Dust Vs. Drought: Thousands Of Drinkable Gallons Poured On Candlestick Park Rubble
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - In the middle of California's historic drought, thousands of gallons of drinkable water an hour are being used to control dust at the Candlestick Park Demolition site. But despite earlier statements from a San Francisco Public Utilities Commission spokesperson to local papers, the developer conducting the spraying appears to have done nothing wrong.
The Bay Area News Group originally reported that potable water from the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir was being used to knock down dust at the work site despite the fact that recycled water could be trucked in from a sewage treatment plant two miles away. A later clarification from an SFPUC official cited in that report now states that recycled water can not be used.
Officials from Lennar Corp, which is redeveloping the site, told the newspaper group that the company was not allowed to use recycled water. Tyrone Jue of the SFPUC originally told the paper that Lennar must have misunderstood the guidance on recycled water use, but by Friday afternoon he had released including the following:
Due to state public health regulations, the use of recycled water is not authorized for aerial dust mitigation efforts at the demolition of Candlestick Park.
The use of potable water is both authorized and necessary for aerial dust mitigation activities.
The SFPUC had notified Lennar Corp. last fall that state law prohibits the use of recycled water in aerial spraying to control dust.
Lennar said it will continue to work with the SFPUC to determine those work activities where the use of recycled water may be feasible. The number of activities where recycled water will be permissible is expected to increase after the demolition phase of the work.
The site was initially slated for implosion, but the fears of dust from that process forced Lennar to switch to a wrecking ball demolition. The 54-year-old stadium will make way for a new high-end shopping center, hotel and housing complex.
The wrecking ball phase has been ongoing for about two month and is nearing the home stretch.
These pictures show the progress of the stadium's demolition.
