The San Elijo Joint Powers Authority-Land Outfall Replacement Project has received awards from three engineering organizations!
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Project of the Year (California Water Environment Association-San Diego Chapter)
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Commendation Award (American Council of Engineering Companies-California)
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2019 Outstanding Engineering Project (San Diego County Engineering Council)
To protect the San Elijo Lagoon and a reliable wastewater/ recycled water system, the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority (SEJPA) retained Kennedy Jenks to plan, design, and permit the land outfall replacement from the San Elijo Water Reclamation Facility (SEWRF) to Cardiff State Beach.
The land outfall pipeline conveys up to 25 million gallons per day of treated wastewater from the cities of Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, and Escondido beneath the San Elijo Lagoon for ocean disposal approximately 1.5 miles from shore. The original pipeline was estimated to have reached the end of its useful life due to age and surrounding soil type. Since the San Elijo Lagoon has been designated as a marine reserve by the State of California due to its biological significance, failure of this pipeline would likely have had environmental and financial impacts.
Kennedy Jenks worked with other local agencies and utilized a compressed construction schedule to minimize public impact and environmental risks. By drilling up to 70 feet underground and without the need for open cut trenching, the project protects the lagoon by avoiding disturbance to the lagoon area and its wildlife; requiring only a small staging area on the beach (pictured left) , leaving public beach access and the bike path open and useable for the duration of the project. While complex and with many jurisdictional agencies involved, the permitting process was facilitated by utilizing a trenchless construction method. The selected pipe material, HDPE, and HDD installation method minimized conflicts with planned dredging and railroad construction within the lagoon and offers a robust service life of up to 100 years.
The San Elijo Land Outfall Replacement Project is considered a great success in meeting the SEJPA’s strategic objectives of protecting the San Elijo Lagoon, continuing to provide reliable wastewater/recycled water service for the communities it serves with minimal environmental impacts, and promoting effective collaboration with area jurisdictional agencies.
For a more in-depth look at this award-winning project, click HERE.
