An “Out-of-the-Pipe” Solution to Protect the Environment

Traditional open-cut pipeline projects which generally face issues with heavy environmental 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 and avoids expensive permitting timelines, realizing millions of dollars in savings.