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Aging Wastewater Pipeline Replaced Using Trenchless Installation to Minimize Lagoon Impacts, Reduce Costs

Encinitas, Calif. – February 5, 2008 –Replacing an antiquated wastewater pipeline 45 feet beneath the environmentally-sensitive San Elijo Lagoon with a modern 5,000 linear foot pipeline earned Dudek the prestigious 2007 Engineering Achievement Award from the California Water Environment Association’s (CWEA) San Diego Section.

Presented for Dudek’s work in increasing a wastewater pipeline’s reliability, the award honors the innovative planning and design approaches Dudek took to help the City of Solana Beach complete the project without disrupting lagoon habitat and species or resident’s traffic flow during construction.

“Aging infrastructure is a critical problem in California,” said Steve Jepsen, a Dudek senior project manger who supervised the project’s permitting and construction. “The City of Solana Beach project is an excellent example of how municipalities can upgrade infrastructure in a way that is cost-effective, technically sustainable for the long-term, and environmentally-friendly.”

The project began in the City of Solana Beach and ended in the City of Encinitas at the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Water Reclamation Facility. San Elijo JPA staff assisted with live pipeline connections and sewer bypass operations, and the Water Reclamation Facility provided a contractor storage area as well as a staging area for 3,100 linear feet of flexible pipe, which was pulled under the lagoon for the trenchless portion of the pipeline replacement.

Dudek’s civil engineers and biologists worked as extension-of-staff with the city’s engineering department to provide permitting, funding, engineering design, biological studies, public outreach, and construction management services. Jepsen said Dudek’s recommendation to use a trenchless installation method had several positive impacts on the overall project.

“Permitting was expedited because the trenchless approach had significantly less lagoon impacts than traditional cut-and-cover methods,” he said. “Once underway, the project’s trenchless installation had virtually no impact on business and residential traffic flow.”

About Dudek
Dudek is a California-focused engineering and environmental consulting corporation that creatively solves regulatory challenges for municipal agencies and major land owners. The firm helps clients plan, design, construct and manage successful infrastructure and environmental projects that balance regulatory mandates and technical requirements within financial and scheduling goals. Founded in 1980, Dudek is headquartered in Encinitas in San Diego County with offices in Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Placer counties. For more information, visit www.dudek.com or e-mail info@dudek.com.

Contact:
Christine Clinton
Dudek
760.479.4275
cclinton@dudek.com