City, State Leaders Celebrate Completion Of Fresno's Largest-Ever Infrastructure Program

Mayor Lee Brand and Public Utilities Director Michael Carbajal gathered with local, and state leaders recently to mark the completion of the Southeast Surface Water Treatment Facility and the major pipeline projects of the City’s Recharge Fresno program, which collectively make up the City’s largest-ever infrastructure program and enable greater water sustainability through increased use of surface water and reduced groundwater pumping.

Welcoming local leaders and representatives of state and federal agencies, Mayor Brand said, “I am proud of our City for successfully delivering our largest-ever infrastructure program on-time and on-budget. With the Southeast Surface Water Treatment Facility and major pipeline projects now up and running, our community has a secure, drought-proof water supply.”

The treatment facility is the cornerstone project of the Recharge Fresno, the City’s program to improve the pipelines and water system facilities that will capture, treat and deliver water to Fresno homes and businesses, including surface water from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The facility currently produces 54 million gallons per day of drinking water for delivery to Fresno homes and businesses, and ultimately will produce 80 million gallons per day, meeting approximately half of the City’s future water demands.

The major projects in the Recharge Fresno Program were collectively under construction for approximately two and a half years and involved more than 180 consulting firms, engineering companies and contractors.

“You often hear of watershed moments,” said Carbajal. “Quite literally, for Fresno, today marks a milestone for our watershed. But a watershed moment is also defined as a turning point, or historic moment. I’m not sure that this moment could be anything but that, given the benefits this program will bring for generations to come.”

Carbajal also recognized the California State Water Resources Control Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their efforts to secure $340M in low-interest State Revolving Fund loans to help fund the program, saving ratepayers approximately $250M in financing cost.

"Investing in water infrastructure with our state and local partners is a priority for the EPA,” said Kristin Gullatt, Deputy Water Division Director for EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. “Federal and state funding for this project will help the City of Fresno alleviate groundwater depletion while diversifying municipal water supplies and providing high quality, safe drinking water for the community.”

The Recharge Fresno Program is managed by the City’s Department of Public Utilities. For more information, visit www.RechargeFresno.com

Program Details
Recharge Fresno is the City of Fresno’s program to improve the pipelines and water system facilities that will capture, treat and deliver water to Fresno homes and businesses, including surface water from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This will ensure that during normal and wet years, the City can capture surface water supplies, enabling replenishment of depleted groundwater sources and saving water for drought years.

The Southeast Surface Water Treatment Facility is the cornerstone project of Recharge Fresno and currently produces 54 million gallons per day of drinking water for delivery to Fresno homes and businesses. SESWTF receives surface water through the 13 mile, 72-inch diameter Kings River Pipeline, which diverts Kings River water from the Fresno Canal. Treated drinking water is then conveyed across the City through 10 miles of 30- to 66-inch diameter Regional Transmission Mains, which connects to existing water distribution pipelines at several locations. Ultimately, the facility will produce 80 million gallons per day, meeting approximately half of the City’s future water demands.

Other key projects include the 4.5 mile, 60-inch diameter Friant-Kern Canal Pipeline, which serves as a secure supply for the City’s Northeast Surface Water Treatment Facility, and 12 miles of 36- to 54-inch diameter Recycled Water Transmission Mains, which help allow the City to minimize use of drinking water for irrigation purposes.

Planned Water Supply: 2014 vs. 2025

• 2014: 85% Groundwater, 15% Treated Surface Water
• 2025: 70% Treated Surface Water, 15% Groundwater, 15% Recycled Water
• 2040: 60% Treated Surface Water, 25% Groundwater, 15% Recycled Water

Recharge Fresno Program Funding

• In February 2015, the Fresno City Council approved a water rate plan which supported $340.2M of funding to complete major Recharge Fresno drinking water projects valued at $370M, including the Southeast Surface Water Treatment Facility, Raw Water Transmission Pipelines, and Treated (Potable) Water Transmission Pipelines. Upon completion, these projects will be under budget, costing less that the total authorized funding. Over $250M in financing cost was saved by funding these projects through low-interest State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans.
• Additionally, major Recharge Fresno recycled water projects, valued at $115M, including the Tertiary Treatment and Disinfection Facility and all Recycled Water Transmission Pipelines, were funded through SRF loans secured by wastewater rate revenues.

Owner/Operator
City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities

Program Manager
Jacobs Engineering Group

Engineering Firms and Consultants
Carollo Engineers, AECOM, Akel Engineering, Blair Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers, BSK Associates, ESA, Harris & Associates, Katz & Associates, Live Oak & Associates, PaleoWest, Provost and Prichard Consulting Group

Construction Contractors
W.M. Lyles Construction, American Paving, Bill Nelson Construction, Cal Valley Construction, Emmett’s Excavation, Floyd Johnston Construction, Garney Pacific, Mountain Cascade, Vido Artukovich & Son

Key Delivery Facts

• Drinking water delivered to customers as planned in May 2018 with full-capacity operation in July 2018

• More than six years of final planning, design and construction
• 180 companies involved in engineering, consulting and construction
  • 130 construction contractors
  • 50 consulting firms involved in program management, planning, design and other consulting support
• More than $170M of work performed by locally headquartered companies
• 1,646 design drawings prepared
• 1 million construction labor hours
• 3,250 construction submittals prepared and reviewed
• 730,000 cubic yards of soil excavated
• 24,000 cubic yards (97 million pounds) of concrete poured
• 2 million square feet of asphalt replaced
• 985 valves installed
• 220,000 feet (41 miles) of pipeline laid

65,000 feet (12 miles) of facility piping installed