Permitting pipeline projects in extremely congested or environmentally sensitive areas can be burdensome from a schedule and financial standpoint. Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) construction methods can minimize surface disruption and often avoid impacts altogether. In this way, HDD offers great potential to reduce a project’s schedule and budget. Horizontal Directional Drilling Process and Benefits The
Perhaps inspiring Murphy’s later pronouncement, mathematician Augustus De Morgan said, “Whatever can happen, will happen if we make trials enough.” At some point, your flood infrastructure will be tested by a storm event equal to or larger than the event it was designed to withstand. The chance in any given year that a storm sufficiently
A small packaged wastewater treatment plant designed to serve a regional medical center significantly improved the quality of treated effluent, and was completed under-budget, enabling the medical center to add a connection from the new plant to a nearby elder care center. The Hi-Desert Medical Center (HDMC) and the Joshua Basin Water District (JBWD) jointly
The project taps a new water source, reduces urban run-off, improves water quality, and converts an irrigation system from potable to recycled water. In a collaborative effort with the County of Orange and the City of Laguna Beach, South Coast Water District is constructing an innovative water harvesting and treatment facility that will have multiple
Pre-selection, pre-approval, and pre-purchase of equipment and materials are three procurement methods that, when used correctly, can shorten construction schedules, control costs, ensure quality, and reduce the risks of conflicts and claims during construction. Each approach needs to be carefully administered within specific exceptions to California’s Public Contract Code governing competitive bidding practices for public
Dudek engineers successfully administered variations of pre-procurement processes to shorten construction schedules while controlling costs and project risks on three recent wastewater infrastructure projects. Focusing on unique project needs, Dudek used three progressively complex pre-procurement methods: pre-selection, pre-approval, and pre-purchase of equipment and materials. Each approach was carefully administered within specific exceptions to California’s Public
City officials of Guadalupe, CA recently completed the successful upgraded of its wastewater treatment plant, securing state grant funding for the project by adhering to a tight completion schedule and using innovative procurement methods. Dudek engineers assisted the city by designing the major plant upgrade, administering the $4.5 million Proposition 50 grant, and assisting during
The City of Laguna Beachwas concerned about a siphon section of its primary wastewater transmission main that was constructed of steel pipe. They were also interested in evaluating the serviceability of contiguous fiberglass pipeline sections. The fiberglass pipeline had changed ownership, and records of the material type and fabrication methods were lost. This made it
A small wastewater treatment facility facing regulatory fines and inefficient operations took an innovative approach to corrective action that avoided fines and leveraged existing facilities to improve operations. The Los Ranchos Mobile Home Park’s 100,000 gallon per day (gpd) wastewater treatment plant was plagued by constant odor complaints, failing percolation ponds and occasional spills. The
Finding “low-hanging fruit” at wastewater facilities to increase capacity and improve operational reliability can pay significant benefit by maintaining service levels without committing to large-scale capital expenditures. “The key is seeking out inexpensive adjustments to current operating facilities that may allow postponing, changing, or eliminating major projects and expenditures,” said Bob Ohlund, PE, Dudek’s vice