Helix Water District

Helix History (1980-1989)

1980
Clarence G. Watters, Jr. retires. Bob Friedgen becomes General Manager/Chief Engineer. Don Shepard is Associate General Manager-Administrative. Helix pushes for support of the Peripheral Canal.

At the same time
The Iran hostage crisis continues. Mount St. Helens erupts. The "Titanic" is found. "Airplane!" and "The Blues Brothers" are the top movies. Millions wonder "Who shot J.R.?"

1981
Record high water use due to high summer temperatures. Data Processing begins converting from the IBM 1440 to their new HP 3000 system. Over 10,000 pounds of fish are relocated so the Lake Cuyamaca outlet can be rebuilt.

At the same time
Ronald Reagan begins his presidential career. Britain's Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer are married. The air traffic controllers are on strike. "Arthur," "On Golden Pond," and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" are in the theaters. MTV begins broadcasting.

1982
The Treatment Plant starts using its new telemetering system. Gas chromatograph technology (used for identifying organic compounds in water) introduced to Treatment Plant. Customer Service initiates on-line access to customer account information. District population is 208,124, with an annual water usage of 35,447 acre-feet. Peripheral Canal authorization fails in state election.

At the same time
Britain fights the Falkland Islands War. AT&T is ordered to break up. NFL players go on strike. Disney World opens in Florida. "E.T." wants to phone home. Rubik's Cube is a huge seller.

1983
Helix installs the 50,000th meter to its system. Chloramine treatment begins at the Treatment Plant, resulting in lower disinfection by-products than treatment with just chlorine. Metropolitan Water District (MWD) makes major cost increases for water.

At the same time
Reagan announces the Star Wars Defense Plan. Grenada is invaded to restore popular control of its government. "MASH" airs its last episode. The year's top movies are "The Big Chill" and "Return of the Jedi." The compact disc is launched on the market. Cabbage Patch Kids create a sometimes violent rush at Christmas.

1984
Meter readers begin using hand-held computers to enter data while on their routes. Helix wins Water Conservation Award for one of the lowest per capita water use. Helix 2 Pump built.

At the same time
The first Apple Macintosh computer is sold. The Savings and Loan crisis is the top news story. Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album sells 37 million copies. "Ghostbusters" and "Amadeus" are the big movies.

1985
San Diego Flume Company 100-year anniversary celebrated. The Helix Tank #3 is rebuilt within the park on Mount Helix. Harry Griffen Regional Park atop Grossmont Reservoir opened. District Statement of Commitments developed by Management Team. .

At the same time
President Reagan begins his second term. The "Titanic" is photographed. "We Are the World" is recorded.

1986
Lake Jennings Outlet Tower is modified. The Lake Jennings Public Access Ramp is built to accomodate the disabled. Ion Chromatograph (used for identifying inorganics in the water) added to chemistry lab at Treatment Plant. Safe Drinking Water Act amended to require regulation of additional compounds.

At the same time
The USSR faces the Chernobyl disaster. Hands Across America tries to link the country to help the homeless and end hunger. Halley's Comet streaks by. "Crocodile Dundee" is in theaters. Nintendo games debut on the market.

1987
Critically dry year declared in California. Local rainfall only 66 percent of normal. Helix's Administrative Office in La Mesa is remodeled. Fishing program for visually impaired launched at Lake Jennings. The Greenfield Tank becomes the first District tank to receive an epoxy coating.

Marcie Reasor celebrates the fifth anniversary of the program by catching a 2-and-a-half-pound trout.

At the same time
Construction begins on the Channel Tunnel between England and France. Reagan and Gorbachev are meeting. Stars and Stripes regains the America's Cup. "Dirty Dancing" and "Empire of the Sun" are the year's top movies.

1988
California is heading deeper into a drought. Supervisory Control and Data Aquisition (SCADA) opens window to more efficient, accurate and reliable information gathering. Engineering aquires a new Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) system. Every District employee becomes the user of a computer. District participates in Cloud Seeding Pilot Program.

At the same time
Yellowstone National Park is hit by large fires. George Bush is President. The stealth bomber is unveiled. "Good Morning Vietnam," Die Hard," and "Big" are major films.

1989
A Helix team goes to the Bay Area to assist in restoring water service to quake damaged areas. The drought continues. Helix's Secretarial Department gets desktop publishing.

After a 7.1 earthquake in the San Francisco Bay area, several Helix employees spent 9 days helping the local water agencies repair leaks and clear lines that were completely clogged with mud and rock.

At the same time
San Francisco is hit with a large earthquake. U.S. fighters shoot down Libyan jets over the Mediterranean. "Satanic Verses" book leads to death threats against its author. China faces the Tiananmen Square protest. Oliver North stands trial in the Iran Contra Hearings.

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