DATE: May 21, 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
Water Utilities staff detected decreased water pressure on January 18, 2024, and identified a potential leak in the 18-inch Mesa Loma Water Main near Loma Alta Creek and the NCTD railroad crossing. Due to the pipeline's location within environmentally sensitive areas, and the complexity of internal pipe access to pinpoint leak, it took several months to complete field investigations, internal inspections, permitting, and environmental assessments necessary to locate the leak and develop a repair approach.
By early 2025, the City confirmed two 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 and Regional Water Quality Control Board. Emergency repairs began in April 2025 under the City's emergency procurement policy.
Initial excavation revealed no damage at the first suspected site, but further pressurization tests and video inspections uncovered multiple corrosion-related defects along the pipe, including a significant breach near the second repair location. Work at Repair Location No. 2 was paused on April 21 due to the identification of an active bird nest in the area which must be protected in compliance with environmental protections.
Staff is now evaluating the cost and schedule implications of rehabilitating a 400-foot pipeline segment under the current emergency permits. A decision is expected by May 23, 2025. In the interim, the contractor has backfilled and demobilized to minimize environmental impact and cost.
Staff will return with an ...
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