Big Hill-Columbia Water Interconnection Project Begins
Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) will begin water line Improvements to the Big Hill-Columbia Water system starting next week, Monday, August 19, 2013. The project involves constructing approximately 7,200 linear feet of 8-inch water pipeline in Big Hill, Sawmill Flat and Yankee Hill Roads.
Local contractor, Njirich & Sons, Inc., will be constructing this project in an agreement with TUD. Starting next week on Monday, August 19th, one-way traffic controls will be in effect starting at Big Hill Road from 7am to 5pm. There will be 20 minute traffic delays during the construction phase of this project. Please drive with caution in this area.
Approved by the TUD Board of Directors in June, the project is estimated to cost $681,712. According to Don Perkins, TUD Water Superintendent, this project was critically important to continue to supply quality water to the residents of Columbia. The Columbia tank was recently been inspected to be found in poor condition.
Benefits to this project include:
- Eventually the elimination of the Columbia Vista Tank
- Allow water from Big Hill to serve customers in the Columbia and Sonora Water Systems
- Alleviate demand pressure on the Columbia Water Treatment Plant in order to facilitate repairs at the plant
- The project will dramatically improve fire protection within the Columbia State Historic Park which is very vulnerable to fire
- The water main line connection allows for increased redundancy and reliability. Currently, if a pipeline breaks on Italian Bar Road the whole townsite of Columbia would be out of water
The Big Hill-Columbia Water System Interconnection project is estimated to be completed by the end of October, weather permitting.