- Company:
- Irvine Ranch Water District
- Status:
- Awarded
- Awarded:
- Project of Merit
- Additional Files
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Engineering staff reviewing Reverse Osmosis train installation
Civil, Electrical, and Process Engineers at completed installation
Yard piping, cartridge filters, and building under construction
Design-Build Foreman and Engineers inspecting Reverse Osmosis piping
- Additional Information
Wells 21 and 22 Desalter Project
- Project Location:
The project is located mostly in the City of Tustin with some pipelines and connections in the City of Irvine.
- Project Description:
In 1992, Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) drilled Wells 21 and 22 to replace the old Francis Mutual Irrigation Wells. The wells, located along Mitchell Avenue in Tustin, CA, were found to have elevated levels of TDS, nitrate, and hardness that prevented them from being used for drinking water.
In 2010, IRWD received ARRA stimulus money through the Bureau of Reclamation to partially fund the project. This ARRA funding made the treatment of these wells cost effective. The existing wells are piped to a new treatment plant located on Edinger Avenue just east of the 55 freeway interchange.
A reverse osmosis treatment process is used to remove TDS, nitrate, and hardness from the groundwater. After treatment, the water is disinfected then pumped to the IRWD distribution system. The project consists of the following components:
- Rehabilitation and Equipping of Wells 21 and 22
- Construction of 7,000 feet of 24-inch untreated water main
- Construction of a 6.3 million gallon per day water treatment plant
- Construction of 12,500 feet of 24-inch finished water pipelines
- Construction of 1,600 feet of non-reclaimable waste pipelinesThe total project costs were approximately $40 million.
- Project Justification:
This project is a great example of how a local water agency can use available funding to build a cost effective and sustainable project. The Southern California area has limited local water supplies and must rely on water imported from the Colorado River and Northern California. These imported water supplies have become not only less reliable but also more costly.
The project was constructed in a highly developed urban area. It required approvals from numerous Federal, State, and local jurisdictions. The wells and treatment plant are located adjacent to existing residential and commercial properties. Issues with noise, dust, and aesthetics were also critical.
The treatment facility for the project was constructed using an Advanced Water Treatment technology. The amount of non-reclaimable waste generated from the process is substantially lower than other similar projects.
- Special Circumstances:
In order to make this project a reality, IRWD along with their contractors and consultants were required to build strong relationships with the following groups:
- City of Tustin where most of the project would be constructed
- Bureau of Reclamation who funded the project under strict ARRA requirements
- California Department of Public Health who regulates drinking water
- County of Orange for crossings and connections to drainage channels
- Orange County Sanitation District for disposal of non-reclaimable waste
- Orange County Transit Authority and Metrolink
- Local citizens and business owners who lived, worked, and commuted along the project route.- Project Attachments:
The project was awarded in three main contracts using both a conventional design-bid-build and an alternative design-build delivery method. The wells and pipelines were completed using a conventional process while the water treatment plant was constructed through a design-build approach.
- Award Citation::
The 2012 ASCE Orange County Project of the Year is awarded to Irvine Ranch Water District for the successful completion of the Wells 21 and 22 Desalter Project. The complex project rehabilitates and equips two formally unusable wells and constructs a project to produce and deliver 6.3 million gallons per day of high quality drinking water. IRWD used available ARRA stimulus funds to not only provide needed construction jobs, but also to create a reliable, sustainable new water supply.
- Suggested Award Summary:
The 2012 ASCE Orange County Project of the Year is awarded to Irvine Ranch Water District for the successful completion of the Wells 21 and 22 Desalter Project. The complex project rehabilitates and equips two formally unusable wells and constructs a project to produce and deliver 6.3 million gallons per day of high quality drinking water. IRWD used available ARRA stimulus funds to not only provide needed construction jobs, but also to create a reliable, sustainable new water supply.
The project was constructed in an existing urban area in very close proximity to residential homes and businesses. Pipelines serving the projects were constructed in heavily traveled roadways with high traffic volumes. Numerous Federal, State, and local agencies were involved in reviews and approvals.
Two existing wells were carefully rehabilitated and equipped so that impacts to the adjacent neighbors would be minimized during construction and during the long-term operation of the wells. A 6.3 million gallon per day water treatment plant was constructed on a site of an old abandoned warehouse, which was demolished during the early stage of the project.
The look and feel of this commercial area was carefully considered in the design and construction. Advanced Water Treatment using reverse osmosis was selected to remove salts, nitrate, and hardness from the water. The plant will operate at a very high recovery rate of 85% to minimize waste disposal.
The completed facilities are high quality, cost effective projects that blend in well with the existing urban setting. These facilities will provide a local sustainable water supply to IRWD and its customers for many years in the future.
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