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(Below) Volvo excavator loads haul truck on Santa Ana River levee.
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Ken Thompson Inc., a Corona, California-based underground contractor, is in the final stage of a nearly three-year project to install 30,000 linear feet of pipeline from a new state-of-the-art water purification facility in Fountain Valley to an existing percolation pond in Anaheim. The company has installed 78-, 72- and 66-inch cement and mortar-lined and coated steel pipe for the project, which began in the spring of 2004.
The pipeline is part of the Groundwater Replenishment (GWR) System, which according to the Orange County Water District’s (OCWD) website is “an innovative water purification project designed to provide a new supplemental source of high-quality water for up to 20 percent of north and central Orange County residents.”
The GWR System is a joint project of the OCWD and the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD). According to OCSD’s website, the system uses advanced water treatment facilities to purify the water through micro filtration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet disinfection. The process brings the water to purification levels that far exceed drinking water standards. “The water will be released into the Orange County Groundwater Basin either by injection along the coast to protect the basin from seawater intrusion or by percolation in ponds in Anaheim.
“As a result, Orange County will have quality, reliable, local water supply to use for groundwater replenishment, groundwater protection from seawater intrusion, industrial uses and landscape irrigation,” the website continues. “Reuse will help drought-proof Orange County.” |
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(Top Left) Volvo haul trucks were integral part of job to rotate spoil from excavator side to backfill.
(Top Right) Excavator and crew work in a “...postage stamp size area”. |
Ken Thompson Inc.’s scope of work involved laying the 15,000 linear feet of new pipe each forboth Groundwater Replenishment System – Unit I (GWR Unit I)and GWR Unit III. They completed work on GWR Unit III in 2005; with GWR Unit I being the last phase completed this spring. In addition to laying the new pipe, the company has been responsible for replacing everything that had to be dug up to place the pipeline, such as trees and retaining walls. The final stage of the project also involves testing the pipe.
The biggest challenge on this project, according to Dan Deming, Executive Vice President for Ken Thompson Inc., was the narrow right of way for the installation path. The pipe follows the path of the Santa Ana river levee and Ken Thompson Inc. crews had to take care not to damage the river. Adding to congestion along the narrow pathway are the businesses and residences located to the west of the project. In some areas, the crews had to work within a 16-foot wide area, Dan says.
The company’s crew was limited to up 20 at a time due to working in a “postage stamp size area despite it being long and linear,” Dan says.
They used large crawler excavators for the digging and backfilling. They also used wheel loaders to haul dirt. Additionally, they purchased Volvo articulating haulers from Mathews Machinery. These haulers are known for being able to maneuver in tight spaces.
According to Volvo’s website, the D-Series articulating haulers feature V-ACT engines that provide “high power and torque for acceleration and high average speed even with a full load and in poor underfoot conditions and on gradients.” |
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?(Top Left) Volvo’s superior dependability and quick cycle time prove ideal for OCWD project.
(Top Right) Volvo team proved to be successful for Ken Thompson, Inc.
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Leading the work for Ken Thompson Inc. are Bill Fichtel, Superintendent and Al Torres and Behzad Basiri, Project Managers.
This has been a large project for Ken Thompson Inc., but a size the company would like to be typical, Dan says. “We are always looking for and bidding the larger projects,” he continues.
The company primarily completes public works underground projects, but also completes jobs for private sector customers.
“We are always looking for innovative projects, those that have deep installations or are difficult in some way,” Dan says.
The benefits of this finished project are wide for the Orange County area. Prior to completion of Phase 1 by Ken Thompson Inc., the GWR System produced five million gallons of water per day.When Phase I is up and running sometime this fall, it will produce 70 million gallons of water per day, which will provide enough water for 144,000 families annually. The OCSD’s website says that, “The water can be purified for less than the cost of imported water using one-half the energy required to import water from Northern California. This saves an estimated 140 million kilowatt-hours annually – enough energy to serve approximately 21,300 homes each year.”
For more information on Ken Thompson Inc. call (951) 284-2424. |
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