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:

-Ÿ Rehabilitation and Equipping of Wells 21 and 22
-Ÿ Construction of 7,000 feet of 24-inch untreated water main
-Ÿ Construction of a 6.3 million gallon per day water treatment plant
-Ÿ Construction of 12,500 feet of 24-inch finished water pipelines
-Ÿ Construction of 1,600 feet of non-reclaimable waste pipelines

The 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:

-Ÿ City of Tustin where most of the project would be constructed
-Ÿ Bureau of Reclamation who funded the project under strict ARRA requirements
-Ÿ California Department of Public Health who regulates drinking water
-Ÿ County of Orange for crossings and connections to drainage channels
-Ÿ Orange County Sanitation District for disposal of non-reclaimable waste
-Ÿ Orange County Transit Authority and Metrolink
-Ÿ 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.

Project Awards

Burris Pump Station Project, Phase 1 Skimming the Waters of Newport Habor Sunset Ridge Park Lake Forest Sports Park Coyote Creek Class I Bikeway The Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) Corona del Mar Water Transmission Main Santa Ana River Interceptor (SARI Line) Relocation Project State Route 57 Northbound Widening (Central Phase) 20 Story Office Tower and 8 Story parking Structure @ 650/670 Newport Center Drive Tustin Ranch Road Extension Balboa Boulevard Beautification Park Place SR 57 Widening North Segment Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) Irvine Regional Park Maintenance Building Replacement Project Sand Canyon Avenue Grade Separation SR-57 Improvements Newport Forcemain Project Emergency Roof Stabilization, Tustin Hangar 1 Lower Santa Ana River Reach 9 Phase 2B Project Newport Beach Civic Center & Park City of San Clemente Recycled Water Expansion Project Groundwater Replenishment System Initial Expansion Cerritos Avenue Reconstruction and Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project Bristol Street Improvements Phase II New Ocelot Exhibit at the Santa Ana Zoo Newport Beach's Harbor Litter Removal Project Brookhurst Street Widening Project I-5/SR-74 Interchange Improvement Project Oso Creek Multi-Use Trail PCH/Del Prado Street Improvements Marina Park Newland, Edinger, and East Garden Grove Wintersburg Storm Channel Confluence System Gobernadora Multipurpose Basin Lincoln Avenue Widening over the Santa Ana River Gilbert Street Improvements LAGUNA BEACH FESTIVAL OF ARTS FAÇADE/ENTRANCE PROJECT ALEGRE AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS Cow Camp Road Design – Phases 1A & 1B West County Connectors Project Waste to Energy - Bowerman Power Project Glassell Yard Campus Stormwater Low-Impact Development Retrofit Project Esencia, Rancho Mission Viejo Irvine Boulevard Pedestrian Bridge Orange County Water District La Palma Groundwater Recharge Basin Stanton Central Park Jeffrey Open Space Trail Emerald Bay Entrance Widening Peters Canyon (Wash) Channel Water Capture and Reuse Pipeline Project 91 Express Lanes Pavement Rehabilitation and CMS Replacement Memory Lane Park, Santa Ana La Pata Extension Project SR-91 Westbound Widening Newport Beach Country Club Clubhouse 400 Spectrum Center Drive Soil Nail Wall Myra 3 Stormwater Pump Station Sunset/Huntington harbour Dredging and Waterline Project Huntington Beach Senior Center In Central Park Newport Boulevard Widening Crown Valley Park Channel Entry Improvements Anaheim Convention Center Betterment VII Mackay Park Tesoro Zone II and Zone B Water Facilities Park Avenue Bridge over Grand Canal I-5/La Novia Roundabout Dairy Fork Wetland and Habitat Restoration Jeffrey Road Park n' Ride Lot Expansion Project Tustin-Rose Grade Separation Project, Part of the OCTA OC Bridges Grade Separations Program Argyros Girl Scout Leadership Center Wagon Wheel Creek Restoration and Stormwater Management OCTA OC Bridges Program ABC Green Home 3.0 Project Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts Grounds Renovation Ortega Highway Emergency Repair Project The Tracks at Brea Baker Ranch City of Buena Park Fire Station No. 61 Arlington Drive Bioswale & Dry Weather Diversion Project Altair Irvine Village Pond Park/Veterans Park Renovation Mid-Basin Injection: Centennial Park Agua Chinon Corridor Tarbut V’ Torah Phase III & Phase IV Rancho Mission Viejo Joint-Use Pavilion I-5 HOV Improvement Project between Avenida Pico and Avenida Vista Hermosa Orange County Great Park Sports Complex Crawford Canyon Road Drainage Improvements & Reconstruction South Cove Development Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena Lido House Hotel Broadcom Corporate Campus (now FivePoint Gateway West Orange County Water Board Feeder No. 2 Relocation Newhope-Placentia Trunk Sewer Replacement Project State College Boulevard Grade Separation Los Patrones Parkway Rancho Mission Viejo Multipurpose Path Urth Caffe - Orange Environmental Nature Center Preschool Building 16

Candidate Awards

Natalie A. Meeks, P.E. Tasha M. Kamegai-Karadi Yazdan (Yaz) T. Emrani, P.E., Byron Tobey, PE, QSD, LEEP AP Eric Walker Gidti Ludesirishoti Victoria Pilko Pratanu Ghosh Steven R Marvin Phil Jones, PE Joshua Nelson, PE Victor Aguirre Kenneth H. Rosenfield, PE George A. Jurica, PE Tom Bogard Ravi Shah, PE, QSP/QSD Amy Choi, EIT Elizabeth Ruedas, EIT, ENV SP Mujahid Chandoo Roxanne Follis Amir Aghakouchak, Ph.D., M-ASCE, P.E. Fred Minagar Jeffrey Okamoto, PE Harvey Gobas Chloe Gharios Kevin Onuma, P.E. Ryan Chamberlain Dr. Adrian Moore Michael Pierce, A.M.ASCE Remi Candaele, PE, MS, QSD/QSP, M.ASCE Thomas A. Broz, P.E., S.E, F.ASCE Karen Cervantes, S.M.ASCE Isamar Escobar, A.M.ASCE Kevin Kondru, P.E., M.ASCE Douglas J. Johnson, P.E., M.ASCE Jeremy Redman, PhD Christopher Haire Mojgan Hashemi, P.E., M.ASCE OC Report Card Executive Committee Steven J. Huff, P.E., M.ASCE William Bennett, P.E., M.ASCE Bruce Phillips, P.E. Brad Dybel, PE Bryant Wong Gyssela (Jazzy) Quinabo, E.I.T. Nestor Godinez, PE Professor Joel Lanning Elizabeth Ruedas Dave Lowe Wei Koo Bill Lawson Amber Ganapathy Bob Kallenbaugh State Senator Josh Newman Gary Urban Dr. Sudarshan Kurwadkar Clint Isa, PE Jason Fix, PE Chirath "Chuck" Karunathilake Amber Shah Ashlyn Alexander John C Hogan Marionne Lapitan Dr. C.T. Bathala, PhD, P.E. Kevin Du Mont, P.E. Ziad Mazboudi, P.E., D.WRE, MBA David Frattone, P.E. Lisa Bartlett Jennifer Bohen Gyssela (Jazzy) Quinabo, E.I.T. Adeleine J. Tran, P.E. Jared Lindo Janelle Gonzalez Marionne Lapitan, E.I.T., ENV SP Chirath "Chuck" Karunathilake Gabreelle Gonzalez, P.E. George A. Jurica, P.E. Jeff Braun, P.E. Representative Harley Rouda Jeremy R. Squire, P.E. Kathereen Shinkai, P.E. Mobility 21 Douglas J. Sereno, P.E., F.ASCE Dr. Lisa Star, Ph.D., P.E. Lisa M. Penna, P.E., F.ASCE, QSD Michael A. Kraman, P.E. Tapas Dutta, P.E., F.ASCE Raul Omar Rodriguez Mathew Picardal Darlyn Hernandez Keenan Do Guillermo Medina Jesse Bennett Rob Himes Jennifer Marks Andrew Oshrin Sam Ali Stephanie Wiggins Patrick Tierney, P.E. Rudy Emami
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