The Problem
The City of Placerville is a historic mining town with infrastructure systems dating back to the 1800’s. Over the years various materials have been used to update the City’s water systems, including clay and iron pipes, to varying degrees of success. Many of the aging pipes have deteriorated and cracked resulting in frequent failure and system losses that have reached 20% in the past. The poor condition of the pipes in the main service area (which services homes) has also created continuously wet areas on private properties leading to continued complaints from residents to the City. Many of the older pipes in the City of Placerville are also undersized. Undersized pipes provide inadequate flows to service areas and are unable to meet fire flow standards for emergency response. Many areas throughout the City remain unprotected and in some cases do not have local access to fire hydrants.
The Solution
In 2005, the City completed a Water Master Plan (WMP) that identifies and prioritizes the water infrastructure that needs to be replaced/upgraded or looped (interconnected) for improved system efficiency and reliability including segments along Sacramento and Chamberlain Streets. After review and consideration of the WMP, the City strategically targeted segments of the water system for replacement including the 1,180 feet of pipeline proposed for this project which was previously included in the City of Placerville’s Capital Improvement Program along with the prior phase of the project along Big Cut Road. Achieving the physical benefits needed requires the replacement of the deteriorated waterlines, replacement of service laterals and installation of new fire hydrants in the existing easements, as well as the design and acquisition of Right of Way for a new line that will complete the looped system and ensure adequate system reliability.
Current Status (Deecember 2016)
Planning and design for project implementation is complete. Waterline construction is initiated, quarterly reporting and invoice is ongoing.
Lead Agency: City of Placerville
Contact: City Engineer, Rebecca Neves P.E. 530-642-5526, rneves@cityofplacerville.org
Measurable Physical Benefit: Water Supply
Watershed: American
County: El Dorado