SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES EVERYDAY 

Small Business Saturday is November 28, 2015 


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015

VOLUME 9 NO. 48


WITHOUT OUT A “SILVER BULLET” CITY 
MOVES TO A NEW PLAN FOR IMPROVING 
WATER QUALITY - Final Corrosion Study Disappoints Council 

By Susan Henderson

“There is no Silver Bullet”, said 
Mayor John Capoccia in reference 
to the Final Corrosion Study 
submitted to the city by consultant 
Dr. Helene Baribeau, Ph.D.,P.E. 
Her firm, Baribeau Environmental 
Engineering (BEE) has extensive 
experience in Disinfectants 
and Disinfection By-Products, 
Distribution System Water Quality 
Nitrification, Water Systems 
Master Plans, and Vulnerability 
Assessments. She was contracted by 
the city to find a cure for the problems 
Sierra Madre’s water system has 
encountered since purchasing water 
directly from the Metropolitan 
Water District (MWD). The report 
offered no definitive solution for the 
discoloration and odiferousness of 
the water supply the serves the city’s 
residents.

 Until September, 2013, Sierra 
Madre’s water supply was primarily 
derived from four wells drawing 
from the East Raymond Basin 
aquifer (85%) and two natural 
spring tunnels located on either 
side of the county flood control 
dam in Little Santa Anita Canyon. 
However, due to the drought the 
wells ‘ran dry’ and residents were 
informed that a temporary change 
in the source of water supply would 
be made. The change was from local 
groundwater to imported water 
from San Gabriel Valley Municipal 
Water District (SGVMWD).

SGVMWD provided imported 
treated surface water produced by 
the Metropolitan Water District 
(MWD). It was noted that the 
change would result in changing

the disinfectant in the water from 
the chlorine previously used to 
the chloramines used by MWD. 
While chloramine treatment is not 
new, the interaction with the water 
distribution system in Sierra Madre 
has resulted in discoloration and 
complaints of foul odors.

 In July, 2014, Dr. Baribeau began her 
study and the solutions proposed at 
that time included evaluating the 
possibility of blending imported 
water with local groundwater, 
(something now being considered), 
reviewing the city’s existing 
Nitrification Plan and doing a 
Corrosion Control Study, 

 A few months later it was 
recommended that the city use a 
Zinc Orthophosphate Injection 
system to alleve the problem of 
discoloration, corrosion and odor, 
However, according to Dr. Baribeau 
to Tuesday’s city council meeting, 
changes in the quality of the water 
purchased from MWD diminished 
the effectiveness of the treatment. 

 When the final report was 
presented to the council, the results 
were disappointing. Mayor John 
Capoccia noted that Baribeau had 
basically promised a ‘cure’ for the 
water quality issues. Instead, a ‘pilot 
program’ of spreading the MWD to 
the water basin instead of directly to 
customers is being recommended

 Public Works Director Bruce 
Inman and Deputy Director of Water 
Operations Jose Reynoso asked that 
Sierra Madre immediately begin 
changing over water production 
from taking imported water directly 
into the distribution system to 
spreading the imported water and 
re-activating the City’s wells for full 
production. They developed the 
following plan for the transition:

1. Inform the community of 
change. 

a. Water will once again have a 
chlorine odor 

b. Some residents may notice a 
taste difference

2. Prepare the system for change 
over.

This included the details of how 
they would proceed. 

 Baribeau notes, however, that ‘using 
the MWD water for recharge and 
returning to use of the City’s wells is 
NOT expected to provide immediate 
relief for water discoloration issues. 
While an end to the discoloration 
cannot be accurately predicted at this 
time, it may be reasonable to believe 
that the discoloration problem will 
end sooner by returning to the 
wells than to continue in the City’s 
current mode.’

 Council members Capoccia, 
Goss, Harabedian and Aramendi, 
after much discussion, reluctantly 
approved the new water distribution 
configuration, Council member 
Delmar voted no citing her need for 
more compelling information that 
this plan would actually produce 
better results.

 Residents should expect the new 
water distribution to begin in late 
December or early January. 

Penalties For Overuse of 
Water Resources Approved 

Page 15

VFW 3208 LEADS EFFORT TO RENAME SIERRA 
MADRE POST OFFICE AFTER MEDAL OF HONOR 
WINNER LOUIS VAN IERSEL

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
(VFW), Post 3208 Sierra Madre with the assistance 
of Congresswoman Judy Chu, requested support 
from the City of Sierra Madre in renaming the Sierra 
Madre Post Office after World War I Veteran Louis 
Van lersel. 

Louis Van lersel was a Sierra Madre resident 
who received the Congressional Medal of 
Honor for saving 1000 American soldiers 
during the First World War. 

 Van lersel moved to Sierra Madre in 1946 
and served as Commander of Veterans of 
Foreign Wars, Post 3208. As a World War 
I Veteran Louis Van lersel served in the 
United States Army and received the Medal 
of Honor in 1919. During World War II he 
enlisted in the United States Marine Corps 
and served with the 3rd Marine Division 
in the Bougainville Campaign. Louis Van 
lersel died at the age of 93 in Sierra Madre 
and is buried in Arlington Cemetery. There 
is also a marker in Sierra Madre’s Pioneer 
Cemetary commemorating his life.

 At the time of his death at age 93, Van Iersel was believed to be the most highly decorated 
surviving World War I veteran. 

VFW 3208 is also supporting efforts to establish a Veterans Community Based Outpatient 
Clinic at Pasadena City College. 

 


FLINTRIDGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL 
stand apart.
learn together.
FIND OUT WHAT PREP HAS TO OFFER!
Flintridge Prep Admissions 
Open HouseSunday, December 6, 20152 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Register at www.flintridgeprep.orgCoed 500 Students Grades 7-12 
Middle School & High School Presentations
..
CALENDAR Pg. 2

SIERRA MADRE NEWS

 Pg. 3

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

 Pg. 5

PASADENA/ALTADENA

 Pg. 6

ARCADIA NEWS Pg. 7 
MONROVIA/DUARTE Pg. 7

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Pg. 8

BEST FRIENDS

 Pg. 9


HEALTHY & WEALTH

 Pg. 10

THE GOOD LIFE

 Pg. 11

FOOD & ARTS

 Pg. 12

THE WORLD AROUND US

 Pg. 13

OPINION

 Pg. 14

LEGAL

NOTICES Pg. 15

F.Y.I. Pg. 20