Don’t remove ficus trees; install new pipes

Lynn Miller

The history of Main Street, out on the Balboa Peninsula, goes back

to the early 1900s. So do the buildings and the sewer lines.

According to the city’s utility staff, the replacement in the ‘80s

and ‘90s of some main and lateral sewer lines in the village revealed

an interesting discovery. The original pipes were not cracked or

broken by the 25 ficus tree roots, which line both sides of Main

Street. (These 40-plus-year-old trees are designated special and

protected by the city).

In fact, these original pipes were used as tunnels to run the new

PVC pipes through (called sup lines). But the cement holding the

pipes together at the joints had disintegrated, allowing raw sewage

to flow out into the surrounding ground. The life span of cement in

this type of environment is 20 years. This means that these sewer

lines had gone over the replacement deadline by 50 years. It was also

discovered that ficus tree roots, some as thin as hair to about

one-inch in diameter, had been attracted to these spills and were

able to enter the pipes at these open joints.

The replacement areas were on Main Street and the alleyway behind

the pharmacy and restaurant between Balboa Boulevard and Bay Street.

This includes both main sewer lines and laterals leading to the

property line of the buildings.

Since these areas were replaced with new PVC. sewer lines, there

have not been any more problems.

Now, what about the rest of the streets, alleyways and areas under

the buildings in the village? Since the sewer lines -- both city and

private -- were installed at the same time, this means that in these

other areas not yet replaced, the cement holding the joints together

has also disintegrated, allowing raw sewage to spill out. These areas

could be tested by a special camera that can be fed through the

lines. Also, by plugging the outlets, a leak can be detected if the

sewage still drains out somewhere along the line and doesn’t back up.

Another sign of leakage is if sea water is found in the pipes with

the sewage.

In a recent survey, it was found that the only businesses on Main

Street complaining of sewer problems were several restaurants and a

hotel, which also has a restaurant. What empties into their sewer

lines from the kitchen is grease, and from the public restrooms are

paper towels, disposable diapers and sanitary napkins. By law,

restaurants are shut down if they are leaking sewage or it it’s

backing up into the buildings.

The solution is to replace all the old sewer lines, because of the

leaking joints, with new PVC lines. That includes all of the

businesses on Main Street and adjoining properties. Also, root

pruning needs to be initiated with root barriers installed; the sewer

pipes can also be wrapped with a material that repel roots. There are

also several chemicals that can be emptied into the building drains

that kill and repel roots.

Since these trees have never been fed or watered, this should be

initiated; their source of life has come primarily from these leaking

sewer joints. They have also been our friends -- not foes -- in

keeping this sewage from entering our bay and ocean.

Addressing the street and sidewalk on Main Street, from what I

know, there have been only two claims for property damage in the past

three years totaling $1,000. Also, there has been only one claim for

“trip and fall” in the past seven years for $5,000. In the mid-’90s,

the sidewalks between the Balboa Pavilion and Balboa Boulevard were

replaced and widened, and the tree roots pruned. There have not been

any problems since.

The vast majority of the Balboa Peninsula residents, businesses

and visitors want to retain the park-like charm of our village. This

place of beauty and shade would be destroyed without the tree

canopies on Main Street. Let the small amount of some city leaders

and associates, who are supposed to represent the will of the people,

throw out their strip center-look plans, and do what is best for this

historical and unique area and its people.

My concern is that the Newport Beach mayor, a developer of

shopping centers and, along with a few others, want to modernize our

village at the expense of our trees.

* LYNN MILLER is a Balboa Peninsula resident.