Contact: Remleh Scherzinger MBA, P.E., CSDM, General Manager
(408) 384-6131 or customerservice@mcwd.org
Marina Coast Water District Manages 36-Hour PGE Power Outage with No Problems
District prepared with backup power, communications, and more
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PGE) electrical system went down for about 36 hours on Saturday and Sunday, December 14 and 15 affecting the District and about 40,000 residents in the region. Fortunately, Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) was well prepared and successfully delivered uninterrupted water and wastewater service throughout the power shutdown.
MCWD has taken extensive measures in recent years to ensure it can provide quality water and wastewater services even during emergencies. Some of the key actions include:
Crews on-call 24/7. District crews are available every day and around the clock to respond to emergencies and serve our customers. They worked tirelessly through the weekend to ensure quality service.
Backup generators. All critical water and sewer pump stations have a permanent backup generator on site.
Secondary backup generators. If the main generator fails, each pump station can connect to a portable, towed generator. The District also maintains a fuel supply to keep the generators running.
Sewer pump bypass. To further prevent sewer spills, the District can install backup bypass pumps if both the main and backup generators fail.
Remote monitoring and controls. The District has sophisticated systems to remotely monitor and control pumps and other systems, speeding up response times, lowering costs, and improving service quality.
Redundant communications. Multiple communication systems ensure that staff can continue to work and communicate with each other and the pumps even if one system goes down.
Water storage reservoirs. The District has constructed millions of gallons of storage tanks that provide water for emergencies, meet needs during high water use days, and lower electrical pumping costs.
