East Bay residents look for ways to beat the heat
LIVERMORE, Calif. (KTVU) - The far East Bay took much of the brunt of today's chapter of the heat wave that has many people seeking relief.
It's hot enough here, in the Livermore Valley that Dublin's new Wave Water Park is opening its Sports Pool and Splash Zone to the public free of charge from six to eight tonight to allow people to cool off without cost.
Indeed, it has been a hot summer here.
"It's been hotter than most, for sure, I would think so. It been, actually I have friends in Arizona, and it's been about the same temperature on and off like is is here in Arizona," said park patron Jennifer Curtis.
"This, right here, is a big draw where parents will be able to bring their kids because it has been in the three digits, the three digits for days on end," said park patron Jaime Whatley.
"I actually like it. It's nice to have a summer where it's hot and you can come out here and enjoy the water park," added park patron Jose Delatorre.
Steve Moore, has been a heating and air conditioning pro for more than thirty years. "We are extremely busy. Unfortunately, we're having to tell our customers we're three or four weeks out in a lot of our service and any installations are pushed out into September now," said Mr. Moore.
Though Moore claims no weather expertise, he knows what he sees and feels.
"Probably the biggest thing I'm noticing so far this year is .the consistency of the heat lasting a couple more days than normal. I feel like this summer is definitely warmer that others in the past so far. We're getting calls more for more service and repairs and installations in areas like Oakland hills, Piedmont, areas where typically they never ahd air conditioning," he says.
Though there have been no major power outages in the hot Livermore Valley this week, PG&E crews were out here in Dublin adding a transformer to this industrial area's power grid where demand is always rising.
"Reliability is at the heart of Pacific Gas and Electric. So, what we're doing today is making sure that our customers have reliable service," said PG&E spokeswoman Tamar Sarkissian.
Though two of the water slides remain closed, pending testing, the water park, since opening just over two months ago, has seen 43,000 visitors.