Santa Ana River Horizontal Directional Drilling

Dudek was contracted by the Chino Basin Desalter Authority (CDA) to design approximately 1,500 lineal feet of their Product Water Pipeline. The project comprised a new 30-inch-diameter cement-mortar lined and coated (CML&C) welded steel water pipeline and 36-inch DR9 high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipeline and appurtenances, including a 1,000-lineal-feet horizontal directional drilling (HDD) crossing beneath the Santa Ana River.

Project Facts

Chino Basin Desalter Authority

Chino, CA

1,000-lineal-foot segment under the Santa Ana River

Horizontal directional drilling technology

Dudek project site. Construction crew works to install the Chino Basin Desalter Authority's Product Water Pipeline using horizontal directional drilling crossing the Santa Ana River.

The Challenge

During prior construction on this section of the Product Water Pipeline, the micro-tunneling installation of a 42-inch steel casing was halted when construction crews hit an unknown obstruction just below the northwestern bank of the Santa Ana River. This obstruction prevented the completion of the crossing, and, ultimately, the CDA decided to re-design the crossing using HDD techniques to complete the installation of the Product Water Pipeline.

Dudek project site. Chino Basin Desalter Authority's Product Water Pipeline is installed using horizontal directional drilling crossing the Santa Ana River.

The Solution

Dudek prepared the horizontal directional drilling design, which incorporated an extensive geotechnical evaluation, including the use of a pilot bore, to provide confidence in the feasibility of an HDD crossing. Our engineers coordinated with the CDA’s environmental consultant regarding construction in and around sensitive environmental habitats along the Santa Ana River.

Dudek project site. Aerial view as cranes install the Chino Basin Desalter Authority's Product Water Pipeline using horizontal directional drilling crossing the Santa Ana River.

The Impact

Completion of this portion of the pipeline allows the CDA to provide Western Municipal Water District with its complete allocation of product water from the Chino II Desalter Facility.

Drilling Under the Santa Ana River

Watch as construction crews perform horizontal directional drilling to install pipeline underneath the Santa Ana River.

What We Did

Our multidisciplinary specialties allow us to provide efficiencies that maintain project momentum.
Aerial view of Loch Lomond Reservoir, the Santa Cruz Mountains, and Newell Creek Dam

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