Shenanigans on the Boulevard
I Smell a Rat: Investigating Oakland's Sanitary Sewer System Rehab Program

by Dennis Evanosky

A few weeks ago I got a phone call from Laurel resident Andrew Vincent. He invited me to his neighborhood to see firsthand the way Andes Construction was rehabilitating the sanitary sewer line.

I took a walk with Vincent, and along the way he pointed out what he felt was the shoddy job Andes was performing. We first stopped at the Berlin Branch of Peralta Creek that runs along Hillview Street just behind Vincent's home. As we walked, he explained that he had already questioned the city how Andes Construction could repair the sewer main along the creek without the proper permit. His inquiry caused a halt in the work on the creek portion of the project. Andes has yet to obtain the creek permit.

At first, Vincent's allegations struck me as technical. However, as the walk progressed, even I saw how Andes Construction is not doing parts of the job as outlined in the city's own "spec book," its ordinances, and according to the pipe manufacturer's instructions.

"There are places on this job that Andes Construction is supposed to be using activated oakum to seal annular spaces," Vincent explained. He handed me a discarded scrap of oiled ropelike material that he said was a piece of oiled oakum that Andes is using on the job. Oiled oakum is not what the spec book calls for, according to Vincent. "There are also places that the crew is using no oakum at all," he said.

In addition, Vincent says that Andes construction is supposed to be using Type V grout. "Once, when I mentioned this to a city inspector, he checked with the crew and found that the crew had no Type V grout," he said.

No activated oakum? No type V grout? What can this mean? Vincent explained that unless Andes uses activated oakum and Type V grout where the specs require them, the system will leak and allow rain water into the sanitary sewer system.

"Rain water does not belong in the sewer system," Vincent said. "In fact, eliminating rain water from the system is the main goal in rehabbing the sewer system."

He then handed me the manufacturer's instructions that say, "Heater plate thermometers should be checked with ... crayon indicators (melt sticks) at least once a day." He also turned to a page in the city's own spec book that requires the use of "a thermal crayon." He said when he asked the Andes crew, he was told Andes doesn't use one.

The city called Vincent, asking where it says the crew had to have these thermal crayons.

"The third sentence in 500-1.3.6.1 in your own spec book," he told them. "And in the manufacturer's 'Heat Fusion Joining Procedures' instruction manual." Shouldn't both the city and Andes Construction know and adhere to the job specs and the manufacturer's instructions?

There's more: Andes is supposed to install test wyes at all easement lateral connections. This is not being done. Vincent said that a city employee told him the city decided not to install these wyes, even though the spec book and, more important, the municipal code, requires them.

Vincent says that Andes Construction is using bedding material larger than that permitted in the specifications.

On at least one occasion, he witnessed an Andes Construction crew connecting laterals without a city inspector present. Municipal code requires that, "All connections to public or common private sewers shall be made in the presence of the Director of Public Works or his or her representative."

He also witnessed an Andes Construction crew using a crescent wrench to trim sewer pipe ends. "A crescent wrench leads to ragged, leaky connection rather than the clean, square cut outlined in the specifications," Vincent said.

The taxpayers are paying Andes Construction for among other aspects of the job each lateral it connects. Laterals are the sewer lines that lead from the sewer main to individual properties. Should a lateral be connected to an abandoned property?

For example, a lateral in Vincent's neighborhood leads onto the driveway where there is no longer a house. This lateral is only one Andes Construction has connected, and may bill the city for, leading nowhere.

Vincent pointed out that these abandoned laterals would cause rainwater to flow into the sewer system. Remember, it's supposed to flow into storm drains and creeks. He also says that these abandoned laterals provide an outlet for sewer rats to enter the neighborhood.

So imagine the abandoned lateral as a highway for rainwater one way and rats the other. The rats could come out of this lateral to nowhere and onto public property and into homes and parks where children play. Not a pretty picture.

The Public Works manager for the job phoned the Metro asking us not to print this article. In the public interest, we decided to make these allegations available to our readers.

Stay tuned.