This final page contains a variety of miscellaneous topics
or expansions of earlier summaries, including the following:
- Links
- 911 Calls
- Septic System Maintenance
- More About WACSD
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LINKS
California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CalFire)
- http://www.fire.ca.gov
California Fire Safe Council
- http://www.firesafecouncil.org
Chester Fire District
- http://www.chesterfire.net
InciWeb (wildland fire information)
- http://www.inciweb.org
Lake Almanor West / West Almanor Community Club (WACC)
- http://www.lakealmanorwest.org
Lassen National Forest (LNF)
- http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lassen
National Interagency Fire Center (wildland fire information)
- http://www.nifc.gov/fire_info/nfn.htm
Peninsula Fire District
- http://www.peninsulafire.net
Plumas County Fire Safe Council
- http://www.plumasfiresafe.org
Plumas National Forest (PNF)
- http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/plumas
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911 CALLS
There is a very simple rule when seeking emergency assistance: ALWAYS
CALL 911. It doesn't matter whether you need law enforcement, medical or
fire assistance, you should always dial 911. When you do that, a dispatcher
can contact the nearest appropriate agency and get help on its way promptly.
If you have a choice, make the 911 call from a "landline" telephone rather
than a cell phone. When the call is placed from a regular "landline" phone
it goes to a dispatcher at the Plumas County Sheriff's Office in Quincy, where
Caller ID is used to determine the location of the call. On the other hand, if
the call is from a cell phone, it goes a CHP dispatcher who may be quite some
distance away from the local area and who may be totally unfamiliar with the
Lake Almanor basin.
In either case, be prepared to provide the dispatcher with some critical
information: WHAT kind of emergency exists and WHERE it is located.
The dispatcher can't read minds, so be as calm and clear as possible on
both items. If you are using a cell phone, you will need to be very explicit
about location and you may have to start by saying that you are calling from
Plumas County, south of the town of Chester, at a particular address or along
some specific road, etc.
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SEPTIC SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
Water quality is an increasingly important issue throughout California, and the
Lake Almanor basin is no exception. Keeping our streams, lake and groundwater
free of contaminants is a serious matter that requires the cooperation of all who
live, work and play in this region. One of the most significant sources of potential
problems is household wastewater, and this is where each of us plays a role.
Residences in urban areas typically are served by centralized sewer systems.
But in our rural area, only Chester has such a sewer system. Homes at Lake
Almanor West all use individual septic systems to treat household wastewater.
This places a great deal of responsibility on individual homeowners to make sure
that their septic system remains functional and "healthy."
How It Works
The typical septic system consists of a large container called a septic tank, an array
of perforated pipes called a leach field, and lengths of pipe running between the
house, the septic tank and the leach field. When wastewater leaves the house, it
goes first to the septic tank where biological processes go to work, decomposing and
"digesting" the waste products. From there, the remaining fluid or effluent trickles into
the leach field where it percolates into the soil for final filtering.
Everything works fine as long as (a) the system isn't overloaded with too much water
in too short a time, (b) the physical integrity of the tank and pipes is maintained, (c) the
microbes that digest the waste are maintained, and (d) undigested residues are removed
periodically from the tank. This is where good habits and preventative maintenance become
essential.
Septic Problems
Overloading the septic system can happen when a large number of people occupy a home
that was designed for just a few. A residence designed for a family of four or five has a septic
system that is sized accordingly. If that number is suddenly tripled, the increased wastewater
from sinks, toilets, showers and clothes washers can exceed the design capacity of the septic
system. This means that the wastewater doesn't spend enough time being digested in the
septic tank before it is rushed into the leach field. The added volume of water plus the added
solid wastes still in that water can overcome the capacity of the leach field and can even lead
to stoppages as the solids clog the perforations or the filter path.
Similar problems can occur if the gradual accumulation of undigested residue is not removed
from the septic tank from time to time. The heavy materials ("sludge") sink to the bottom and
slowly increase in thickness, reducing the usable volume of water for digestion purposes.
The light materials ("scum") float to the surface and shrink the usable water volume from
the top down. Periodic septic tank pumping is needed to remove these two layers.
Cracks or separations of tank or pipe components can cause leaks, which can allow
untreated waste water to escape before it has completed treatment. Cracks can also
permit tree roots to enter the pipe or tank, creating blockages and all manner of problems.
Microbes are essential to proper septic system functioning. If those microbes dwindle in
number or die either due to poisons in the wastewater or due to very infrequent use of the
septic system, the waste digestion process will not occur properly. We must therefore be
extra careful about what goes down the drain and avoid excessive use of disinfectants,
bleaches or antibiotics. Items that are hard to digest should never be flushed down the
drain. The beneficial microbe population will also decline if the septic system sits idle
for extended periods; in that case, it may be helpful to add a supplement such as "Rid-X"
to help boost and maintain the microbe population.
System Maintenance and the State of California
Homeowners can avoid both the serious inconvenience and the high cost of a failed septic
system by following good wastewater practices in their daily living and by getting on a
regular septic tank inspection and pumping schedule. The cost of pumping is far less than
the cost of reworking a failed septic system, and pumping is far more convenient than being
without the ability to flush!
Taking a community point of view, it is important that all homeowners at Lake Almanor West
do their part in maintaining their septic systems. Due to regional water quality concerns,
we were faced in 1997 with an impending order from the State Water Resources Control
Board that would have required that "All septic tanks within the subdivision's boundary
shall be inspected or pumped biannually (every other year)." This would have placed a
mandatory and costly inspection and pumping requirement on each and every homeowner
in the development, due largely to the State's assumption that homeowners probably
were not taking care of such maintenance on their own.
The WACSD Board intervened with the State and negotiated a less costly alternative to the
planned mandatory order. The revised order (No. 97-254, of December 1997) relies on a
voluntary plan in which homeowners must conduct periodic inspections of their septic
tanks and pump them out as required. The inspections can be done professionally or by
a knowledgeable homeowner, but pumping must be done by a licensed contractor. Good
practice suggests that the tank be inspected about every three years, with tank pumping
scheduled as dictated by scum and sludge buildup.
WACSD is required by the State to provide annual reports on the status of septic systems
within the development. These annual reports include a tabulation of septic inspection
and pumping actions, plus notification of any major septic problems encountered within
the development. It is therefore important that homeowners notify WACSD whenever a
tank is inspected or pumped, and whenever a serious septic problem is encountered.
The voluntary plan will continue only if homeowners cooperate with its terms. Failure to
do so will likely cause the State to revert back to the original mandatory order. Therefore,
PLEASE help yourself and your community by conducting regular septic system maintenance
and by informing WACSD at 259-5112 when you do.
Good Practices for Septic Systems
- Inspect your septic tank every three (3) years and have it pumped whenever the
undigestible solids build up.
- DO use biodegradable soaps and biodegradable toilet paper.
- Collect kitchen grease in a container, let it solidify and then dispose of it in the trash
rather than down the drain.
- Don't overload your septic system with water. Repair leaky faucets and toilets, run
dishwashers and washing machines only when you have a full load, avoid lengthy showers, etc.
- Use your garbage disposal sparingly.
- NEVER throw non-biodegradable items down the drain or into the toilet. This includes
disposable diapers, paper towels, tissues, sanitary napkins, tampons, hair clippings,
cigarette butts, condoms, coffee grounds, egg shells, clothes dryer lint, oil, paint, etc.
- Antibacterial compounds and antibiotics used by family members can reduce the
effectiveness of septic system microbes. If someone is taking such medications, it
would be prudent to add a biological additive to the septic system (e.g., "Rid-X").
Components of a Residential Septic System
- All of the system components are below ground level.
- Household waste leaves the residence by way of the main sewer drain pipe, which has a
clean-out fitting located just outside the foundation line.
- The waste enters the first or primary chamber of the septic tank. As the biological process
proceeds, the liquid gradually enters the secondary chamber.
- The liquid effluent finally leaves the septic tank and goes to the leach field (perforated
pipes) where it seeps into the ground.
- To inspect the septic tank, you must first uncover the two inspection hatches (one for
the primary chamber and one for the secondary chamber).
- Most scum and sludge will be found in the primary chamber. However, it is essential
that BOTH chambers be inspected.
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MORE ABOUT WACSD
History
The West Almanor Community Services District (WACSC) was originally formed as Plumas
County Service Area #2 in 1974 by the Plumas County Board of Supervisors, at the request
of the principal developer of the subdivision, Edward C. Clifford. The County Service Area
was a division of County government and was controlled by the Board of Supervisors. A local
Advisory Board was appointed to oversee daily operations and report back to the Board.
The boundaries of PCSA #2 were those of the Lake Almanor West subdivision.
In 1993, PCSA #2 was reorganized as the West Almanor Community Services District, with a
goals of strengthening local control of the District and providing services more efficiently. All
of the assets, funds, properties and obligations of PCSA #2 were vested in the new District.
The West Almanor Fire Department (WAFD) is the principal element of WACSD, and is one of
several such entities providing fire protection services in the Lake Almanor basin.
The first Fire Chief was Clay Foss, who served until 1980. Subsequent Chiefs were Peter Poe, George
Koch, Joe Fording, Mark Reno and Randy Fluke. Responding to calls are about a dozen volunteer
firefighters who are local residents.
Organization
WACSD has one full-time paid employee, the Fire Chief / General Manager. When the Chief is absent,
the shift is covered by a part-time paid (per diem) firefighter. District oversight and policy matters are
handled by a five member Board of Directors, with each elected Director serving a four year term of
office. A part-time Board Secretary records proceedings and minutes. The current list of management
personnel includes:
- Fire Chief / General Manager .... Randy Fluke
- WACSD Board President .... John Fricke
- WACSD Board Vice President .... Richard Fording
- WACSD Board Secretary .... Georgia Knutsen
- WACSD Board Members .... Tom Fullerton, John Gonzales, Dale Knutsen
Assets
The firehouse on Long Iron Drive was built in 1979, and the living quarters were added in 1992.
WAFD's first fire engine was a 1939 Chevrolet pumper that was loaned to the District in 1976 by the
Department of Civil Defense. Our second engine was a 1952 American LaFrance airport crash truck
loaned to us by the California Department of Forestry. Over the years, those initial loaners were
replaced with purchased trucks, the first in 1981 and the second in 1984. Currently, WAFD has a
1985 International / Superior Type II fire engine, a 1993 Ford F350 quick attack truck, a 2003
Westates Type I engine, a 2002 Chevy Suburban command / tow vehicle and a 2003 Jetcraft 26 foot
fire rescue boat. The boat was purchased totally with donations and through local fund-raisers over
a two year period. Departmental resources also include up-to-date firefighter gear for our volunteers,
including protective clothing, breathing apparatus, radios and tools, as well as appropriate firefighting
and medical response equipment found on our vehicles.
The District is funded with a share of County property tax receipts, including a special assessment
that was approved by Lake Almanor West homeowners.
Activities
WAFD responds to both medical and fire calls within the subdivision and to nearby areas when
dispatched as part of automatic aid or mutual aid arrangements. The majority of calls have been
medical in nature, and historically peak during the summer months.
The Department does safety-related plan checks and inspections, and in cooperation with the
West Almanor Community Club (the local property owners' association) has an aggressive fire
prevention program which requires homeowners to maintain their parcels in a fire safe condition.
The District also provides the California State Water Quality Control Board with regular surveys and
reports on residential septic tank maintenance and groundwater quality monitoring.
Proactive fire prevention measures coupled with a solid fire protection infrastructure have reduced
fire hazards within the development, leading to an insurance (ISO) fire rating of 3, which is the
lowest in Plumas County. This has been achieved through a successful partnership between
property owners, the West Almanor Community Club (homeowners' association), the West Almanor
Mutual Water Company (water supplier) and WACSD.