Pipelines Hanging from Bridges – Unique Design Problems to Overcome Unique Solutions to Construct

The Golden State Water Company (GSWC) serves more than 1 in 20 Californians with drinking water, which is a total of over 1.5 million customers. They serve a diverse number of water systems located all over the state, including Southern California. The Central District includes the cities of Bell and Bell Gardens. The two cities have diverse sources of supply including surface supplies and some groundwater. In order to improve the water supply reliability of both systems, GSWC decided to construct a 12-inch main connecting the two distribution systems. The distance between the systems is about 1,400 feet (ft); however, it includes several daunting obstacles. A long bridge across the Los Angeles River and another bridge across the 710 freeway are between the two water systems, along with a multitude of utilities including gas, petroleum, communication ducts, water mains, and storm and sanitary sewers. Permits must be obtained from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the statewide transportation agency, both cities, and several utilities with prior rights-of-way.