C.V. Water District Board Approves Pipeline Upgrade

The Board of Directors unanimously gave staff the go-ahead Tuesday to seek bids for a water main upgrade that will begin in early September. The work requires tearing up and repaving streets as well as temporary interruptions in water service for residents.

The project will replace a total of 1,975 feet of water pipes under the 2300 block of Chapman Road at Briggs Avenue and the 3800, 3900 and 4000 blocks of Cloud Avenue just north of Honolulu Avenue, according to a staff report delivered by District Engineer David Gould at the agency's headquarters.

It will cost an estimated $364,500 for the contractor and another $142,100 to cover "material purchase by CVWD, soils engineer, engineering and inspection labor costs and contingency," Gould said.

"Staff will also be proactive with public outreach" via letters to residents, a project description and construction schedule on the district's website and a press release to local media, Gould's report states. Staff will also meet with residents to determine the location of new fire hydrants.

Under Chapman Road a new eight-inch, cement-lined and exterior-coated water main will replace a four-inch, unlined and uncoated steel pipeline installed in 1953.

Cloud Avenue will also get an eight-inch upgrade from its existing four- and six-inch unlined and uncoated pipe from 1946. Both pipelines were part of the original development of this part of Glendale.

Chapman's water main is undersized for fire protection and at "the end of its useful life," according to the staff report. "Since 2003, there have been seven leaks on the pipeline. The most recent was in front of 2324 Chapman Road, where CVWD crews had to trench in the front yard to remove a massive amount of roots that had covered the pipe. In addition, crews had to install sand bags at the front door to prevent water from entering the house."

Eight leaks have occurred on Cloud since 2000, Gould reported. "The most recent leak was at the intersection of Cloud ... and Hermosa Avenue, where the crews discovered three leaks on the pipeline within a three-foot section. This small portion of pipe was replaced, but the remaining water main was observed to be in very poor condition."   

Directors likely will decide which contractor firm to hire for the project at the Aug. 23 board meeting.