”
I walk my dog through Community Park and down the street and
where Morgan Hill public works and MHUSD bus yard is. I noticed
that even during the Christmas break when everyone is closed down
that this gas furnace which is next to the gas pumps is on 24 hours
a day, seven days a week. I think it’s some type of heating unit
for that large building that bus yard is using. I’m wondering if
people are out looking to cut costs why it’s running 24/7 including
Christmas breaks.
”
“I walk my dog through Community Park and down the street and where Morgan Hill public works and MHUSD bus yard is. I noticed that even during the Christmas break when everyone is closed down that this gas furnace which is next to the gas pumps is on 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I think it’s some type of heating unit for that large building that bus yard is using. I’m wondering if people are out looking to cut costs why it’s running 24/7 including Christmas breaks.”
Dear Wondering, Red Phone contacted Julie Behzad, senior civil engineer in the city’s Public Works Department. She said she has been involved in managing the system which your are referring to for the past several years.
“This groundwater pump and treat system is part of the city and Morgan Hill Unified School District’s groundwater remediation system for MTBE clean-up at the corporation yard site,” she said. “A groundwater pump and treat system has been continuously in operation at this site since 1997.”
MTBE, or methyl tertiary butyl ether, is a gasoline additive, used as an oxygenate to raise the octane level. Due to widespread releases of MTBE-containing gasoline from underground storage tanks all over the United States, various jurisdictions banned the use of MTBE and production was reduced. MTBE contamination in drinking water aquifers is a serious concern in many states. California and New York, which together accounted for 40% of U.S. MTBE consumption, banned the chemical starting Jan. 1, 2004, and as of Sept. 2005, 25 states had signed legislation banning MTBE.
Now, back to the cleaning system here. It draws contaminated vapor and groundwater from the extraction wells located on the site.
“The ‘gas furnace’ being referred to is the catalytic oxidizer treating contaminated vapor before releasing it into the air and being monitored by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District,” Behzad said. “The results are being reported to the County of Santa Clara. This treatment system will likely continue to operate for two to four more years, assuming the extracted concentrations of the contamination continue to decline.”
Good caller, hope that answers all your questions.
