameshouldrepresent was toogeneral.DirectorDickFahey, in term “Valley” aspartof theDistrictname when theBoarddecideduseof the its serviceareahadexpanded. generic andwhichreflectedthefactthat District wantedanamethatwasmore Community ServicesDistrict.The changed itsnamein1960totheValley P The Districtbeganitslifein1953asthe reflect thenewcolorscheme. and thevehiclecolorswerechangedto first firedepartment.Uniforms, thelogo, blue, theoriginalcolorsof theDistrict’s approved newDistrictcolorsof grayand 1989 theBoardgaveitupandinstead been theDistrict’sofficial color,butin uniforms. Lightgreen,of course,had ed greentobethecolorof itsemployees’ provided bytheDistrictin1988,itwant- 1963: arks CommunityServiceDistrict,but In 1977,thenamechangedagain Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility operational. 1964: constructed. administrative office was The District’sfirst Rhoda Owens. District Secretary proper partiesfellto complaints tothe phone callstoroute ters andmakingtele- The jobofwritinglet- upward tofivehours. meetings running plaints keptBoard services. Thecom- patrols, andlibrary street repairs,sheriff ing streetlights, complaints—regard- an assortmentof wound uphandling services. TheDistrict ing todowithDistrict issues thathadnoth- to vent,discussing at Districtmeetings would oftenshowup result, localresidents early 1960s.Asa the Dublinareain ernment agencyin the onlylocalgov- Services Districtwas the Valley Community the schooldistrict, With theexceptionof A PlacetoVent 1967: department. a professional fire Developed was built. Community Center 1968:

Shannon

| 1969 THE YEARS OF AWAKENING : 1960-1969 5 6 District Map 1970-1979

he seventies were a time of self- awareness,T self-improvement, self- fulfillment, female equality, ethnic uniqueness as a source of enrichment Current rather than embarrassment, and a new openness toward sexuality. The economy Alcosta Contra Costa County suffered as inflation and recession com- San Alameda County bined to form “stagflation.” And it was Ramon

the dawn of the Microchip Age, the Dougherty decade when computer technology San Ramon

Rd. 1972 became part of everyone’s awareness. The future of the environment–the Dublin Fallon Dublin Blvd. danger of its exhaustion as well as the 580 reality of its pollution–entered the main- Foothill Rd. Hopyard stream of national awareness as environ-

mentalists and ecologists sponsored the 680 Las Positas Santa Rita Pleasanton first Earth Day (April 22nd), Congress

passed major environmental laws Bernal (including the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and Safe Drinking Water Act), the Valley Community FDA ordered a massive recall of canned Services District tuna for possible mercury poisoning, and Boundary Expansion an accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant increased fears of a poi- 1972 Boundary soned environment. At the District, this was the decade of Current Boundary urbanization. In 1977, the District adopt- ed the name by which it is known today, Dublin San Ramon Services District, the volunteer fire department shifted to a department of paid professionals, and the Livermore Amador Valley Water Management Agency (LAVWMA) was established to convey treated wastewater from the Valley to the San Francisco Bay.

San Ramon Little League, to name a few—leased Athan Prop 13 Cuts into Downs new Sports Grounds for a dollar a year. “We knew we were going to have to increase the District’s Park Budget playing fees because we were going to have to maintain the Sports Grounds,” says Georgean Vonheeder-Leopold, Effective July 1, 1978, Prop 13 caused a 60% decrease in President of the Dublin Girls Softball League, “and if noth- funding to the District’s services, requiring cuts in personnel. ing else we were going to have to provide some minor Despite the cuts, industrious employees and innovative electricity, mowing, and watering. The Sports Grounds is methods allowed athletic fields and parks to be maintained 20-acres and Athan Downs is 22-acres, so that was a lot of almost as well as prior to Prop 13. Using a few paid mowing. The very first months we actually mowed the employees and many volunteers, some recreational servic- sports grounds by hand; it was 1978, and most people didn’t es and programs were retained. have power mowers. It took us all weekend!” Initially, half a dozen sports groups, as non-profit corpo- The State of California had built up a large surplus and rations—Dublin Girls Softball, Dublin Soccer, Dublin Little supplemented public agencies including Dublin San League, San Ramon Soccer, San Ramon Adult Soccer, and Ramon Services District. the HillandtoBay... LAVWMA Pipeline:Over this pointwesttoCastroValley. Dublin Grade,andanewgravitypipefrom includes anewforce maintothe topof “falling” throughthepipe.)Thisproject the gravityline,waterissimply to “push”thewaterthroughpipe.In a “gravity”pipebecausepressureisused Project. (Aforce mainismorerobustthan to astheDublinCanyon/Force Main struction valueof $23million,isreferred facilities. Thefirstproject,withacon- perform neededrepairstoitsexisting 41.2 MGD, andwillallowLAVWMA to from 21milliongallonsperday(MGD)to million programwillincreasecapacity Pipeline Facilities Program.This$180 structing thefirstprojectof the Export 90 | 17 | 17 | 93 | 17 | 17 | 17 17 |1978 1977 1970 |197119721973 1974|19751976 I of deepwater outfall,intothedeepestpart the effluentanddischargesitthrougha General Manager.EBDA de-chlorinates (EBDA),” saysVivian Housen,LAVWMA the EastBayDischargersAuthority of Grade, throughCastroValley andtheCity treatment plants,westovertheDublin from theLivermoreandDistrict’s purpose istoconveytreatedwastewater as itsmemberagencies.“LAVWMA’s the District,Livermore,andPleasanton was createdasaJointPowers Agencywith W ater ManagementAgency(LAVWMA)

the middleof theSanFrancisco Bay. San Leandro,toapipelineoperatedby In March2000,LAVWMA begancon- n 1974,theLivermoreAmadorValley Olympic Pool Community SwimCenter(nowDublinCenter)andSanRamon Center, DublinSportsGrounds,parks,tenniscourts,Valley 1970: Bond electionfor $6.7millioncreatesfundingfor Shannon continue throughSpring2005. the pipelinetobegininDecemberand expects constructiononthisportionof Castro Valley toSanLeandro.Housen new pipelinefrom project includesa This $33.2million Lewelling Segment. Castro Valley/ project, calledthe contract for itsthird just awardedthe of improve operation capacity and tional pumping will giveusaddi- pleted. Thisproject effort) willbecom- Project ($8.5million Pump Station year, theExport internal corrosion. will preventfurther install aliningthat Pleasanton toCastroValley sowecan Then wewillshutdowntheoldpipefrom wastewater throughthenewpipeline. LAVWMA willstartpumpingtreated project iscompletedinDecember2003, Once theDublinCanyon/Force Main

the facilities. LAVWMA also By theendof the override tobeusedonlyfor parksandrecreation. 1976: 1979: lished tocarrytreated wastewatertotheBay. Management Agency (LAVWMA) wasestab- by theendof2003. should becompleted Pump Stationthat LAVWMA Export installed atthe A 34-footpumpis V oters approvedareferendumfor a$0.20tax The LivermoreAmador Valley Water Services District. name toDublinSanRamon 1977: The Districtchangedits

| 1979 A DECADE OF URBANIZATION: 1970-1979 7 8 District Map 1980-1989

he eighties were a time of cyber- Tspace, Cabbage Patch kids, Nintendo, and the first all-news network. The Statue of Liberty turned 100, Bobby Current McFerrin was telling everyone, “Don’t worry, be happy,” and Prozac was intro- Alcosta Contra Costa County duced as an antidepressant. Chernobyl, San Ramon Alameda County the world’s worst nuclear disaster,

occurred; Halley’s Comet returned; and Dougherty the wreckage of the Titanic was found. San Ramon Rd. 1980 Saddam Hussein launched war against

Dublin Fallon Iran. The Human Genome project began, Dublin Blvd. the Challenger exploded, the Berlin Wall 580 fell, and the Cold War ended. Hopyard Foothill Rd.

As the Valley developed, cities incor- Santa Rita porated: Dublin in 1982, San Ramon in 680 Pleasanton 1983. Working closely with these new Las Positas

cities, the District began an orderly Bernal transfer, starting with garbage collection in 1986, and ending with the fire depart- Dublin San Ramon ment and parks and recreation services Services District in 1988. Boundary Expansion

1980 Boundary

Current Boundary

Loma Prieta Earthquake

At 5:04 p.m. on October 17, 1989, a 20-second earthquake occurred. Centered 60 miles south of San Francisco, it was among the most cata- strophic seismic-induced events killing 62, injuring 3,700, displacing 12,000 and causing billions of dollars in damage. In an aftershock on November 2, a District water main (hole in foreground of picture at left) broke with enough force to shower dirt and pebbles onto the roof of the home situated across the street. 90 | 18 | 18 18 94 | 18 96 | 97 98 | |1988 1987 |1986 |198319841985 1980 |19811982 Birds of aDifferentFeather N so theycouldbecaptured.Byearlyevening,thegrebes called for herdingthebabygrebesintoaconfinedarea location 15feetaway.” they’d begone.Minuteslatertheypopupatanother and theycanmove.You’d bubbleand seealittle submarine. Theydeflatetheirlungs,sinklikearock, stay underwaterfor alongtime.Theyworklike blood,” saidAndersonof thegrebes.“Theyalsocan futile roundupeffort. television crewhadbeenonhandtocapturetheir and otherDistrictpersonnelbecamefrustrated.A ditches sotheycouldberelocated,BobAnderson retrieve thebirdsfrompondsandwater-filled construction site.Afteracoupleof hoursof tryingto were residingindrainageditchesandpondsnearthe fueled andreadytogo. T the streetfromDistrict’sRegionalWastewater mobilized about15piecesof heavyequipmentacross scheduled groundbreaking.Thecontractorhad Sierra range. been heraldedasafirstfor thewesternsideof the Dedicated LandDisposalProject.Thesightinghad grebes nearthesiteof constructionof theDistrict’s white-eared 1980s, aPleasantoncouplespotted the waterandarewelladaptedfor diving.Intheearly and 2002. the early1980sandnestingsof goldeneaglesin2001 District personnelfeltaboutaninvasionof grebesin making lifeabittoointeresting.That’showsome floods, orsimplybirds—sometimeshasawayof reatment Facility inPleasanton.Thevehicleswere The Districtteamdevisedaplanthatessentially “Their defensemechanismistobiteanddraw Adult grebesandaboutadozenof theirchicks The sightingcamethedaybefore theproject’s Grebes arebirdsthatspendmostof theirtimein ature—in theform of fire,violentstorms, 1982: City of Dublinwasincorporated. 1983: City of SanRamonwasincorporated. auction washeldtodivesttheDistrict of vehiclesandequipment. and communitycenterstothecities of DublinandSanRamon;An 1988: just theperfectclimatefor thegrebes.” the sloughareagoingintoSouthBaywouldbe couple of grebesthere.Theornithologistthought a them toFremont becausesomebodyhadspotted cleaned up,”Andersonsaid.“Hewasgoingtotake guy,” saidAnderson.“Grebeswerehisspecialty.” ogist fromUCBerkeley.“Hewasjustanamazing had beenroundedupandturnedovertoanornithol- of adult female,andthreeeaglets.Ittook43-45days In 2002,thenestsupportedtwoadultmales,an stopping constructionfromFebruary throughJune. very similartothoseof thebaldeagle. tected speciessince1962,becausetheireggslook under construction.Goldeneagleshavebeenapro- eagles nestedneartwoDistrictreservoirsthatwere struction in2001and2002whenafamilyof golden nest confidentialtoprotecttheeagles. years, sotheDistricthaskeptlocationof the eaglets movedoff theridge,workresumed. was haltedfor morethanfour months.Oncethe where theeagletsweredevelopingtheirflyingskills, rupt theeaglets. safely dotheirwork,butnottoomuchlighttodis- the conditionthatcrewsuseonlyenoughlightto hired toprotecttheeagles,allowednightwork,on months of noworkonthereservoir,abiologist, recycled waterfor landscapeirrigation.Aftertwo ed frommid-JanuarythroughMay. were readytoleavethenest.Constructionwashalt- 70 daysof extensiveparentalcare before theeaglets

incubation for theeagleeggstohatchandabout F birdsthathe’d “He hadthisbucketfullof little In 2001,twoeagletswerehatchedinthenest, The eagleshavenestedinthattreefor twelve W One reservoirneartheeagle’snestprovides DISTRICT deededfirehousesand equipment,parks,pools, eathered friendsagainhaltedDistrictcon- ork attheotherreservoir,closesttoarea were changed. the District.Uniforms, logo, andDistrictvehicles 1989: Board approved newgrayandbluecolorsfor 1987: Dublin andSanRamon. transferred tothecitiesof Garbage serviceswere

WO ITIES RE ORN: 1989 T C A B 1980-1989 9 10 District Map 1990-1999

he nineties were a time of Y2k fever asT we approached the end of the millen- nium and Pokemon swept the nation as the hottest toy. Millions mourned Current Princess Di’s tragic death and cheered when Pathfinder landed on Mars. China San Alcosta Contra Costa County resumed control of Hong Kong after 156 Alameda County years of British rule and the USSR crum- Ramon

bled. Dr. Jack Kevorkian assisted his first Dougherty suicide, a sheep named Dolly was suc- 1990 cessfully cloned, and the oldest known Dublin Fallon

Ramon human ancestor, ardipithecus ramidus, San

Rd. Dublin Blvd. was found in Kenya, East Africa, and 580 estimated to be 4.4 million years old. The Foothill Rd. Hopyard Hubble telescope proved the existence of

black holes and Johnny Carson left a hole 680 Las Positas Santa Rita Pleasanton in our hearts when he retired from The

Tonight Show. Bernal In 1990, the Board of Directors reor- ganized staff, redefined department Dublin San Ramon responsibilities, and approved plans for a Services District new administration building. When the Boundary Expansion building opened in October 1992, it was the first time the District’s administrative 1990 Boundary services, planning and permitting staff, and managers worked under one roof. Current Boundary For 30 years, the District has used recycled water to irrigate the grounds at its wastewater treatment plant. In 1991, after five years of below-average rainfall, the District, in cooperation with the City of Livermore and Zone 7, initiated a study that showed cost-effective recycling of highly treated wastewater was possible for some public uses.

DERWA: Recycled The Benefits of Recycled Water: • Stretches our limited drinking water supply, Water Program especially in years of scant rain or snowfall • Drought resistant In 1995, a Joint Powers Authority was formed between the District and East Bay Municipal • Helps sustain our economy with a reliable Utility District (EBMUD) to supply recycled water supply water to their respective service areas. Called • Protects San Francisco Bay DERWA (DSRSD EBMUD Recycled Water • Safeguards community and private invest- Authority), the project is currently in the ments in parks and landscaping design and construction phase. The first recycled water deliveries are expected to • Contributes to a green and healthy environ- commence in Spring 2005. ment, which benefits our quality of life 90 | 19 | 19 19 94 | 19 96 | 97 98 | |1998 1997 |1996 |199319941995 1990 |19911992 Fire attheFacility! I without aviolation.” that wayfor abouttentotwelvedays supplier of generators,andwe operated the Cityof PleasantonandGrecko, abig hooked backup.We gotgeneratorsfrom worked unbelievablyhardtogetus total lossof power,”hesays,“andstaff pumps, motorsandsystems.“We hada depends whollyonelectricitytorunits of Swanson, Facility ManagerfromOctober tricity. “Itwasdevastating,”recallsBob ity causedafirethateliminatedallelec- main powerboardatthetreatmentfacil- summer night,anelectricalshortinthe so wecouldstartwiringitup.” was theretotakeitoff andsetitinplace truck cameinthefrontgate,crane waiting for itsarrival.Assoonasthe and get here,butwehadacranesitting from backEastsoittookacoupledaysto supplier todeliverthepanel.Itcame Simultaneously, wehadcontractedwitha whistle andsaid,‘Giveusyourbids.’ when thedesignwasdone,weblewa tion wasbeingdistributedtobiddersand the panelwasbeingdesigned,informa- went outtobid,”Swansonsays.“While panel. “Andbelieveitornot,weeven staff designedatemporarydistribution and CaldwellWhitleyAssociates,

1972 through1999. W A wastewatertreatmentfacility n July1992at7:00p.m.onehot orking withourengineers,Brown 1992: building completed. New Administration Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant!” Maintenance ExcellenceataLarge says BobSwanson,“for Operations& recovery efforts. “We stillgottheaward,” to inspectrightinthemiddleof thefire Protection Agency,RegionIX,wascoming team fromtheU.S.Environmental Maintenance awardandaninspection nated for anationalOperationsand it out. wouldn’t allowanelectricshorttowipe while anewpanelwasdesigned,onethat on thatpanelfor ninemonthstoayear seven totendaysandtheplantoperated temporary panelwasinstalledwithin In addition,theplanthadbeennomi- Like awell-choreographedballet,the Resources Departmentfor theFederal CorrectionalInstitute. P building apartandmoveditdown DublinBoulevardtoCamp 1994: arks (nowParks RFTA), whereitservesastheHuman Prison trusteessplittheDistrict’s oldadministration to supplyrecycledwaterservetheirrespectiveserviceareas. 1995: DSRSD andEBMUDformed aJointPowers Authority and storage reservoirinto theDistrict’s system. RFTA) toincorporate theParks RFTA watersystem from Parks ReserveForces Training Area(Parks 1999: Began replacing waterandsewersystempipes down oftheFacility. caused amajorshut- the mainswitchgear An electricalfirein

EW EGINNING: 1999 A N B 1990-1999 11 12 District Map 2000-2003

ith the new millennium, the WDistrict is now busy designing and bid- ding projects that were begun in the 1990s when the District was planning to Current expand services. Such projects included the San Ramon Valley Recycled Water San Alcosta Ramon Contra Costa County Program, the Livermore Amador Valley Alameda County Water Management Agency, the Dougherty Valley transfer, and the Clean Water Revival. Dougherty Soon the District will return to the 2000 Dublin Fallon

Ramon routine of simply operating its water, San

Rd. Dublin Blvd. wastewater and recycled water systems. 580 A top priority has always been to pro- Foothill Rd. Hopyard vide our customers with competitively

priced, high quality water and wastewater 680 Las Positas Santa Rita Pleasanton in a socially and environmentally

responsible manner. This will continue Bernal for the next fifty years. Dublin San Ramon Services District Boundary Expansion

2000 Boundary

Current Boundary

funds to support the operation of our services. Mission Statement Planning, designing, constructing and operat- ing our facilities in an efficient, safe and effec- It is the mission of the Dublin San Ramon tive manner—always remembering that we Services District to provide our customers with are a neighbor in the community and resident competitively priced high quality water and of the environment. wastewater services, in a manner that is Maintaining a qualified, flexible and creative socially and environmentally responsible. work force with careers that pay dividends on In support of this mission, the Dublin San the investment of talents. Ramon Services District is committed to the Working in concert with other public agencies following: and organizations. Providing prompt, courteous and uninterrupted Maintaining an actively involved and coopera- service to our customers. tive posture towards regulatory legislation at Sound financial practices that provide adequate all levels. S our achievements: lennium, thefollowing arehighlightsof 2000-2003 District Achievements: 00 01 |2002 2000 |2001 2000: leaving theever-preparedDistrictunfazed. • • • • • menting drinkingwatersupplies. irrigation purposes,therebysupple- to ourcommercialcustomersfor Continued tosupplyrecycledw economies of scale. doing businessduetothe customers, loweringthecostof recycled water,andwastewater total of theDistrict’spotable, more thantriplethecombined Dougherty Valley. Theseareaswill eastern Dublinand4,400acresin area: 4,200acresincentraland Continued toexpandourservice saving theDistrict$265,000. water purchasesto12percent, project) from18percentof our tomer orchargedtoaparticular Zone 7thatisnotbilledtoacus- (water theDistrictpurchasesfrom Reduced unaccountedfor water facilities. pipelines, reservoirs,andtreatment and physicalassets:pumpstations, ensure thesafetyof ourwatersupply Increased securitymeasuresto water andsewerratesintheValley. Maintained thelowestcombined ince thebeginningof thenewmil- Threat of a Y2Kbugcomesandgoes ater • • • • school students. Contest for middleschoolandhigh and heldourfirstPersuasive Essay f Education for Teachers) seminars Sponsored twoProjectWET(Water homes. approximately 15,000single-family poses. Thisisenoughwaterfor of Program torecycle6,500acrefeet Ramon Valley RecycledWater District (EBMUD)ontheSan with theEastBayMunicipalUtility Continued workinginpartnership to 15years. unit connectionsduringthenext10 equivalent waterandsewerdwelling this areawillexpandto10,000 District anditisanticipatedthat with 900acresremaining)tothe eastern Dublinarea(3,500acres Annexed amajorportionof the dwelling units. 10,000 equivalentwaterconnection Dougherty Valley willexpandto years, itisanticipatedthat customer! Duringthenext10to15 area, providingwatertoourfirst service totheDoughertyValley Continued expansionof water or 40teachersinourservicearea

water peryearfor irrigationpur- water supplyanditspublicassets. increasing securitymeasurestoensurethesafetyof the 2001: 9/11 promptstheDistricttotakefurtherstepsfor 8,600 acres,for atotalof 16,575acres. 2001: 2003: celebrates its50thAnniversary of service. District serviceareaexpandsby Dublin SanRamon ServicesDistrict | 2003

THE NEW MILLENNIUM: 2000-2003 13 14 PARK LEGACY

hen Georgean Vonheeder-Leopold Vonheeder-Leopold remembers that W(a former District Board member) when Covello gave her the toy mower, he retired from the Dublin City Council sev- remarked, “I never thought that I would eral years ago, former District Director find someone that loved parks as much Joe Covello presented her with an unusu- as I did.” al gift: a toy lawn mower. The District’s involvement in park and The toy mower symbolized a cause recreation services goes back to 1961, that brought them together in the late when it expanded its charter to include 1970s: the preservation of the District’s new responsibilities according to commu- legacy of park and recreation facilities nity needs. At the time, park and recre- that had been decimated by the passage ation facilities in the area were limited. of Proposition 13. There was a swimming pool at Dublin Approved by voters in June 1978, Elementary School, built by Volk-McLain, Proposition 13 drastically decreased the developers of San Ramon Village and amount of property taxes homeowners other housing, but that was about it for had to pay. Overnight the District lost 60 community recreational facilities. percent of its funding. To give it needed park and recreation “Consequently, the District had no monies for growth and upkeep, the way to operate the parks, and they were District decided in 1962 to levy a 50- Vonheeder- responsible for all the parks in Dublin cents surcharge on water bills during the Leopold and south San Ramon,” says Vonheeder- summer months. The surcharge covered remembers that Leopold, who at the time was president of the expenses of temporary employees, when Covello the Dublin Girls’ Softball League. “We rent on facilities and equipment and had no place to play.” maintenance, and provided some pro- gave her the toy Covello was on the District’s Board at gram expansion. mower he the time and shared Vonheeder-Leopold’s Six years later, the District opted to remarked, “I passion for parks. direct a $250,000 surplus toward the “He offered to meet me somewhere expansion of recreational facilities. It never thought and see if we could put together some- also created a Parks and Recreation that I would thing where all the sports groups could Advisory Committee that helped fashion find someone lease the parks,” remembers Vonheeder- a Master Plan, which eventually led to the Leopold. passage of the Parks and Recreation that loved parks Covello had been appointed to a new General Bond. Committee meetings held as much as District Finance Committee to find ways to solicit public input showed that local I did.” to compensate for the loss of revenue. residents wanted a community center, a The result, says Phil Phillips, a former pool facility and sports fields. District Interim Finance Officer, was As a response to the community that the District developed some innova- input, the Committee recommended that tive methods and was “able to maintain the District buy a 25-acre parcel at the the school district’s athletic fields and corner of San Ramon Road and Shannon District parks almost as well as prior to Avenue owned by the Catholic Diocese of Prop l3.” Oakland. The result was the creation of Watering and mowing grass were the Shannon Community Center in among the big park and recreation Dublin. expenses at the District. “The first By 1970, the District had added months, soccer parents actually mowed Directors and staff knowledgeable and the 22-acre Dublin Sports Ground by experienced in running park and recre- hand,” said Vonheeder-Leopold. “You ation programs. That year, the Board have to remember this was 1978. Most proposed a $6.7 million bond issue that people didn’t have power mowers.” passed with 73 percent of the vote. The issue. been veryactiveinpromotingthebond District’s Boardof Directorswhohad Byron Athan,thePresidentof the Montevideo Avenuewasnamedafter park facilityinsouthernSanRamonat period of massiveexpansionincluded: diamonds. including soccerfieldsandbaseball to developtheDublinSportsGrounds, bond issuegavetheDistrictmoney lose hislifeintheVietnam War. was thefirstDublinresidentto down intheTonkin Gulf.Mape John Mape,whoseplanewent park isnamedafterNavypilot by developerTom Gentry.The park wasdonatedtotheDistrict Silvergate Center. pioneering family. named afteranearlyDublin one of theimprovementsatthispark, High School. owned bytheschooldistrictatDublin Swim Center)wasbuiltonproperty swim center(nowknownastheDublin which includedasevenacresiteof land. residence, knownas“TheWhiteHouse,” Center outof aformer farmer’s The DistrictoperatedtheSenior V San RamonadjacenttoPine acre parkonDavona Drive in hard for creationof thefee,which was recreation assets. TheDistrictfought ing networkof communityparkand opers helpedfund theDistrict’sexpand- f Va School. TheonlyOlympicsize poolinthe was builtadjacenttoCalifornia High or communityswimmeets. alley MiddleSchool. lley atthetime,itbecamea focal point • KolbPark. •Athan Downs. Other improvementsduringthis • BooneAcres. • JohnMapeParkinthe • • ValleyCommunitySwimCenter. • SanRamonSeniorCenter. A parkdedicationfeepaidby devel- San RamonOlympicPool. T ennis courtswerejust The landfor the This isafive- This 20-acresports This pool The Contra CostaCountyin1972. passed inAlamedaCounty1970and opment of parksystems. were beingdesignatedfor furtherdevel- and SanRamongavethem fundsthat pools, andrecreationcenterstoDublin provided bytheDistrict. to assumeservicesthathadlongbeen San Ramonin1983,andthecities’desire City of Dublinin1982,andtheCityof direct effectof theincorporationof the park andrecreationbusiness.Thiswasa recreational services. people andvolunteers)toprovidesome public non-profit entity(for afewpaid worked outanarrangementwithasemi- Proposition 13.TheDistrict,however, response tothefinancialhitfrom terminate itsentirerecreationstaffin and fullprogramsof classes. ming poolsoffered openswimminghours softball leagueswereorganizedandswim- flocking tothenewfacilities.Soccerand citizens of Dublinand SanRamon. than twodecades continuestoservethe the Districtcreated andnurturedfor more no longeraDistrict function,thelegacy Fa T In 1988,theDistrictdeededitsparks, By 1988,theDistrictwasoutof the But by1978,theDistrictwasforced to oday, althoughparkandrecreation is milies andsportsenthusiastsbegan P ARK L EGACY School. district atDublinHigh owned bytheschool built onproperty Swim Center)was known astheDublin Swim Center(now The Valley Community

PARK & RECREATION SERVICES: 1961-1988 15 16 FIRE & WATER: 1953-1988

nce upon a time Fire and Water the District still didn’t have a fire station, Olived together harmoniously at the but one was under construction on crossroads in a picturesque valley. They Donahue Drive. The fire equipment was even shared the same house until the day housed in a fenced enclosure across the when Fire’s neighbors beckoned, “Come street from the present Alameda County live with us.” Fire Station. Volk-McLain bought the This may sound like the start of a chil- first fire truck, fire hoses, hats, axes, and dren’s tale, but actually, it’s a slice of the other fire prevention tools to equip the District’s early history: For 35 years, fire— first firehouse. more specifically, fire protection—was an Phillips’ assignment was to reorganize essential service offered by what is now the department and put it on a solid the Dublin San Ramon Services District. foundation with sound financial footing. The District got out of the fire pro- By 1964, under Phillips’ direction, the tection business in 1988, when the Cities District started to develop a professional of San Ramon and Dublin took it over. fire department and hired enough fire- The District’s fire protection responsi- fighters to staff the Donahue Fire Station bilities can be tracked back to 1953, around the clock. “Firefighters were the when residents living along Dougherty only employees the District had who were Road and Dublin Boulevard (near Parks on-call 24 hours a day,” said Phillips. Reserve Forces Training Area, formerly That meant the firefighters had to be known as Camp Parks) voted to establish versatile, since they were the ones who a special district. The district, called the received calls if there were water or Parks Community Service District, was sewer problems when other District created to provide wastewater collection employees were off duty. “Later, for the and treatment, domestic water, and wastewater plan, the District got an “Firefighters fire protection. answering service that took care of those But the District didn’t begin offering trouble calls,” recalls Phillips, “But for were the only fire protection services until 1960 after water related issues, our guys were employees the Volk-McLain, southern California devel- trained enough so they could go out and District had opers, moved northward and opened a start the wells or shut them down.” local housing development they called In 1968, the District built its second who were San Ramon Village. fire station at Fircrest and Alcosta. on-call 24 By this time, the Parks Community Phillips said that in hindsight he should hours a day,” Service District had changed its name to have been more insistent about spread- Valley Community Services District, ing the stations further apart. “I also said Phillips. reflecting the fact that the District had would have liked to have added assistant expanded and was no longer so closely fire chiefs earlier than I had, to have confined to the Camp Parks area. spread some of the workload,” he said. The District’s first fire department Phillips was hard pressed in the was comprised entirely of volunteers. It District’s early years. He doubled as Fire was under the direction of temporary Marshal, handling fire prevention chief George Walser, husband of District inspections until the District could board member Betty Walser. afford to hire inspectors. Following a “controlled” barn burn Major fires that occurred during that went astray and consumed several Phillips’ years as fire chief included: acres of grain, the Board decided it • Dublin Corral Bar and Restaurant Fire. needed a permanent, professional fire This fire occurred in 1962 in the portion chief. On October 17, 1961, the Board of Dublin west of San Ramon Road. The named Phil Phillips to the position. Dublin Corral Bar and Restaurant was When Phillips assumed his new job, not in the District at the time. Because of Swanson, wasadevastating firethat took This, saysDISTRICT retireeBob department. want toremainworkinginthe water did notwanttobeafirefighter anddid crest of thehillreinforced howmuchhe f exploded inafirestormandhowthesix terrifying soundof aliveoaktreeasit into fireduty,JohnMauck,recallsthe of compound outof thecracksandcrevices fighters werecleaningthestickyred on thefiretruck.For twoyears,fire miss itsintendedmarkandlanddirectly Dublin Canyoncausedfireretardantto agreement. units respondedasapartof amutual aid planes droppedretardant.Manyfire Department of Forestry firesuppression break usingshovelsandrakes.” notice tohelpfirefightersprepareafire- Districtemployeeswereputon patterns. own weatheranddevelopeditswind tions. “Oncethefirestarteditcreatedits Anderson, referringtoweathercondi- 1970s fire.“Itwasveryhot,”recallsBob was nopropertydamageasaresultof this It wasthelargestfireinDistrict. School outof servicefor acoupleof years. boys. ItputSanRamon’sNeilArmstrong was afour-alarm arsonfiresetbytwo agreement withPleasanton. personnel werepartof amutualaid media mogulWilliam Randolph.District Phoebe AppersonHearst,motherof Club. Thehaciendawasoncethehomeof de Verona attheCastlewoodCountry destroyed thehistoricHaciendadelPozo the District. ers veryshortlyfiledfor annexationwith available tofightfires,thepropertyown- that fireandthefactnowaterwas oot wallof flamesrushingover the

their truck. • WastewaterTreatment Facility Fire. Another Districtemployeepressed Unfortunately, windshowlingthrough According toAnderson,California DublinHillsGrassFire. • Western School. • NeilArmstrong • CastlewoodFire. This 1969fire This 1970sfire There transferred totheJPA. fighting team until firepreventionwas remained apart of theDistrict’sfire- of Agreement (JPA), operatedbythecites assets weretransferredtoa JointPowers time thedepartment,personnel and professional staffof 51by1988,atwhich caught up. time. EventuallyothercitiesintheValley rating intheValley (athreerating)atthe and hadthebestinsuranceunderwriters’ Department enjoyed26yearsof stability as airconditionersandlightingfixtures. fires, andfiresinvolvingequipmentsuch were grassfires,trashautomobile the firesDistrictpersonnelrespondedto fires intheDistrictwererare.Mostof during histenure.Hesaysstructural firefighters werekilledinthelineof duty before permanentrepairswere made. facility tooperatefor abouttwoweeks were quicklybroughtinandallowedthe the cityof Pleasantonandabigsupplier, hooked backup.”Generators,loanedby “worked unbelievablydiligentlytogetus arched. Facility staff,saidSwanson, connection onamainbreakerpanel July eveningin1992,whenanelectrical f the treatmentfacilityoutof commission or awhile.Thisfireoccurredonhot

Dublin andSanRamon.Volunteers The Districtfiredepartmentgrewtoa Under Phillips,theDistrictFire Phillips saysheisgratefulnoDistrict F IRE & W 1953-1988 A over thisservice. and SanRamontook the citiesofDublin fire enginesbefore One oftheDistrict’s TER:

FIRE SERVICES: 1953-1988 17 18 MOVING DAY &A DROUGHT GARDEN

onsternation: That’s probably the Cbest word to describe the reaction in 1964 when the District settled on the site for its first Administration Building. The District was criticized for choosing a site “out in the sticks,” remembers Phil Phillips, the District’s first professional Fire Chief and a long-time District administrator. Located on the lot where the current District Office now sits, the first Administration Building was one of the first structures built on Dublin Boulevard.

The 1964 home for the District was a modular building placed on a raised foun- dation. Before the dredging and activation of current flood control channels, this location flooded during heavy rains. The Dublin Boulevard building was actually the District’s third meeting place. The first District Office was locat- ed inside a barn owned by Jim Glenn, one of the District’s first Directors. Later District meetings were held in the District’s first firehouse on Dinah Drive. In 1992, the District constructed its cur- rent Administration Building on what had been its corporation yard. Following approval of new building plans, discus- sions focused on what to do with the old home. The opinions of the District Board of Directors ran the full gamut, from burn- ing it to preservation. Eventually, they Top: Located on the lot where the current decided to preserve it. Arrangements District Office now were made to dismantle the building and sits, the first reconstruct it at the new Federal Administration Correctional Institution (FCI) at Camp Building was one of Parks. the first structures built on Dublin Blvd. FCI inmate labor was used to disas- semble the building, and the Fisher Bottom: The old Administration House Moving Company transported it in Building was disman- three sections to its new home at Camp tled and moved by Parks where it now serves as home for truck down Dublin the FCI Human Resources Department. Boulevard to it’s cur- FCI inmates built the foundation, put the rent location at Parks Reserve Forces building back together, and rewired and Training Area (RFTA). re-plumbed the entire building. 19

Today the footprint of the first Administration Building lies within the District’s 26,000-square-foot Drought UILDING Tolerant Garden (also known as the

Top: Workers check 1964-2003 Water Conservation Garden), east of the to see if their load B present building. The purpose of the has enough clear- garden is to provide area residents with ance as the old ideas they can apply to their own water Administration build- conserving gardens. ing works it way down Dublin The garden is divided into six sections Boulevard. that demonstrate how plants can survive Center: The current

and thrive in varying degrees of water home of Dublin San DMIN needs. The most drought tolerant ground Ramon Services ARDEN: covers are planted closest to the street District. A and near the parking lot. Less drought Bottom: A view of tolerant shrubs and trees are in sections one of the sections closer to the Administration Building. that make up the 26,000 square foot Visitors to the garden can explore the HE Water Conservation &G six sections by traversing a crushed rock Garden at the District. pathway. T

In the Dublin San Japanese Corral Iceplant Atlantic Cedar Texas Ranger Ramon Services Maple ‘Sangu Kaku’ Indian Hawthorn Flowering Quince Irish Moss District Water Garden Penestrom ‘Cameo’ Conservation Garden, Mauve Clusters Seasonal Bedding Dwarf Heavenly each plant is identi- Mexican Evening Japanese Plants Bamboo ‘Nana’ fied by a sign provid- Primrose Persimmon ‘Fuyu’ With the help of Boy ing its common name Weeping Cherry New Zealand Tea English Lavender Scout Troop 905, the and scientific ‘Pendula’ Tree ‘Gaiety Girl’ District Property nomenclature. The Tree Roses Lantana Management staff following is a list of Australian Tea Tree Shrub Roses Eve Case designed, organized, the 27 different Dwarf Escallonia Coffeeberry ‘Eve and constructed the drought-tolerant New Zealand Tea ‘Terri’ Case’ garden in 1995 for a plants and trees Tree ‘Ruby Glow’ Maidenhair Tree cost of $1.50 per featured in the 26,000 Coast Redwood Australian Fushia square foot. square foot garden: ‘Aptos Blue’ Deodor Cedar ‘Carmen Bells’ 20 EXPANSIONS & IMPROVEMENTS

tage 1: The District’s original treat- Sment facility was built in 1961, with the capacity to process 2.5 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater. Considered a model of efficiency when it began oper- ating in 1962, the plant’s flow was actual- ly so slow, remembers long-time District Fire Chief Phil Phillips, that then- Superintendent Jack Muir “used to ask people to flush twice to get the sewage to the plant.” Director Dick Fahey was working for Chevron Chemical at the time the plant first came on line. A large supplier to the synthetic detergent industry, Chevron

expansion, the plant’s average dry weather Top: Primary sedimen- flow (ADWF) was 4MGD. tation tanks at the Stage 3: In 1978, the plant expansion Wastewater Treatment installed a third primary sedimentation Facility in the late 70s. tank, a third aeration basin, another Left: The digesters that process solid secondary clarifier, and converted the waste. old secondary clarifier into a dissolved Bottom: The original air flotation thickener (DAFT). With this cogenerators of the expansion, the plant’s ADWF was 8.34 early 80s help to MGD. reduce the Facility’s Stage 3a: In 1981, the Stage 3a expan- electric bill. sion put in a third secondary sedimenta- Right: The new lab tion tank. With this expansion, the plant’s under construction. ADWF was 9 MGD. Top right: The Stage 3b: In 1985, the Stage 3b entrance to District Regional Wastewater was having problems with non- improvements expanded the headworks biodegradable products. Because the Treatment Facility (the place where the wastewater enters the located in Pleasanton. plant could handle non-biodegradable items “pretty well,” says Fahey, Chevron became very interested in the District’s treatment facility. Said Fahey, “This indicates the treatment plant was well regarded from the beginning.” The original plant included one digester, one primary sedimentation tank, two aeration basins, one secondary clarifier, a small chlorine contact tank, and the one-story operations building. Stage 2: The 1971 plant expansion added a second digester, a second pri- mary sedimentation tank, and a second secondary sedimentation tank. With this wastewater. tract withtheDistrict fortreatmentoftheir vation anditwas morecosteffectivetocon- because theirplantrequiredextensive reno- sewer linestotheDistrict’s plant fortreatment few yearslater, Pleasanton re-routedalltheir ment plantthanitwastoPleasanton’s plant.A water thatwasclosertotheDistrict’s treat- mately tenpercentofPleasanton’s waste- on Districtpropertyinordertotreatapproxi- In 1968,theEastAmadorLiftStationwasbuilt Pleasanton Wastewater plant’s ADWF was11.5MGD. contact tank.With thisexpansion,the sedimentation tanks),andthechlorine ary clarifiers(alsoknownassecondary (also knownasaerationbasins),second- mary sedimentationtanks,aerationtanks treatment units:gritremovaltanks,pri- stream bygravity,throughsubsequent approximately 20feetsoitcanflowdown- chlorine tank,doublingitssize. operations building;andaddedontothe made someminormodificationstothe rebuilt theDAFT, updatingitsequipment; room); addedtheodorreductiontower; treatment facility,theinfluentpump The influentpumpsliftthewastewater do ourjobswithout bumpingintooneanother,” main laballowstaff tomulti-task. between thesatelliteroomsand thelarge around thetwosides.Largewindows laboratory inthecenterwithsatellite rooms Laboratory staff,theresultwas alargemain to 5,000squarefeet.Designed by the increasing thelab’s squarefootagefrom1,100 operations buildingtohouseanewlaboratory, In 1995,asecondstorywasaddedtothe A New, ExpandedLaboratory “The Labisnow bigenoughthatwecan I MPROVEMENTS E XPANSIONS Plant’s ADWF from11.5MGDto17MGD. increased theWastewater Treatment third digester. and expansionof thefacility);anda modifications totheDAFT (newpumps rate); afourth secondaryclarifier;some oxygentransfer and resultinginabetter are moreefficient,usinglesselectricity system (thenewblowersanddiffusers ation basinsandtheirassociatedblower mary sedimentationtank;twomoreaer- new barscreenbuilding;afourth pri- ing additionsweremadetotheplant:a and improvementsbeganthefollow- Stage 4: The Stage4plantexpansion In 2000,Stage4expansions are pressureadjusted electronically. sophisticated fumehoodswere installedthat lyzer; andanionchromatograph. Inaddition, graphite furnace;atotalorganic carbonana- atomic absorptionspectralphotometer witha gas chromatograph/massspectrometer; since itwasexpandedincludethefollowing: Manager BingMisra. according toEnvironmentalServicesDivision New equipmentaddedtotheLaboratory &

REGIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY 21 22 CLEAN WATER REVIVAL PROJECT

n the 1990s, the Dublin San Ramon groundwater basin. The injected water IServices District unveiled the Clean would be further purified underground by Water Revival (CWR) Project, a bold ini- Mother Nature as it traveled many miles tiative designed to obtain additional over the course of 10 to 15 years from the wastewater disposal capacity to meet the CWR Plant to the nearest well. requirement of the According to then District Board general plans of the President Georgean Vonheeder-Leopold, City of Dublin and RO injection is the least expensive and the City of San most effective way to reduce salts in Ramon. The project groundwater and would help reduce the was driven by con- Valley’s dependence on imported drink- cern that the ing water. The injection technique, she LAVWMA pipeline, said, has been practiced for decades— carrying treated most notably in Orange County. wastewater to San In 1998, the Zone 7 Board of Francisco Bay, Directors voted to withdraw its support would not be able to of groundwater injection, saying they did accommodate any so because there did not appear to be a more flows. sufficient level of support from the gen- In January 1997, eral public. when it appeared that LAVWMA was not And, so in November 2002, the Breaking ground for the Clean Water making progress toward expanding its District Board of Directors adopted a pol- Revival Project at the pipeline (it has since nearly doubled the icy to proceed to use recycled water for CWR Plant located amount of wastewater it carries), the irrigation purposes only and not to inject just within the District Board of Directors authorized RO-treated water into the groundwater, Regional Wastewater the design of a wastewater recycling because LAVWMA was on schedule and Treatment Facility in Pleasanton. facility. The facility would use microfil- provided the wastewater disposal capacity tration (MF), reverse osmosis (RO) and the District needed. The landscape ele- ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technology ment of the project, entitled Clean Water to produce highly purified water from Revival/Puttin’ on the Green, utilizes wastewater. MF, UV, and pipeline sections which The CWR Project, however, encoun- uses 85% of the $25 million CWR plant. tered a flurry of vocal opposition. At Microfiltration and ultraviolet cleansing issue was the plan to inject the bacteria of wastewater create recycled water ideal and virus-free, purified water into the for landscape irrigation.

Definition of Terms Microfiltration (MF) uses pressure to sepa- wastewater, and in Orange County where it is rate the liquid portion of wastewater from injected into the groundwater. RO water suspended solids. meets public health standards for injection into an underground aquifer or storage in a Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a proven technology whereby water under pressure is forced reservoir for future potable use. through thin manufactured membranes. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), sometimes Except for the water molecules themselves, called salts, are minerals in the water that do virtually every substance, including bacteria, not evaporate and are not removed in the pri- viruses and minerals is removed. This cen- mary and secondary wastewater treatment turies-old technology has been used for years processes. in the Middle East to produce drinking water Ultraviolet Disinfection (UV) is the process from salt water, in space to recycle astronauts’ that uses ultraviolet light to disinfect water. A mercial developments. common areasof newhomeandcom- Dublin Ranchgolfcourse,andmany landscaping initsparksandschools,the Dublin usesrecycledwatertoirrigatethe water, thenewcommunityof Eastern latest techniquesavailabletoconserve to irrigatethelandscape. new sourceof waterhasbeendeveloped Recycled Water The BriefHistoryof resources management. water reuseintheir masterplanforwater San Franciscocontinue todaytoinclude structed therein1932.TheCity andCountyof The firstwaterreclamationplant wascon- 1889 tomaketheparksoilmore productive. began irrigatingwithuntreated sewagein the century. ThefoundersofGoldenGatePark State ofCaliforniaasfarback theturnof Recycled waterhasbeenusedthroughoutthe Built fromthegroundup,using s thenewmillenniumdawns,a recycled waterhasalso beenusedto help production, heating andcooling.Purified commercial uses suchascarpetdying,paper used forrecreation,habitatrestoration, and golf courses.Inaddition,recycled wateris landscape irrigationofschools, parks,and tion ofpasturesandfoodcrops, aswell reclaiming ourstate’s “liquidgold” forirriga- wastewater agenciesalsoare actively recycled water. about thebenefitsof District, teacheskids the mascotfor Left: with recycledwater. the firstareairrigated Dublin SportsPark, celebrates atthe T resources. and savespreciousdrinkingwater out theyear(especiallyduringdroughts) Green keepslandscapinglushthrough- onthe programs intheBayArea,Puttin’ environmentally friendlyrecycledwater op: Meanwhile, hundredsofotherwaterand One of themostprogressiveand The District Oscar theOtter, P THE TI’ON UTTIN’ G REEN by theyear2020. 1.5 millionacre-feetperyearof recycledwater California StateLegislature,providing atleast program tohelpmeetthegoals adoptedbythe the Districthasembarkedona water recycling 200 otherwateragenciesthroughout California, replenish groundwatersupplies.Joiningover

A PRECIOUS RESOURCE: RECYCLED WATER 23 24 SUGGESTION OF THE YEAR

he Suggestion Plan Program 1994: Gail Hargis-Brubaker, Julie Yuan-Miu encouragesT employees to contribute to Implement an employee appreciation the District’s efficiency and economy, to system to recognize “All-Star directly increase the effectiveness of Performers,” improving morale and rec- District programs and missions, or to ognizing when an individual goes out of improve safety. his or her way to do a good job. Everyone 1989: Mike Spowhn, Rob Fowler in the District participates by being able Automate LAVWMA pump control to to give and receive the recognition. pump during hours of low energy 1995: Loy Riddle demand instead of pumping around the Install piping on the co-generation clock. Pumping treated wastewater engines, recirculating a portion of the through the LAVWMA lines during off- exhaust gasses back through the engine peak hours saved the District $150,000 to reduce overall emissions, achieving to 180,000 per year. compliance with regulations set forth by 1990: Wes Tang the Bay Area Air Quality Management Examine different types of electric District for Nitrogen Oxide emissions. In motors for our water pump stations. a short amount of time, this suggestion Savings: $7,437 rebate in 1991 and lower saved the District in excess of $20,000 electric bills in the future. for the following reasons: using digester gas in the engines to generate electricity; 1991: Mike Spowhn, Emil Kattan avoiding the need to install a temporary Above: Jonathan Pursue a cash rebate from PG&E for boiler to heat the digesters this winter; Penaflor, the 2002 energy conservation features included in and avoiding the need to get an extension Suggestion of the the rehabilitation of the East Amador of the air quality permit variance. Year winner, sits in Pump Station. front of a computer 1996: Sheldon E. Jones displaying his idea 1992: Jim Simonds Underground Service Alert use purple to for a computer users’ Recognize the need to clearly identify mark recycled water lines and clearly guide on the District District equipment, especially hand- intranet. distinguish them from gravity sewer held radios which cost $1,000-$2,000 lines. This suggestion was the result of each and “have a tendency to grow legs an incident where a contractor damaged and walk off.” the pressurized portion of the LAVWMA 1993: Bob Gresens export line which they thought was only a Administer flu shots to all District sewer line. The suggestion was adopted employees, saving significant amounts of by USA for standard use throughout time and reducing employee sick leave. California.

A Little Scotch in Your Water?

Jim Nelson immigrated to the States from Scotland as a young man and went through life proud of his heritage. In 1966, he decided to run for the District’s Board of Directors using the motto, “Put a little Scotch in your water.” Says former Director Dick Fahey, ”Because of or in spite of that campaign, he was elected.” Institutional A: Domestic,Commercial, Industrialand Q: Whattypesof customersareserved? A: 16,575 service area? Q: Howmanytotalacresarein theDistrict’s Ramon—approximate population of120,000. Pleasanton andDoughertyValley inSan A: ThecitiesofDublin,SouthernSanRamon, San RamonServicesDistrict? Q: HowmanypeopleareservedbyDublin the vehiclebyoperatoronduty, allowing thecomputertobecarriedin puter withtheSCADA systeminstalled, Purchase aportableremotelaptopcom- 2000 employment rates. receive andnegotiatethebesthourly temporary employmentagenciessoasto Annually solicitcompetitivebidsfrom 1999 notify customers. upcoming waterserviceinterruptionsto Display Districtplacardsinareasof 1999 V water toeasternDublin,Dougherty pipeline alignmentstoserverecycled preserve flexibilityinselectingfuture the Park SierraApartmentsprojectto Install arecycledwaterpipelinethrough 1 the RecycledDemonstrationGarden. greenadjacentto constructing theputting pump stationpropertyinexchangefor (now Parks ReserveForces Training Area) Landscaping usestheoldCampParks Offices andmowingthePlantlawns,Coast ing alloutsidemaintenanceattheDistrict effective manner:inadditiontoperform- Demonstration Gardeninaverycost to installtheRecycledWater Coast LandscapingtoenabletheDistrict Enter intoabarteringagreementwith 1 The DistrictFAQs 998: 997: alley, centralDublinandSanRamon. : : : Robert A.Anderson Robert Bruce Webb Bruce Fr Te Merlin Davis,Terry Kirchner ances Robustelli r ry Kirchner at Lake Del Valle local groundwater andlocalrunoffimpounded A: LakeOroville viatheStateWater Project, Q: Wheredoesourwatercome from? A: 300gallonsperday tion forasingle-familyresidence? Q: Whatistheaveragedailywater consump- A: $38,983,825 Q: Whatistheannualoperatingbudget? A: 82 Q: HowmanypeopledoestheDistrictemploy? A: 145 Q: Howmanymilesofsewersarethere? 2001 tion system. control andmonitoringof thedistribu- he/she maybe,therebycreatingbetter throughout thedayfromwherever operator’s abilitytomonitorthesystem response timeasaresultof theon-call operational costsassociatedwithgreater adjustments tothesystem.Anditsaves SCADA systemandmakenecessary Field Servicesfor themtocheckthe tor nothavingtocontactsomeoneat costs associatedwiththeon-callopera- distribution system.Itsavespersonnel the fieldservicestrailertomonitor operator’s timespenttravelingbackto travel costsassociatedwiththeon-call This savestheDistrictpersonneland adjustments tothedistributionsystem. o operator togobacktheFieldServices eliminating theneedfor theon-call 2002 first yearitwasimplemented(2001). District approximately$7,600inthe 20,000 gallonsperday)andsavedthe saves water(approximately15,000to f potable waterfor backwashsupplywater plant, userecycledwaterinsteadof microfiltration andreverseosmosis Create athirdwatersystemfor the solutions ontheDistrictintranet. that addressescommonproblemsand P or thestrainersonMFfeed.This ffice tomonitorormakenecessary ost apersonalcomputerusers’guide S : : Brian Vannatter Brian Jonathan Penaflor UGGESTION OF THE Y EAR

EMPLOYEE IDEAS SAVE DISTRICT MONEY 25 26 An Award Winning Agency

1974 Commendation for 1992 1996 National Pollution Plant of the Year outstanding job in Operations & Certificate of Prevention Week Presented by the Development and Maintenance Achievement for 1997 California Water Operation of the Excellence (Large Excellence in (Exemplary Work and Pollution Control Sewage Treatment Secondary Plant) Financial Reporting Efforts in Pollution Association San Facility U.S. Environmental Government Finance Prevention Francisco Bay City of Pleasanton Protection Agency Officers Association Throughout this Year Region IX California Section Trailblazer 1989 Environmental Richard Cooper, The United Way, 1981 National Award Protection Agency Mechanical Alameda County Plant of the Year Finalist for Department of Toxic Technologist of the California Water Outstanding Substances Control Year 1997 Pollution Control Wastewater California Water Certificate of Public Education Association San Treatment Facility Pollution Control Achievement for Award, small budget Francisco Bay Operations & Association Excellence in California Water Maintenance Section Financial Reporting Environment U.S. Environmental 1st Place – Best of Government Finance Association, San 1987 Protection Agency Class, Water Officers Association Francisco Bay Outstanding Conservation Booth Resolution of Section Alameda County Fair Public Education Operation and Appreciation for Maintenance of its Award, Small Budget 1998 Operations Staff 1993 Municipal Treatment (For Earth Certificate of Livermore-Amador Appreciation Plaque Plant Day/Pollution Achievement for Valley Water (Contributions to State of California, Prevention ’97) Excellence in Management Agency Scouting) San Francisco Bay California Water Financial Reporting Operations & Boy Scout Troop 905 Regional Water Environment Government Finance Maintenance Quality Control Board Association San Officers Association Excellence (Large 1995 Francisco Bay Operations & Secondary Plant) Safety Program Section Bronze Partner Maintenance U.S. Environmental California Water Award for Public Education Excellence Protection Agency Environment Outstanding Support Award, Individual U.S. Environmental Region IX Association San Dublin Partners in Protection Agency Francisco Bay Achievement Education Region IX 1991 Section (Danielle Schauben, Hardyan Hendarto, National Pollution Safety Program Certificate of Prevention Week 1988 California Water Stefanie Olson) Plant of the Year Achievement for California Water 1997 Pollution Control Excellence in (Exemplary Work and (Less Than 10 MGD) Association San Environment California Water Financial Reporting Association San Efforts in Pollution Francisco Bay Presented by Prevention Pollution Control Section Francisco Bay Association San Government Finance Section Throughout the Year) Francisco Bay Officers Association California Section Environmental Protection Agency Department of Toxic Substances Control

General Managers

1953 - 2003 General Manager Dates of Service Years Richard Dombrick April 17, 1953 to March 1960 7 years Richard A. Wolverton March 28, 1960 to December 1960 9 months John Wright January 1961 to February 1964 3 years Phil Phillips, acting GM February 1964 to March 1964 2 months William Olson March 1964 to March 21, 1967 3 years Phil Phillips, acting GM March 22, 1967 to August 7, 1967 4.5 months Paul Ryan August 8, 1967 to October 1989 22 years Robert Beebe November 1989 to June 2001 12 years Bert Michalczyk June 2001 to Present, as GM 2+ years with the District since 1990 Board of Directors o a 1964-66 1964-66 1962-68 1963-66 1962-63 1962-64 Don Day 1961-62 Denis Sherry 1961-68 1953-62 Robert Dunivan James Gray 1953-64 Ronald Perry 1953-62 Datesof Robert Ake Service Lawrence Wilson Betty Walser Adolph Otto Foster Chappelle James Glenn Boardmember 1953 -2003 Section Francisco Bay Association San Environment California Water Less Than10MGD Plant oftheYear, Substances Control Department ofToxic Protection Agency Environmental California Throughout thisYear) Prevention Efforts inPollution (Exemplary Work and Prevention Week National Pollution Sanitation Agencies Association of California Landscape Irrigation) Puttin’ ontheGreen Replenishment & Groundwater (Recycling for Innovation Award California Association of Wa Clean Water Revival Project oftheYear, Officers Association Government Finance Presented by Financial Reporting Excellence in Achievement for Certificate of 1999 teReuse Bank Community Food Alameda County and/or dollars) 152 poundsoffood (WWTP Collecting Holiday FoodDrive Forces Training Area Parks Reserve House) Installation Open During the (Outstanding Support Appreciation Certificate of Substances Control Department ofToxic Protection Agency Environmental California Throughout theYear) Pollution Prevention (Exemplary Effortsin 2000 Prevention Week National Pollution 2000 Section Francisco Bay Association San Environment California Water Evaluation) and Reliability System Performance Replenishment Groundwater (Clean Water Revival the Year Achievement of Research Everyone Family FunFor Alameda CountyFair, Exhibit Educational Invited First Place,Most Agencies California Water Association of W Efficient Useof Conservation and (Maximize Certification Gold Star W Bank Community Food Alameda County or dollars) pounds offoodand (DO Collecting108 Holiday FoodDrive Electric Company Pacific Gas& DO &FieldOps) (Awarded toWWTP, Commitment Energy Conservation Officers Association Government Finance Financial Reporting Excellence in Achievement, Certificate of 2001 ensJfey1979-83 1979-83 1977-94 1973-80 1973-77 1974-79 Dennis Jeffery Diane Schinnerer 1968-79 1968-88 Joseph Covello 1971-74 Charles Ladner 1967-68 Ronald Hyde 1968-71 Lila Euler 1966 Richard Schumacher 1966-73 1966-73 Richard Fahey Ann Jolley Thomas Schweser Jane Kolher Robert Dunivan James Nelson Byron Athan ater) ater Management Section Francisco Bay Association, San Environment California Water A Public Education Substances Control Department ofToxic Protection Agency Environmental California Throughout thisYear) Prevention Efforts inPollution (Exemplary Work and 2002 Prevention Week National Pollution 2002 Alameda CountyFair Fair Booth Educational Value, 1st Place— Alameda CountyFair Booth Appearance, Fair 1st Place— Substances Control Department ofToxic Protection Agency Environmental California Throughout thisYear) Prevention Efforts inPollution (Exemplary Work and 2001 Prevention Week National Pollution ward, smallbudget Association Management International Public Chapter ofthe Northern California Human Resources for Innovationin A Science ofWater Advancing the Research Foundation, W American Water excellence” to drinkingwater years ofcommitment Recognized for“Ten 2003 hmsFr 2002- 2000- 2000- 1994-2002 1992-2000 Thomas Ford Daniel Scannell 1988-91 Richard Rose 1985- Cynthia Jones 1984-85 1987- James Kohnen 1983 1992-2000 Georgean Vonheeder-Leopold Kenneth Caldwell 1983-92 1980-84 G.T. (Tom) McCormick Jeffrey Hansen Dennis Jeffery Patricia Visher Donald Schinnerer W Ronald Noble ward ofExcellence orks Association laeDna 1983-87 allace Duncan

DISTRICT AWARDS THROUGH THE YEARS 27 Documenting History is a Team Effort

A special thanks to the individuals who not only helped shape the District, but have also shared their memories with us: Robert “Bob” Anderson Field Operations Supervisor, with the District since 1977. Robert “Bob” Beebe General Manager from 1989 to 2001 Joe Covello Director on the Board from 1977 to 1994 Richard “Dick” Fahey Director on the Board from 1968 to 1988 Sheldon Jones Construction Inspector with the District since 1977 Craig Lawson Conducted sewer and water rate studies for the District for 26 years John Mauck Engineering Services Representative with the District since 1977 Dave Petersen LAVWMA Senior Mechanic, with the District since 1983 Phil Phillips District’s first professional Fire Chief from 1961 to 1987 (he also served as interim General Manager in 1964 and 1967 and briefly as Chief Financial Officer) Paul Ryan General Manager from 1967 to 1989 Robert “Bob” Swanson Operations Manager from 1972 to 1999 Howard Yamamoto Administrative Analyst, with the District since 1970 Chris Davenport Construction Manager, The Covello Group Rick Cooper Senior Project Coordinator, with the District since 1974 A special thanks to those who listened to the memories, retrieved historical data and wrote the story: Margaret Atkinson Administrative Assistant, with the District since 1996 Aaron Johnson Engineering Technician, with the District since 2003 Jaclyn Moy Technical Editor, with the District since 2002 Sylvia Ramos Intern, with the District since 2001 Kristi Scheuller Graphics Technician, with the District since 1989

For more information about the District, please visit our web site at www.dsrsd.com.

Dublin San Ramon Services District Board of Directors: Richard W. Rose President Daniel J. Scannell Vice President Jeffrey G. Hansen Director G.T. (Tom) McCormick Director Thomas W. Ford Director DSRSD: The First 50 Years