DATE: September 3, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Water Utilities Department
TITLE: APPROVE CONTINUATION OF EMERGENCY WORK TO REPAIR THE 18-INCH MESA LOMA WATER MAIN AT LOMA ALTA CREEK
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council determine there remains a need to continue emergency work on the 18-inch Mesa Loma Water Main.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
In January 2024, Water Utilities staff identified a potential leak in the 18-inch Mesa Loma Water Main near Loma Alta Creek and the North County Transit District (NCTD) railroad crossing. Staff isolated the segment and activated the Mesa Loma Pump Station in order to maintain water service to customers in the area until the water main is repaired.
By early 2025, the City completed environmental assessments, permitting, and internal inspections of the pipeline which initially revealed two critical pipeline defects requiring immediate repair. Given the estimated 9 to 12 months for standard CEQA processing, staff obtained emergency permitting from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and NCTD. Emergency repairs began in April 2025 under the City's emergency procurement policy.
The City's emergency contractor, Cass Arrieta, identified three areas of concern with the water main 1) Significant damage to a section near the creek which was immediately repaired 2) corrosion inside pipe at top of slope near the commercial center was deferred due to nested birds that fledged in July and 3) corrosion-related deterioration at multiple joints along 300 feet of existing pipeline was assessed and evaluated for rehabilitation.
In light of these findings, staff revised the repair strategy to address the two remaining pipe deficiencies with a trenchless, high-pressure liner. This offered the most reliable and environmentally sensitive solution. It minimizes excavation impacts, restores structural integrity, and allows wor...
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