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Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Manchester Avenue Potable Water Pipeline Replacement Project was recognized today as a 2023 Project of the Year by American Public Works Association’s San Diego and Imperial County Chapter at its awards event in Mission Valley.

“Everything is subject to the effects of aging, even critical water infrastructure,” said OMWD Board Secretary Larry Watt. “To help avoid emergency water outages and provide dependable service to customers, our preventative maintenance program includes replacement of infrastructure before it fails. Through these new pipelines, OMWD can continue to provide its customers with reliable water service for decades to come.”

OMWD replaced and relocated approximately 3,700 linear feet of potable pipeline in the City of Encinitas. In line with the city’s 2020 Climate Action Plan, the replacement of the 1961 pipeline, nearing the end of its useful life, increases water reliability for residents and businesses along a historic corridor. During construction, several unforeseen conditions were overcome through construction management practices such as closed-circuit television inspection of water mains, alignment changes, and the installation of a new fire hydrant to avoid conflicts with a gas line.

Completed in 2022, the majority of the project construction was completed at night to reduce traffic impacts. However, capitalizing on the reduced traffic resulting from the statewide stay-at-home order, OMWD partnered with the city to shift construction to the daytime for a portion of the project. This resulted in safer working conditions for the crews due to increased daytime visibility and shorter durations for construction work, which also reduced overall traffic delays for the project.

Additionally, OMWD’s Lone Jack Pressure Reducing Station Replacement Project received an Honor Award at the event. The project was located within an easement bordered by homes and private property and adjacent to open space habitat. It replaced aging infrastructure that, if failed, could have severely impacted both the environment and surrounding private property.

APWA is a professional association of public works agencies, private companies, and individuals dedicated to promoting public awareness through education, advocacy, and the exchange of knowledge. APWA’s local chapter annually recognizes the best public works projects and professionals in San Diego and Imperial Counties. The 2023 awards recognize projects completed in 2022 and raise awareness of the necessary cooperation between public agencies, contractors, and consultants, such as architects and environmental engineers, to complete public works projects.

Manchester Avenue Potable Water Pipeline Project