Desert Messenger

12 www.DesertMessenger.com May 20, 2020 T��� ����� ������� �� D����� M�������� AWARDS FROM PAGE 7 Not goodbye, just til then By Jackie Deal Chicken. Fricasseed chicken. As I understand it, fricasseed chicken is braised and served in its own sauce. Exactly how I felt! It was hot. 102 offi cially, in April yet. And it was 107 on my neighbor's shaded porch and 118 on my sunny West–facing porch. 118! "That's it," I exclaimed. What am I trying to prove? "I'm outta here." Sorry, Quartzsite, I love you dear- ly but I love my own comfort more. So I'm packing, I have never liked packing. Does anybody? What to take? What to leave? I've learned that I don't remember what I leave at either "home" so now I try to write down what I take and what I leave. And also what I need. I have about 4 extension cords and 3 big measuring tapes in Oregon. None in Quartzsite. I'll try to remedy that next year. I had planned to buy a lot of things at the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Quartzsite but I waited too long and they closed due to the virus. We don't close for the season anymore, we close for the virus. Doesn't sound as reassuring, does it? It's not only what to pack but when. If I pack some things the day before I leave, I'm bound to need them that evening or the last morning and then I go rummaging through the boxes. Also I pack to fi t my car and that makes for some weird size containers. My trunk fi lls up and then the back seat is piled high and seat- belted in. I used to have 3 long under-the-bed plastic containers that were perfect for the back seat. But the heat in Quartzsite made them brittle and they broke up. Now I'm down to one. I've arranged to have my Northern house all unwinterized and cleaned before I come. I almost drool think- ing of the clean, warm, place I'll fi nd. But the "best laid plans of men and mice"…… It seems a couple of hose connectors split, not the water hoses, the connectors. So my dear- ly beloved cleaning lady couldn't do much cleaning without water. And my Santa Clause handy man (a beard that makes Santa Claus cry) sprawled out on the kitchen fl oor (covering the whole kitchen I'm sure) working under the sink com- plicated matters. A fl ood, a gusher and it took both of them to get it un- der control so I'm told. So my home wasn't all shiny clean with hot wa- ter and cold refrigerator. Gee, you don't think I'm spoiled, do you? It was dried out when I got there and I only spent one night without water. We used to dry camp all the time, but I'm neither used to it nor prepared for it now. No shower but baby wipes will do if no one gets too close to me. But then I'm in self- quarantine for two weeks so no one should get close anyhow! And fl ush the toilet with 25 cent water brought in a jug from Quartzsite's Pit Stop. Time to brush my teeth; I reach for the faucet. Aw, come on, you know there's no water! Fetch the jug. Ah, it's good to be home whether South or North. How blessed am I to have two homes with attend- ing friends, tolerant friends! To all you BRAVE people who live in Quartzsite year round: my blessings and I'll continue haranguing you if Rain allows. I hope, I dearly hope, to return next Fall: God willing and the virus declines. THRIFT STORE Benefitting the La Paz County Animal Shelter in Parker Supported by your generous donations! 455 E. Main St. Quartzsite Open Tues. thru Sat. 9-3 928-927-4223 and 3) Improved treatment process produces better effl uent quality. All efforts were made to reduce the impact of cost to the full-time residents for the capital investment and reducing operational and main- tenance costs to offset impact to res- idents. The Town of Quartzsite ob- tained funding through WIFA and USDA-RD resulting in 35% grant funding. They repurposed existing infrastructure maximized capital investment allowing for additional improvements to the treatment pro- cess and extend life of the facility; thoughtful value engineering recog- nized various cost saving possibili- ties, and creative solutions and swift decisions during construction. Split existing single-basin Se- quencing Batch Reactor (SBR) into two smaller SBR basins increasing treatment effi ciency while produc- ing higher effl uent water quality, improves operational fl exibility, and provides redundancy. Increased treatment capacity from 0.45 MGD to 0.90 MGC, Improved effl uent quality helps achieve ADEQ objec- tives and protects Tyson Wash The project includes a new head- works system in design eliminated exposed manual screening protect- ing operators and area wildlife from exposure to infl uent sewage. System inclusion also promotes consistent high quality effl uent by reducing risk of large debris causing process interruptions. Manhole protection improve- ments preserves Tyson Wash. In- fi ltration/infl ow mitigation of rein- forcing 16 manholes that lie within Tyson Wash to strengthen integrity was included in the scope of work to protect the WWTP from fl oodwater infi ltration causing problems for treatment capabilities and alterna- tively minimizing risk of backfl ow of untreated wastewater into the Tyson Wash. The contractor removed existing single basin SBR without interrupt- ing wastewater treatment. Creative solutions during construction re- solved unforeseen issues, saving time and money. Delays in fund- ing reduced the schedule needed to construct new drying beds during a crucial period and was going to re- quire extra costs to haul SBR sludge during the SBR cleaning. The con- tractor brought in a temporary on- site dewatering press to accelerate the process. Extreme deterioration of infl u- ent pump station wet well and grit manhole was discovered during construction. The tem reviewed various alternatives for rehab or re- placement of the structures. Struc- tures were replaced with polymer concrete structure, saving up to $150,000 and providing a 50-year warranty. Splitting the basin, instead of duplicating for additional capac- ity, saved nearly $750,000, which was used to further improvements including a new headworks system and new controls, reducing opera- tional and maintenance costs. Using two smaller SBR basins al- lows for proper biological treatment at both design fl ow and lower sum- mer fl ow. As a result, higher qual- ity effl uent is discharged into Tyson Wash, which helps the continuing efforts to achieve nitrite reduction in the groundwater in accordance with the ADEQ Quartzsite Strategy.

• Cover