By Tim Seyfert
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Los Altos residents living near Miramonte Reservoir are concerned over the construction of a new 2.3-million-gallon tank slated to be built at the same site.
Miramonte Reservoir, constructed in 1945, is located on Miramonte Avenue in Mountain View, but sits adjacent to a handful of houses on Stanley Avenue in Los Altos.
For many of the neighborhood’s residents, the $5.8 million project is a double whammy. Not only are they unhappy about the notion of having another reservoir facing their backyards, but the situation also serves as a reminder of the existing reservoir, which they say has the potential to be dangerous.
“This whole project is very disconcerting,” said John Rossi, whose back yard faces the reservoir. “It’s pure municipal terrorism.” Rossi’s worries revolve around the notion that in the event of an earthquake, water from the Miramonte Reservoir will slosh out and create a hazardous flood.
Yet, the city of Mountain View staff asserts that the likelihood of flooding is low. The city recently enlisted the help of tsunami and seismic experts to conduct a study and found that the chances of water sloshing out during a 7.9 magnitude earthquake along the San Andreas Fault were slim, according to Tim Ko, assistant public works director.
“The analysis we conducted found that water overtoppling out of the reservoir was unlikely, even when the reservoir is filled to capacity,” Ko said.
The new reservoir will be constructed of reinforced concrete and built as a closed tank underground, Ko added.
Still, Los Altos residents living near the reservoir remain wary.
“The issue that bothers me is the total lack of regard for the neighbors and their opinions,” said Mehrdad Moslehi, whose house borders the reservoir.
“We would prefer them to build the new reservoir at a different site. This type of project does not belong to a site surrounded by residential homes.”
“My concern isn’t over the environmental damage, or even the property damage, it’s the safety issue I’m worried about,” Rossi added.
