The city of San Diego Water Department announced that four of its Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) were selected to receive awards by local professional associations.
The San Diego International Chapter of the American Concrete Institute selected the Earl Thomas Reservoir to receive the “Water Resources” award. In addition, the San Diego section of the American Society of Civil Engineers recognized the Miramar Early Start Improvements Phase II as an “Outstanding Civil Engineering Project,” the Otay Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project with an “Award of Excellence” and the Canyonside Reclaimed Water Pump Station as an “Honorable Mention.”
“To receive these awards is a tribute to the outstanding teamwork of the staff, design consultants and contractors who helped in the completion of these successful projects,” said Acting Water Department Director Charles Yackly. “These four projects are a critical part of our Capital Improvements Program to improve the city’s water system and help ensure a reliable water supply, and we are pleased that they have been honored with these awards.”
The $32 million Earl Thomas Reservoir project started in November 2002 and involved the demolition and excavation of a 50-year old reinforced-concrete reservoir. Construction for a new storage tank was completed in November 2004 to represent the largest pre-stressed concrete drinking water reservoir in the world. Located at the Alvarado Water Treatment Plant next to Lake Murray, the reservoir holds 35 million gal of potable water and helps to meet the demand of more than 600,000 city residents.
The Miramar Early Start Improvements Phase II Project involved mainly construction of new pipelines as well as improvements outside the premises of the Miramar Water Treatment Plant. This work was done to precede and prepare for the next phases of the plant’s upgrade and expansion project, which will increase the capacity from 140 to 215 mgd. The $17 million project started in September 2002 and was completed in February 2005.
The $17.9 million Otay Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project involved the construction of two 7 million gal treated water storage reservoirs, or clearwells. These clearwells, made of pre-stressed concrete, were built on site at the plant to provide more operational efficiency and maintenance flexibility. Placement of these clearwells required the excavation of 87,000 cubic yards of dirt and the construction of a 60-ft retaining wall.
The Canyonside Reclaimed Water Pump Station project provided for a new underground facility that will boost the existing water supply system, giving the city the flexibility to move 3 mgd of reclaimed water from the North City Water Reclamation Plant into the northern region of San Diego. This $1.9 million project also involved related operational evaluations and analyses, the installation of related pump station equipment and enhancements to the entrance of Canyonside Community Park at which it was built.
All three projects are part of the Water Department’s citywide Capital Improvements Program to improve the infrastructure throughout the city’s water system, including pipelines, water pump stations, reservoirs and treatment plants. The replacement, upgrade and expansion of these various parts will help ensure a safe and reliable water supply.
Source: City of San Diego Water Department
