An “Out of the Pipe” Innovative Solution to Save Tax Dollars and Protect the Environment

Presentation Description: Traditional open-cut pipeline projects which generally face issues with heavy environmental and sustainability constraints typically resort to trenchless methods to minimize environmental disruption. This paper will discuss an innovative construction and delivery approach where neither traditional open-cut nor trenchless construction methods were deemed feasible. The Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment plant located in Elk Grove, California is completing the EchoWater Project, which is a massive upgrade project to comply with new effluent discharge permit limits. This project includes the design and construction of the Bradshaw Equalization Structure (BES) Pipeline Project that conveys partially-treated wastewater through an environmentally sensitive wetlands area. Activity in this area is limited to minimal disturbance and any type of excavation would present permitting challenges with a limited window for construction. Our innovative approach installed a pipeline that is unconventional in the wastewater industry inside an existing stormwater pipeline that runs through this environmentally sensitive area. This approach protects multiple vulnerable species for a sustainable future and avoids expensive permitting timelines, realizing millions of dollars in savings for the tax payers and the District.
This project has won the following four industry awards to date and will be presented at the UESI national conference in August 2023:
ASCE Sacramento Section 2020 Outstanding Sustainable Engineering Project
APWA Sacramento Chapter 2021 Project of the Year (Category: Environment)
CWEA Sacramento Area Section 2021 Engineering Achievement (Second Place)
ACEC California 2022 Engineering Excellence Merit (Category: Water & Storm Water)