May 27: Conserving Water, Sewer Usage Is Helping
Use "Spikes" Lower At Main Lift Station KCSi-T.V. News
Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) -- Jamestown residents who have conserved putting waste water down the drain, and are voluntarily observing the odd-even system of using more moderate amounts of water, based on their addresses, are making a difference.
.....MORE STORY BELOW VIDEO....VIDEO CLIP FROM THURSDAY WAYNE BYERS SHOW
At Wednesday's Interagency meeting, Jamestown City Engineering Reed Schwartzkopf said, the "spikes" of usage in the system that put extreme stress on the main sewer lift station are not as high as they were. He says over the past week the usage at the main lift station was down from 10-million gallons per day to 6 and a half to 8-million gallons a day. He said the pumping times are down at the main lift station. He added if the usage levels stay there, the city may consider putting some of the 4 lift stations pumping into the river, back pumping into the sanitary sewer main lift station.
He asks residents to continue to conserve water usage, and to voluntarily observe the odd-even day plan as they have. Others who have not are asked to help even more by conserving and voluntarily observing the odd even plan.
Schwartzkopf told the committee that the two water wells that were off line, are back in usage, as all six city wells are providing water at this time.
He says the city at NO TIME had plans to shut down the water plant in Jamestown, over the past week, despite rumors to the contrary. If, the city were to shut off water, in parts or the entire city, residents would have about a 12 hour notice. There are NO plans to do that at this time.
Todd Lindquist with the Corps of Engineers reported that the release from Pipestem Dam was decreased another 100-cfs Wednesday (May 27th) to 900-cfs. Plans are to reduce Pipestem releases in increments of 100-cfs every other day the rest of the week, and cut Jamestown Dam releases by another 100-cfs in the next few days. (See links at Jamestown USA dot com under River Watch for updates from the Corps.)
Reed Schwartzkopf pointed out that as the combined releases get down to 2,400 and 2,000 cfs, and the river level drops, officials will be carefully watching to see if the river loses its bank edges too quickly, with some areas in town more suseptable than others.
The Corps will meet with local officials to continue to formulate strategy to remove levees, in about a month or so, and create a basin-wide James River resolution for water control, and long-term flood control.
The National Guard will reduce its number in Jamestown later this week, to around 100, on the ground. The plan has been to reduce troops as the release reductions continue, and less levee walkers are needed.
Boating restrictions Wednesday were lifted....on the north end...only....of Jamestown Reservoir. Access to the north end of the reservoir will be by a temporary portable boat ramp on the east side of the reservoir at the Jim River Bay area, which is the site of the previous Jim River Boat Club. The south end is still be closed with buoys.
No boating is allowed at this time at Pipestem Reservoir.
FEMA reported the hours at the Disaster Recovery Center in Jamestown at the Buffalo Mall will be cut to 9-a.m. to 6-p.m. Monday through Saturday. 483 Stutsman County residents have filed applications, with 304-thousand dollars in damage assistance paid out, to date.
Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist said Congressman Earl Pomeroy met with local officials this week, and continued to promise help from Washington if and when needed.
For the latest information on line visit Jamestown USA dot com, and on CSi Cable Channels 10 and 67. Back to Local Headlines
