District Projects
Yorba Linda Water District (District) is independent of all city and county governments. No revenue obtained by the District is used to subsidize non-water related activities or the activities of any other agency.
The District is dedicated to providing the best and most economical water and sewer services to our customer. This means taking on District-wide projects to help improve or maintain infrastructure as well as preserve water rights.
The District is in the active construction phase for three projects, design stage for two projects and construction is complete for one project as noted below:
- Hidden Hills Reservior Project
Hidden Hills Reservoir Project provides additional water-supply reliability for the residents living in homes in the highest elevations in the Hidden Hills community. - Progress Report
- District Projects
- Hidden Hills Haul Route Map
- Letter to Hidden Hills Residents - Construction Schedule
- Letter to St. Francis of Assisi Parent
- Highland Booster Station Replacement
The District is currently in design for the replacement of the Highland Booster Pump Station. The replacement of the pump station will allow the District to distribute lower cost groundwater to the various upper zones within the District’s service areas. - Highland Reservoir
The New Highland Reservoir will increase local supply reliability. It will be placed underground to improve stability and views.
- Photovoltaic Solar System
The District contracted with Akeena Solar Incorporated, Los Gatos, CA, to install a 30kW Pilot Photovoltaic solar panel system on the roof of its administration building. Construction started in April 2010 and was completed May 2010. - Well 20
Well 20 is a groundwater production well that was drilled during May 2010, with above ground improvements anticipated to be complete by late 2010 to early 2011. - Ohio Street Pipeline Replacement
The entire reach of pipeline in Ohio Street, north of Yorba Linda Boulevard and south of Bastanchury Road, is proposed to be replaced by the end of this year, to early 2011.
Hidden Hills Reservoir Project
The two million gallon buried reinforced concrete reservoir, currently on-line and nearly complete, is located on a northeasterly extension of Hidden Hills Road at the east end of the District. The reservoir will provide additional water-supply reliability for the residents living in homes in the highest elevations in the Hidden Hills community. The project includes recently completed upgrades to the Santiago Booster Pump Station, which provides water service to this community. The project changes this portion of the water system from a “closed-loop” to a “gravity-feed” system, allowing water to be fed into the community from the booster pump station as well as from the new Hidden Hills Reservoir.
Sixteen construction bids for the project were received on February 24, 2009, with the contract awarded to Pacific Hydrotech Corporation for $5,012,458, on March 12, 2009. This amount is well below the engineer’s estimate of $7.0 million dollars. “[YLWD] staff believes the savings to the District of nearly $2 million is a reflection both of the current economy and of the overall interest in this essential project,” said Steve Conklin, Engineering Manager.
Construction started in early May, with an estimated final completion date of September, 2010. Construction activity for the past month included pouring and completion of the roof deck and installation of below grade piping.
Highland Booster Station Replacement
The District is currently out to bid for the replacement of the Highland Booster Pump Station. The replacement of the pump station will allow the District to distribute lower cost groundwater to the various upper zones within the District’s service areas. The new booster station design will have a maximum pumping capacity of 18,000 GPM with two large natural gas driven pumps, and three electric pumps providing the increased capacity. Design is complete with a projected start of construction being late 2010. Construction timeframe for the booster station replacement will be nine months.
Highland Reservoir
The Yorba Linda Water District is continuing work on the replacement of the 95-year-old Highland Reservoir – one of the oldest water-storage facilities in Orange County. The new reservoir will increase local storage capacity by 1.4 million gallons and is located underground to allow for improved structural stability and enhanced views for neighboring residents. The reservoir is currently on-line and the contractor is expected to complete all items by September 2010.
The Highland Reservoir was originally built in 1911 as an open-air reservoir and was eventually covered with a roof and surrounding enclosure walls in the late 1950s. The aging 4.6-million-gallon reservoir will be replaced with a 6 million-gallon underground reinforced concrete reservoir that will bring added supply reliability to the central portion of the YLWD service area and improve views for customers in the western portion of Yorba Linda. The $11.2 million-project will be funded through long-term revenue bonds.
“Having sufficient water storage capacity is critical to ensuring a low-cost, reliable supply,” said YLWD General Manager Ken Vecchiarelli. “Increasing storage capacity at our Highland Reservoir will benefit our entire service area since it sits at the highest point in our gravity-driven distribution system. Being able to do that while improving views is an opportunity that just made a whole lot of sense.”
The reservoir is on-line and all construction items are nearly complete, with the exception of backgilling soils and landscaping.
“The Highland Reservoir was YLWD’s oldest storage facility, and successfully operated far beyond anyone’s original expectations,” Vechiarelli said. “We’re confident its predecessor will live up to a similar standard far into the future.”
Photovoltaic Solar System
The District contracted with Akeena Solar Incorporated, Los Gatos, CA, to install a 30kW Pilot Photovoltaic solar panel system on the roof of its administration building. Construction started in April 2010 and was completed May 2010.
The 30kW pilot system includes 216 Andalay PV solar panels and 6 inverters capable of converting DC electric current from the solar panels to AC electrical power. Once installed the system will reduce SCE power bills by about 20%, reduce atmospheric emissions, and serve as a guide for future renewable solutions for the District facilities. To view the article in the Orange County Register click here.
Well 20
Well 20 is a groundwater production well that was recently drilled and developed. This will replace an existing, unproductive, 76-year old well and will be drilled on the same property, saving the District a tremendous amount of money. The final stage of construction will include above ground manifold piping and appurtenances. Construction is expected to be complete by late 2010 to early 2011.
Completion of this well will provide the District with an additional source of groundwater, thereby reducing our dependency on imported water.
Ohio Street Pipeline Replacement
The entire reach of pipeline in Ohio Street, north of Yorba Linda Boulevard and south of Bastanchury Road, is proposed to be replaced by the end of this year to early 2011. Design work is underway and is expected to be complete by late 2010. Construction is expected to begin during fall 2010.