TEMPORARY RESIDENCES

A property owner may choose to apply for a temporary residence to live on site during the debris removal and rebuild process.  It will be need to be located so that it does not impact the ash pile(s) that are awaiting Phase 2 debris removal.  

1. Property owner applies to RMA-Building for a construction permit to allow a temporary dwelling on site.  The site plan must include the approximate location of the ash pile(s) from destroyed structures.
2. EHB reviews the construction permit application to confirm infrastructure is available to assure the health and safety of future occupants, specifically the drinking water supply, wastewater management and avoidance of hazardous materials that may exist in the ash pile.
   • Drinking Water -Additional Drinking Water information (PDF)
   • Wastewater Management (refer to page 3)
   • Confirmation that the temporary dwelling will be appropriately located as to not be in the way of debris removal or on an ash pile
3. EHB will notify RMA-Building of agency approval once these standards have been met and the permit will issued once all reviewing agencies have approved the permit application.

EPA hotline

EPA hotline at (415) 793-8794 is now up and operational

CLEANUP OF BURN DEBRIS AND ASH

The clean-up process includes four basic steps: Damage Assessment; Remove Hazardous Waste; Sample Burn Ash for Testing; Remove Burn Debris and Ash.   Protocols must be followed in order to safely handle and dispose of burn materials, regardless of who conducts the clean-up.  Please review this guide for more information. Steps for Clean-up of Burn Debris and Ash from Properties Impacted by the River Fire, Carmel Fire, and Dolan Fire: Click Here. Download Right of entry form here.

Phase 1 Frequently Asked Questions

Phase 2: Debris Removal & Clean-Up

Debris Removal Prohibition notice

TAKING PRECAUTIONS AROUND WILDFIRE ASH

These fact sheets prepared by various government organizations offer facts and tips about wildfire ash and why it should be avoided.  

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Protecting Children from Wildfire Smoke and Ash

Protect Yourself from Ash

Cal Environmental Protection Agency

Protecting Public Health from Home and Building Fire Ash

Handling Ash, Debris, & Other Hazardous Materials from Burned Structures (English)

Handling Ash, Debris, & Other Hazardous Materials from Burned Structures (Spanish)

Management Options for Expedited Collection of Hazardous Wastes from Burned Areas (English)

Management Options for Expedited Collection of Hazardous Wastes from Burned Areas (Spanish)

After a Wild Fire – Your Water Supply

Boil your water until you have completed an assessment, made any necessary repairs, and sample results show the water is absent for coliform.  If system lost pressure or repairs are made, disinfect before testing.  See Disinfection  and Boil Water Order instructions

  Additionally water systems may have contaminant impacts due to overheating of pipes and other causes. Please see this flyer for more information. (PDF)

 Assessment:

For physical damage or a loss in pressure, perform a visual inspection of your well, spring, or surface water intake and all other pipes and appurtenances which work together to bring water into your household. The things you should be looking for include:

• Damage to electrical wires and connectors which supply power to your water system
• Damage to above ground PVC pipes used with the well to bring water to your home
• Damage to well houses and equipment such as chlorinators, filters, or controls
• Damage to sanitary seal or damage to surface water intake structure
• Damage to pressure tanks which could have been caused by exposure to excessive heat
• Damage to storage tanks, vents and overflow pipes

If any damage is found, you should contact the appropriate licensed contractor or driller to repair the damage.

Plan for a storm event

If your water clarity is affected by typical rain events, we advise the well to be turned off and surface water systems to close or remove intake structure. This will prevent clogging and introduction of debris into the water system

• Know your neighbor – Get to know neighboring water systems, plan on how neighboring water systems can help each other during an emergency.
• Create storage: create 5-10 days of water storage. While it may be difficult to do this alone, if neighboring systems join together it is possible.
• What to expect of the surface water source after a storm event:
  • Sediment – the first few storms will carry sediment loads up to 10 times normal   
  • Flow volume- Due to the loss of vegetation, the flows will be up to 2 times greater than before
  • Flow Rate – The high sediment causes a smoother faster flow.  This quick speed can cause quick transfer of debris
  • Ash- Ash can clog pipes and become a haven for breeding microbes, chlorine reacts with ash to form by products that are harmful.
  • Changes in taste, color, odor- you may notice that your water tastes or smells earthy, smoky or burnt and you may need to thoroughly flush your water lines.

For more information, questions, or concerns please contact Environmental Health Bureau at (831) 755-4507

Best Practices for Water Systems

LPA - WS - Wildfire Best Practices for Water Systems

Samplers/Operators

Click here for a list of Operators with whom Monterey County Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau, (MCHD, EHB) has recently worked. The list may not be complete and should only be used as a guide. MCHD, EHB does not endorse or recommend any of the following samplers/operators over other samplers/operators that are not listed. MCHD, EHB recommends that you question prospective samplers/operators about their experience and certification licenses to make sure their licenses are current and meet the minimum requirements of your water system. You can check the status of a license at www.waterboards.ca.gov.

AREA LABORATORIES CERTIFIED FOR DRINKING WATER ANALYSIS

Collecting Bacteriological Water Samples

If possible, collect samples at cold-water faucets that are free of contaminating devices such as screens, aeration devices, hoses, point-of-use devices, or swiveled faucets. If you must use a tap that has a screen or an aeration device, remove these before taking your sample. Do not obtain samples from taps that leak around the valve stem and allow water to flow over the outside of the tap. This leakage could be a significant source of external contamination of the sample. Faucets must be high enough to put the bottle underneath without contacting the mouth of the container with the faucet.

Taking the sample:

1. Open the faucet and thoroughly flush the line for at least two to five minutes. The longer the water runs the better the chance of flushing out bacteria that may be in the building plumbing.
2. Reduce the flow until the water leaving the tap has a continuous, gentle flow without any turbulence.
3. Sterile containers provided by your laboratory must be used. Label the sample with the System Name recognized by the county (found at the upper left corner of your Water Inspection Report). Do not rinse the bottle prior to taking the sample. The powder in the bottle is sodium thiosulfate that inactivates any chlorine-based disinfectant. Be sure this substance stays in the bottle.
4. Remove the cap from the sample bottle and keep it in your hand facing down. Do not touch the inside of the cap or the bottle’s inner surface as these actions can contaminate the sample.
5. Carefully place the sample bottle under the running water. Fill the bottle just to the fill-line; do not overfill the sample bottle or allow the water to splash.
6. Quickly replace the cap on the bottle and label the sample clearly. If samples cannot be delivered to the lab immediately, place samples in a cooler with cold packs. If ice is used, at no time should the sample container be immersed or submerged in the ice or melted ice water. The sample must be delivered to the laboratory within 24 hours from the time of collection.

If contamination of the sample tap is suspected:

1. Scrub the outside and inside of the tap with a plastic-bristled brush to loosen any attached debris.
2. Open the faucet and thoroughly flush the line for at least two to five minutes and then turn the tap off.
3. Swab the tap with a disinfectant such as bleach and wait for one to two minutes.
4. Continue with the sampling procedures described above, starting with #1 (“Open the faucet…”).

Solid Waste Services

Solid waste services can be delayed or interrupted entirely during the course of fighting a wildfire and during recovery activities.  This page will provide updates of known service issues - please check back for occasionally for the most up to date information.

September 1, 2020

2 Roll off dumpster’s for household solid waste have been placed at entrance of Princes Camp and Valley Creek Park. Will have signage and will be monitored.

August 26, 2020

• Certain areas of Carmel Valley and Cachagua are not accessible for garbage pick-up.  Service is expected to resume sometime next week.
• All waste materials must be profiled before Waste Management can retrieve it. 

Please call Waste Management Customer Service directly for additional information.

Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS, or Septic Systems)

Wildfires, and efforts to contain them, can damage onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS, also called septic systems) infrastructure. Tanks and distribution piping may be inadvertently crushed or damaged by emergency response vehicles, or melt from exposure to extreme temperatures. Some OWTS rely on pumps and cannot function to move wastewater through the system during a related power outage. The links below offer guidance on how to assess if your OWTS was damaged during a wildfire and tips for minimizing your water use during a power outage.