THE PROBLEM: During a water shortage and a period of voluntary conservation, nothing gets people worked up like a flow that never seems to stop.
Shutting off a faucet while brushing your teeth can seem like a futile gesture if somewhere down the street, gallon after gallon of water is being lost.
THE SITE: Carmel Valley Road, Del Mar Heights
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Louis Morejoy has been watching a stream of water pour into Carmel Valley Road not for weeks, not for months, but for years. It's coming through a drain beneath a sidewalk, the type used for runoff from private irrigation, located between Pointe Del Mar Way and Portofino Drive. It's right below the hillside to a large residential and office development.
The volume and constant presence of the water makes for “a giant waste,” said Morejoy, who called the city Water Department to try to get an investigation under way. The thin stream of water travels several hundred feet before disappearing into a storm drain, and there's a mat of algae along its route.
STATUS: The Water Department investigated, but was unable to determine the source of the water. It did not appear to be coming from any city water main or meter, said Arien Collins, supervising public information officer for the department.
Gus Brown, acting deputy director of the operations and maintenance division of the Storm Water Department, sent someone yesterday to inspect the location, who confirmed that the discharge is coming from a private, under-sidewalk drain. That finding kicked the matter over to the city's Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program, responsible for reducing pollutants in runoff and storm water.
Brown said he will make sure someone in the program follows up on the matter and takes appropriate steps.
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE: Gus Brown, who can be reached at GCBrown@sandiego.gov. To report storm water pollution or excessive water flows into storm drains in San Diego, call (619) 235-1000.
NEED A PROBLEM SOLVED: Is there a problem that government hasn't taken care of despite your complaints? Whether it's a missing bus bench or a misspelled street sign, Just Fix It might be able to help.
Complaint forms are at justfixit.uniontrib.com, or call (800) 820-8714.
