Completed Water Projects
The District has completed a critical upgrade to the water infrastructure on Sommette Drive by replacing the aging and undersized 4-inch water main with a modern 8-inch main. This enhancement is designed to improve water reliability, bolster fire flow capacity, and ensure adequate water supply to the town of Standard. Furthermore, this project sets the groundwork for future infrastructure modernization, including the replacement of the Sommette Tank. As part of this initiative, the District will also decommission the Sommette Hydro System, achieving greater operational efficiency and long-term sustainability for the community.
Built in 1920, the Sonora Water Treatment Plant (WTP) located on a hilltop in downtown Sonora is one of the oldest water treatment plants that the District operates. Serving the greater Sonora area, this plant serves TUD’s largest customer base. Since this facility is over 100 years old, it required upgrades.
Until such time the Sonora WTP could be replaced with a new facility, the District has modernize the electrical and automated operational controls at the facility. The plant’s electrical components were severely outdated causing numerous complex and labor-intensive electrical control issues over the last several years.
Many existing components of the previous electrical system were in poor condition, and presented safety risks to District staff, as well as a risk of an entire plant shutdown in the event of a short or other failure. Some of the existing chemical storage tanks had reached the end of their useful lives and did not meet current safety requirements. There was insufficient room to re-build many of the existing control panels in place. The backwash waste tank exhibited severe corrosion and was at the end of its useful life. Additionally, the existing sedimentation basin was at the end of its useful life and had experienced baffle wall and flocculator failures.
The project scope included design and replacement of panels and automated control systems and valves as well as installing all new control panels and systems. A new steel building was created to house larger chemical storage tanks that meet current safety requirements. The space created by removing the tanks now provides room to re-build control panels in a new laboratory and control room.
The previous crossing structure foundation and pier footing at Sullivan Creek was severely eroded. It had been undermined by years of erosion within the Sullivan Creek bed. Unpredictable weather patterns and more intense rainstorms continued to contribute to the erosion and there was a possibility of catastrophic failure of the crossing that could have resulted in failure to deliver water to water customers downstream. The condition of the crossing endangered the District water supply.
This project replaced the crossing with a new crossing structure. It also increased the span of the crossing to avoid the riparian area of the creek and prevent the problem from occurring again.
The Bo Leonard’s Shoot Flume is a segment of the Lower Columbia Ditch located between the Big Hill and Columbia Water Treatment Plants, about 2 miles north of the town of Columbia on Italian Bar Road. The Bo Leonard Shoot Flume segment was a 12-inch diameter, approximately 400 feet in length, concrete pipe exposed and broken in several places. The pipe was restricted in diameter and unable to deliver the full capacity of the ditch. Additionally, the grizzly screen was undersized, and the pipe segment was subject to plugging and spilling causing damage to adjacent property owners. The prior condition of this shoot flume threatened TUD water supply reliability.
This project involved installing a new 24-inch diameter pipe parallel to the existing concrete shoot flume to accommodate 7 CFS. The existing shoot flume was left in place and will function as an emergency overflow. If the inlet to the new pipe becomes obstructed, water can spill into the old concrete pipe and continue flowing downhill to the ditch.
May 21, 2024:
The Longeway Loop Water Mainline Project is complete with 2,000 lineal feet of new 10” watermain installed and paving completed. TUD crews have focused their efforts on integrating the new mainline into the broader system which involved running water into other parts of the system and meticulously adjusting flows and pressure at the two newly constructed pressure reducing systems.
Project Purpose and Need:
Water from the Crystal Falls Water Treatment Plant flows by gravity to the Falls Tank on top of Crystal Falls. Only one 6” line brought water down the Falls into the lower Crystal Falls area. This line was undersized and vulnerable to rupture due to pressure surges. The water was then pumped by both the Rogue and Tehachapi pump stations up to the Mono Vista Tank. These two pump stations consumed at least $25,000 of power each year, and some of that water was flowing by gravity back down to where it was pumped from. An intertie on Longeway Road now eliminates the two pump stations and provides redundancy for the water delivered to lower Crystal Falls.
The purpose of this project was to replace and modernize the Mill Villa Well that can serve 1,150 water service connections. The project was located in Jamestown, CA. The project comprised the installation of a new well pump, drive and down tube, and installation of a new flow meter at the well head. Additionally, crews demolished the old hydro pneumatic system and pressure vessel at the treatment facility, installed and re plumbed the new skid mount pump and drive system and installed the standby generator for power disruptions.
The Zone 2 Tank #2 Project aimed to replace the aging and compromised Confidence Tank and Zone 2 Tank #2, both of which had reached the end of their useful life. These tanks are crucial for maintaining water supply during outages and supplementing the Ponderosa Hills system. The project involved the demolition of the old tanks and the construction of a new 400,000-gallon bolted steel tank at a higher elevation. This upgrade enhanced storage capacity, provided greater flexibility for future growth, and improves overall system reliability. Additionally, the project included installing modern features such as exterior roof rafters, forced air ventilation, cathodic protection, and stairway access. Two water utility easements were acquired for necessary piping installations. The new setup promises a more efficient and resilient water storage solution for the community.
The 126 Tank Replacement Project was crucial due to the abandonment of the 420k and Gopher Tanks, leaving no redundant storage in the pressure zone. The previous tank, a bolted steel structure that was nearing the end of its service life, was operating at a reduced level due to rapid deterioration. This project constructed a new 250,000-gallon welded steel tank at the 126 Tank site. The new tank features exterior roof rafters, forced air ventilation, cathodic protection, stairway access, telemetry equipment, and necessary piping and fittings. Geotechnical studies were conducted to design and place a concrete ring wall on an engineered pad. Once the new tank was operational, the existing tank was demolished.
The previous Zone 4 tank was located in the Sugar Pine area and was 35 years old. The tank had reached the end of its useful life and needed to be replaced. The Zone 3 tank, located at a lower elevation than the Zone 4 tank had been removed due to a complete collapse and additional water storage was needed in the area. A new Zone 4 tank is now used and replaced both the existing Zone 4 tank and the former Zone 3 tank.
This project constructed a new 400,000-gallon welded steel tank with exterior roof rafters, forced air ventilation, cathodic protection that mediates interior corrosion, stairway access to the tank roof, telemetry monitoring equipment, piping, and fittings. A new hydro pneumatic 12’x12’ pump station building was constructed as well.
The Mono Village tanks were a collection of (3) bolted steel tanks with capacities of 210k, 210k, and 126k gal. The age of the tanks were unknown, but development in the area dates back to the 1960s. All three tanks provided storage for the Mono Village area. Inspections had revealed that tanks A and C were structurally compromised making future inspections unsafe. Inspections also revealed that Tank B had holes in the roof, excessive corrosion, and was structurally unsound. All 3 tanks had reached the end of their useful lives and needed to be replaced. The need for water storage at Mono Village is dependent on other tank projects in the area. A larger Sommette Tank can absorb the storage of all the Mono Village tanks. If a tank is constructed as part of a proposed development on Standard Road, that tank could absorb the storage of all the Mono Village Tanks as well. This project involved demolishing Tank A and B and replaced them with one 210,000 gal bolted steel tank. Tank C remained full during construction to provide storage for the area, and then was later demolished.
Tuolumne Utilities District announced the completion of The Phoenix Lake Dam and Spillway Improvement Project in May of 2022. The Phoenix Lake Spillway and Dam Rehabilitation Project addressed years of deferred maintenance that was being required by the Division of Safety of Dams. This project entailed striping and replacing the existing shotcrete surface to address the propagation cracking taking place on the spillway crest. Additionally, vegetation was removed on the dam face and slopes were stabilized. The District hired a local contractor, Sierra Mountain Construction, Inc. (SMCI), to complete the rehabilitation of the spillway at the west end of the lake and resurface the spillway structure. The Phoenix Dam was also given a new overlay of shotcrete to protect it from future erosion.
The Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) alongside Curtis Creek Union School District and the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) celebrated the completion of the Curtis Creek Elementary School Water System Consolidation Project. The project was awarded to Mozingo Construction of Oakdale and began in Spring of 2022 and included the installation of approximately 5,535 linear feet of new water pipeline to Curtis Creek School, three new fire hydrants, and reconnected three raw water fire hydrants to the distribution system along Standard Rd. Completion of this water project ensures that Curtis Creek Elementary School has clean, reliable, potable drinking water as well as crucial fire flow prevention. Prior to the completion of this project, the school had been relying on an unreliable well, which had been problematic for several years and could not provide fire flow. Issues ranged from unavailable water during and following power outages, inadequate storage capacity, and poor water quality requiring the school to close multiple times per year and to purchase bottled water until the connection to TUD was complete and operational.
The Curtis Creek Elementary School Water System Consolidation Project was made possible through a $2.3 million SWRCB grant that TUD and Curtis Creek School worked collaboratively to secure. TUD and Tuolumne County partnered to ensure that the pipeline project was installed prior to the County’s planned repaving of Standard Road. The County deferred their project to accommodate the pipeline project and is scheduled to repave Standard Rd. in spring of 2023.
The Cedar Ridge Water Treatment Plant Consolidation Project intertied the Crystal Falls and Cedar Ridge Water Systems to increase water delivery reliability and resiliency. The Cedar Ridge Water Treatment Plant Clearwell tank had reached the end of its useful life and needed replacement. Many other components in the Cedar Ridge plant needed modernization as well. The Crystal Falls Water Treatment Plant was nearby and had the capacity to supply water to the Cedar Ridge area. An intertie between the two systems allows the District to eliminate the Cedar Ridge Water Treatment Plant and provide significant savings in operation costs. Approximately 4,500 linear feet of 6” water mainline, and four (4) new hydrants were installed, adding increased fire protection to the area.
The Ridgewood Water Transmission Line Improvement project eliminated two water tanks that were in poor and failing condition, consolidated two water treatment plants, four pump stations, and the costs associated with operation and maintenance of those facilities. This consolidation project included installing approximately 13,000 lineal feet of 8-inch C900 main pipeline, strategically located pressure reducing stations from an upper connection point located on Ridgewood Drive and terminated at a downstream connection point on Meadow Brook Drive near the District’s existing Scenic View Water Treatment Plant.
With the completion of this project, the District is now able to deliver water from the Twain Harte area all the way to the Sonora area. The new water main line serves as the water transmission line interconnecting the Upper Basin/Crystal Falls and Phoenix Lake/Scenic View water systems and has the potential to provide potable water service to all adjacent parcels along Phoenix Lake Road.
“TUD has a responsibility and commitment to address aging facilities, reduce water loss and improve efficiencies. When this project is finally complete, the District will reduce its number of water treatment plants by two and remove two aging water tanks from service. Furthermore, it will reduce future operation and maintenance costs, and capital improvement costs for facility replacement,” stated Don Perkins, General Manager.
TUD is proud to announce project completion on the Mt. Provo Water Transmission Project. TUD crews have successfully installed 14,000 lineal feet of 8-inch water mainline on Mt. Provo Rd. and has installed two pressure reducing valve stations (PRVs), and 10 fire hydrants along Mt. Provo Rd. The final stage involved re-graveling the road to restore it to an improved condition than when the project had started.
Funded by a generous $2.8 million grant from the Department of Water Resources, this project is an integral component of TUD’s water transmission system. The pipeline will originate at the future Sierra Pines Regional Water Treatment Facility in Twain Harte.
Don Perkins, General Manager, stated, “We are pleased to report the progress made on the Mt. Provo Water Transmission Project. This achievement is a testament to the commitment and effort of our TUD teams, who have persistently worked to make this project a reality. We also appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we carry out these crucial upgrades.”
The Tuolumne Utilities District received $2,840,282 in grant funding for its Mt. Provo Transmission and Intertie Project from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Urban and Multibenefit Drought Relief Grant program.
The project focused on water consolidation and reliability by installing approximately 14,000 lineal feet of 8-inch water main pipeline and two strategically located pressure reducing stations on Mt. Provo Road in the Ponderosa Hills area. In addition, this project addressed fire and climate resiliency by installing 10 new fire hydrants in areas of high fire danger and increasing available water storage for seasonal or extended periods of drought. The project consolidated the Ponderosa water treatment plant, four tanks and five booster stations, lowering future costs associated with operation and maintenance. “This project is just another step towards water system consolidation and will allow the District to deliver reliable, high quality water to the Ponderosa system from the Upper Basin system in Twain Harte,” remarks Don Perkins, General Manager.
This interconnection serves as one of the main arteries of the District’s water transmission system from the future Sierra Pines Regional Water Treatment and Storage Facility located in Twain Harte. The Ponderosa water system is the main water supply to the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians community. “This project supports the Tribe’s current resilience, growth, and development goals and will continue to be important to generations to come,” stated Andrea Reich, past Tribal Councilwoman for the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians.
Board Approval
The TUD Board of Directors on Tuesday, August 25th, approved District Staff to proceed with Phase I of the Techite Pipeline Replacement Project to Njirich & Sons Inc. in the amount of $414,224.
District field crews would respond to mainline water breaks multiple times each year on the segment of Techite pipeline from the Crystal Falls Water Treatment Plant to Middle Camp Road. This pipe segment functions as a transmission main serving thousands of downstream customers. Techite pipe is an obsolete material that has proven to be very fragile. When the pipeline breaks, it ruptures catastrophically resulting in the loss of thousands of gallons of water and oftentimes causing significant damage to adjoining properties. The entire project consisted of 3 phases and will replace approximately 9,000 lineal feet of pipeline. Replacement of this line translated to savings in labor, equipment, and materials associated with repair efforts multiple times per year and overall improves water system reliability.
Five contractors submitted bids for Phase 1 of the Techite Pipeline Replacement Project ranging from $414,224 to $675,665. The lowest bid received was from Njirich & Sons, Inc. of Sonora. The Replacement pipeline project is scheduled to begin in September 2020.
Phase I
The Crystal Falls Techite Pipeline Replacement project has begun.
The TUD Board of Directors awarded the Project’s first phase of pipeline replacement work to Njirich & Sons Inc. on August 25, 2020. Construction started and replaced approximately 2,500 lineal feet of pipeline between Crystal Falls Water Treatment Plant and the Comstock Tank located in Cedar Ridge. The first phase cost $571,550 and was included in the District’s FY 2020 Capital Budget. The project was designed by the engineering consulting firm Provost and Pritchard and was estimated to be completed by December 31st, weather permitting.
Phase II
The District had scheduled a planned water outage to take place in the vicinity of Middle Camp Road, Longeway Road, Lazy Z Road, and the Nile River Road areas on Thursday, October 14, 2021 as part of the Crystal Falls Techite Pipeline Replacement Project-Phase II. The water shutoff occurred between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Affected customers received an automated phone call on October 12th. Most customers in the area experienced service interruption. Some customers at lower elevations did not experience interruption. The Comstock Ranch area did not lose service.
Phase I of this project replaced 2,000 feet of 8” water main during the fall of 2020. Phase II of the project began on September 20, 2021, and replaced an additional 2,000 feet of water main. Phase II finished in early December. Future phases replaced yet another 5,000 feet of water main. The completed project resulted in less labor, equipment, and material cost associated with repair efforts multiple times per year and also increased water delivery reliability and resiliency. Final phases included adding fire hydrants to Lazy Z Road, an area with high fire risk.
Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) has completed the Matelot Pipeline Project in order to improve water quality and delivery for residents of Columbia. The TUD Board of Directors authorized the construction agreement for the project with Sutton Enterprises of Vallecito, for $479,165, on June 8, 2021, and construction started later that month. The project entailed installing approximately 1,670 linear feet of 14-inch raw water pipeline, a new reservoir outlet structure, and appurtenances.
The Matelot Ditch, which supplies water to the Columbia Water Treatment Plant (WTP), had experienced high levels of sediment and other bacteriological contamination. As a result, the WTP had to increase the level of treatment to produce water that meets state standards. In addition, much of the sediment, or turbidity, and bacteriological contamination entering the WTP originates from the segment of the ditch that connects the Matelot Reservoir to the WTP. The water delivered to the plant through the pipeline will be less turbid and less susceptible to bacteriological contamination.
Another challenge with the Matelot ditch is a lack of flow control. The ditch operates at a flow rate that exceeds the demands of the WTP, and consequently, large volumes of water flow past the WTP, exceeding the amount needed for downstream users. The new pipeline will allow the District to supply the Columbia WTP with only the volume of water to meet treatment demands, saving as much as 300 ac‑ft per year.
The new raw water pipeline which was completed in September 2021, improves water quality delivered to the Columbia Water Treatment Plant and reduces operational water loss in the Matelot Ditch. The Columbia Water Treatment Plant serves the areas of Columbia, Gold Springs, Gibbs Estates, and Saratoga.
Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) is proud to announce the completion of the Cuesta Heights Tank. The new 600,000-gallon Cuesta Heights welded steel water storage tank and new treated water transfer pump station replace the District’s Gopher Tank, which failed during the construction of the Cuesta Heights tank and is currently offline. The new tank serves the Racetrack, Gibbs, and Saratoga communities of Sonora.
The TUD Board of Directors awarded the construction of the new water tank to Njirich & Sons, Inc. (Njirich) in May 2020. Njirich crews completed the grading, pump station, underground piping, and demolition of the Gopher Tank. Crosno Construction, a tank manufacturer from Arroyo Grande and a subcontractor of Njirich & Sons, Inc., started construction of the Cuesta Heights Tank in August 2020 and completed the tank in December 2020. The project was designed by District staff and is funded by a $1.7 million Community Development Block Grant for construction, engineering, inspection, geotechnical investigations, and electric service to the site. The completion of this project improves fire flow and provides emergency water storage during the District’s annual ditch outage.
Tuolumne Utilities District hired local contractor Sierra Mountain Construction Inc. (SMCI) of Sonora in September to complete the Riddle Tank and Pump Station Consolidation project. The project was identified in TUD’s Capital Improvement Plan to increase water reliability in the area. The steel bolted Riddle Tank in Sugar Pine, originally put into service in 1987, was classified as being in “poor” condition on its most recent tank inspection report. Customers relying on the Riddle Tank experience frequent power interruptions and in turn a lack of adequate water supply. The construction of an intertie with the Mi Wuk Mutual Water Company has been completed which will now provide and maintain adequate reliable storage and water supply to these Sugar Pine Distribution System customers. On October 29th, the Riddle Tank and pump station were demolished and disconnected from the District’s distribution system.
Project Start:
The Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) is excited to announce the completion of a new water storage tank as part of the Mono Vista Tank Replacement Project. The existing 400,000 gallon Mono Vista Water Tank in Sonora was in poor condition with severe corrosion on the interior of the tank. The roof of the tank had also been determined to be no longer safe to access. The Replacement Project entailed the demolition of the existing water storage tank and the construction of a new 400,000 gallon bolted steel water storage tank. The Mono Vista Tank is a key component of the District’s distribution system, storing and distributing water in three different directions.
The District received two bids for the project and the TUD Board awarded the project to Njirich & Sons, Inc. in the amount of $811,989.33 in June 2019. The project had an anticipated completion of January 2020.
Project Update:
The new Mono Vista Tank is a 400,000 gallon bolted steel tank with exterior roof rafters and an exterior stairway. The project included the demolition of the existing Mono Vista Tanks #1 and #2, the removal of existing onsite piping that was in poor condition, and the installation of new piping.
The Mono Vista Tank Replacement Project was identified by Staff as a high priority project after a dive inspection revealed the failing condition of the tank interior. The existing tank has nearly 100% internal coatings failure above the water line and has severe corrosion on the center support beam and dollar plate, deeming it unsafe to enter or walk on. The exterior of the existing tank was in poor condition as well. This tank is a key component of the District’s distribution system, storing and distributing water in three different directions. This tank also provides the District with the needed storage during the annual ditch outage.
Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD/District) is holding a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, October 10th at 11am to celebrate the completion of the Jamestown Water Tank Project.
The newly constructed Jamestown Water Tank replaces the former Jamestown Reservoir, a 1-million gallon underground reservoir originally constructed in 1937 that suffered from structural concrete cracking and a floating plastic cover no longer supported by state regulations. The new tank will improve water quality and reliability to the community of Jamestown.
In 2016, the District was awarded up to $1.4 million through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in partnership with Tuolumne County to construct the project. In April 2018, the District’s Board of Directors awarded the construction of the new tank to Paso Robles Tank Inc. in the amount of $884,865. TUD engineers designed the project and the District’s construction crew performed the site grading and underground work. The District’s local match of $300,000 was funded from the District’s Capital Improvement Plan budget. The project was completed on time and under budget.
Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) has completed the O’Neil Tunnel Improvements Project with improvements to the O’Neil Tunnel, which is located on the historic 1852 Table Mountain Ditch, one of thirteen ditch conveyance systems the District operates. The O’Neil tunnel is located at the end of the Table Mountain Ditch at O’Neil Reservoir near Jamestown. The District owns and operates a total of 71 miles of ditch, flume, pipe, and tunnel infrastructure that diverts water from the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) system at various locations.
Overtime the O’Neil tunnel has shown significant degradation. The total length of the tunnel is approximately 476 feet. In 2017, Condor Earth Technologies, Inc., hired by TUD, investigated the downstream 206 feet of open tunnel section and prepared a hazards study. The hazards study revealed several concerns and risks about the tunnel and the level of deterioration that has taken place since it was constructed in the 1850’s. The O’Neil Tunnel Improvements Project started in July 2019, consisted of the installation of approximately 200 linear feet of 24” High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe and 40 linear feet of 30” steel pipe inside of the O’Neil Tunnel. At the Board meeting held on July 23, 2019, the Board of Directors awarded a contract to the Sierra Mountain Construction, Inc. (SMCI) in the amount of $236,315.00 to complete the project. The project was estimated to be completed by January 2020, weather permitting.
As a historical ditch conveyance system, TUD staff included multiple design features to preserve the historic nature of the tunnel. Features include avoiding rockwork that is located between the tunnel and O’Neil Reservoir, covering modern looking plastic pipe so it cannot be seen, and using metal pipe where the pipe is visible. The metal pipe will be allowed to rust naturally in order to enhance the historic look. The project was located on Rawhide Road in Jamestown.
The history of the Table Mountain Ditch begins during the Gold Rush period in Tuolumne County. The Table Mountain Ditch, also known as the Rawhide Ranch Ditch, was constructed by the Tuolumne County Water Company (TCWC) in 1852 to take water to the diggings on the west side of the Table Mountain district. At that time, it primarily served the Rawhide Mine, with its two periods of prosperity: from the 1850s to 1867 and from 1891 to 1905 (Gudde 1975:285). The ditch brought water from the Columbia system through the Deadman Ditch to the Springfield Weir, then down along Mormon Creek to the Slum Dam Reservoir, constructed in 1853 by the TCWC to slum out the tailings carried down from the Columbia placers. The dam was rebuilt in stone in 1900 and in 1916 was described as a small rubble masonry structure, built directly on the bedrock of the creek. From there the Table Mountain Ditch was diverted through a flume and carried along the base of Table Mountain to Rawhide Flat (Rhodin 1916). About 1856 a tunnel was driven through Table Mountain connecting the Rawhide Ditch (Table Mountain Ditch) with the Montezuma Ditch at a reservoir on the mountain’s west side (present O’Neil Reservoir), purchased from Allen Oliver in February 1856 (Rhodin 1916; USGS 1900; Wallace 1862). (Reference from the Tuolumne Utilities District Ditch Sustainability Project Historic Resource Evaluation Report, completed January 2012).
Tuolumne Utilities District oversaw the installation of a new water main as part of the Bourbon Street Water Main Replacement Project which started on September 4, 2018. TUD received three bids for the project and the TUD Board awarded the project to Njirich & Sons, Inc. in the amount of $324,307.75.
The Bourbon Street Water Main Replacement project entailed the installation of approximately 1,820 feet of new water main which is a major feedline from the Sonora Water Treatment Plant to the City of Sonora. The previous existing water main was approximately 80 plus years in age, 8‑inches in diameter, was composed of cast iron, and ran cross country through multiple properties. The main was prone to leaks and breaks which led to property damage due to flooding in the past. The project was expected to be completed by mid-October.
The Jamestown Reservoir Replacement Project replaces an antiquated one million gallon in-ground reservoir with a one million gallon welded steel tank which supplies treated water to the community of Jamestown. In February 2017, The District was awarded grant funding and obtained a sub-recipient funding agreement with Tuolumne County from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in the amount of $1,372,500. The District has moved forward with the environmental document review and approve. Grading has started for the new tank site and construction is estimated to start in Spring 2018.
In early October the Columbia clearwell project began which removed and replaced all of the interior and exterior coatings of the clearwell. A clearwell stores water as part of the treatment process prior to delivery to customers. In addition to reestablishing the internal and external coatings, the project replaced the roof structure to the clearwell with a steel welded bent plate technology that facilitates the ability to perform future interior recoats, minimize future corrosion and maintain the structural integrity of the roof and clearwell. Proper care and maintenance of the water infrastructure is a crucial component of providing clean, safe water to our customers. This project was competitively bid and awarded to West Coast Industrial Coatings.
The Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD or District) Board of Directors on Tuesday, May 5th awarded a $4.1 million contract to Steve Manning Construction, Inc. (SMC) for the construction of the Phoenix Lake Preservation and Restoration Project. The Board unanimously supported the contract approval at a Special Board meeting held May 5th via a publicly accessible electronic platform.
Residents in the vicinity of Phoenix Lake (Lake or Reservoir) saw construction activity as soon as June. During the construction phase of the project, the lake water levels were kept as low as possible to allow the lakebed to dry. This allowed the contractor to excavate and haul the dry soil out of the reservoir and place it on the adjacent Indigeny Apple Ranch Orchards to the north of the reservoir.
Phoenix Lake is an 88-acre water storage reservoir located approximately 3 miles east of the City of Sonora. Phoenix Lake water rights and facilities, as well as portions of the lake, are owned by the TUD. The TUD uses the lake as a primary drinking water source for the communities of Sonora, Jamestown, Scenic View and Mono Village. While the allowable storage capacity of the lake is approximately 850 acre-feet (ac‐ft), the current capacity is only 600 ac‐ft. The reduction in storage capacity accompanied a degradation in water quality characterized by warm water temperatures, low dissolved oxygen, zones of stagnation, proliferation of invasive aquatic vegetation and the emergence of seasonal taste and odor compounds, all of which complicated the water treatment processes.
May 5, 2020 Update:
The Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD or District) Board of Directors on Tuesday, May 5th awarded a $4.1 million contract to Steve Manning Construction, Inc. (SMC) for the construction of the Phoenix Lake Preservation and Restoration Project. The Board unanimously supported the contract approval at a Special Board meeting held May 5th via a publicly accessible electronic platform.
June 24, 2020 Update:
After many years of meetings and careful planning, TUD is excited to announce that the Phoenix Lake Preservation and Restoration Project (Project) is finally underway! The District was awarded grant funding from the Tuolumne-Stanislaus Integrated Regional Water Management Authority (T-S IRWMA). In May 2020, the Board of Directors awarded a $4.1 million construction contract with Steve Manning Construction, Inc. (SMC) for the construction phase of the Project. Residents adjacent to the Phoenix Lake area will notice heavy equipment being moved into the area soon with actual construction activity in the reservoir beginning in late July.
July 16, 2020 Update:
Residents adjacent to the Phoenix Lake area will notice heavy equipment in the area. Tuolumne Utilities District has hired Steve Manning Construction, Inc. (SMC) as the contractor for this phase of the construction project. Approximately 230,000 cubic yards of material is expected to be removed from the lake. In order to conduct dredging on Phoenix Lake, the lake will eventually be completely drained except for a small pool near the dam.
September 18, 2020 Update:
TUD is pleased to report that great progress has been made on the project. To date, over 160,000 cubic yards of sediment has been removed from the reservoir. Vast portions of the lake bottom have been deepened and carved while water quality berms have been constructed to channelize water and improve circulation within the lake. Portions of Chicken Creek and Sullivan Creek have also been re-aligned and armored with rock and grout to prevent the creeks from migrating back to their original positions.
February 16, 2021 Update:
The District is pleased to announce that the Phoenix Lake Preservation and Restoration project is nearing completion!
Last summer, over 160,000 cubic yards of sediment were removed from the reservoir. If that volume of sediment were to be placed on a football field, it would reach a height of nearly 100 feet. Many portions of the lake’s bottom have been deepened and new channels were constructed to give the lake a new form and enhanced function. The improvements will reduce the growth of prolific invasive aquatic vegetation while improving water quality, cold water habitat for fish, and for use as a domestic water supply.
April 8, 2021 Update:
Vegetation removal along the southern shoreline of Phoenix Lake and removal of sediment within Chicken Creek was previously scheduled to take place in late summer of 2021. Both items of work have been rescheduled to begin as soon as possible. The maintenance work on the spillway was also rescheduled from spring/summer of 2021 to spring/summer of 2022. Work in Chicken Creek began on 4/6/2021, and vegetation removal will begin on 4/12/2021. The work was rescheduled so that Pacific, Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) could perform urgent repair work on the main canal ditch and to allow for the lake to be filled as soon as possible in anticipation of persistent, on-going drought conditions.
During the week of 3/29/2021, PG&E informed TUD that urgent repair and maintenance needed to be conducted on the some of the flumes on the main PG&E canal coming out of Lyons Lake. The repairs require PG&E to stop the flow of water from Lyons Lake to Phoenix Lake. Currently, the water level at Phoenix Lake is below normal, and there is not sufficient volume to supply water to Sonora and Jamestown during the ditch outage. Before PG&E can perform the repairs, Phoenix Lake must be filled to the normal summer water level, which is the lake’s full capacity.
Vegetation removal will take place along the southern shoreline of the lake in the areas that are below normal winter water level. This vegetation is being targeted because the lower-than-normal lake levels over the past 2 years has cause vegetation to grow there. If the lake were filled without removing the vegetation, there would be a risk that the established plants would continue to grow taller and thicker than before the project. Removing the vegetation and the root matt followed by filling the lake would eliminate that risk. Wet soil conditions will not allow equipment to access all vegetated areas; however, the District and our contractors are determined to remove as much vegetation as possible.
Anticipated Water Level Schedule:
- April 15th – Water levels will begin to rise.
- April 30 to May 7 – Water levels will reach full lake capacity.
- May 16 – 21 – First PG&E Ditch Outage. Lake levels will drop temporarily , but should stay above normal winter water level.
- May 22 – Lake will begin to fill back up to maximum capacity.
- Mid October – Lake will begin to lower to normal winter water level.
Completed Sewer Projects
The Willow Springs Lift Station building, sumps, pumps, and equipment had reached the end of their useful life and were needing to be replaced. The facility no longer met the District’s safety and operation standards. The previous existing trash screen plugged up frequently and required almost daily maintenance causing inefficient use of staff time. Replacing the station on the existing site was not possible without first building a temporary lift station for use during construction. The adjacent landowner transferred ownership to the District to provide space to build a new lift station. This project involved building a new lift station on the recently acquired adjacent parcel, including a primary and secondary overflow sump.
The Mill Villa Sewer Lift Station collects wastewater from approximately 285 residences in Mill Villa Manor and the Mill Villa Mobile Home Park. The lift station, sump pumps, pumps, check valves, generator, and equipment all needed to be replaced and the facility no longer met the District’s strict safety and operation requirements. Additionally, access to the site was extremely limited and difficult to maneuver. In order to perform routine maintenance, a crane was required, consequently deferring maintenance. The District has relocated pipping and valves around the lift station in order to more easily access and perform maintenance. Additionally, a new sump pump, pumps, vault, piping, generator, and electrical equipment have been installed. This vital project is complete, and the improvements have greatly increased the efficiency and reliability of this lift station and decreased operational costs.
The Mono Village Lift Station previously served approximately 175 residential and commercial service connections. The facility consisted of a single concrete vault structure covered by a deteriorated wood enclosure and was located along the shoulder of Mono Way. The aging infrastructure had reached the end of its useful life, creating operational challenges, maintenance difficulties, and safety concerns for both District personnel and the public.
To address these issues, Tuolumne Utilities District completed a project to eliminate the lift station and improve the reliability and safety of the sewer collection system. The project included the construction of approximately 2,100 linear feet of new 8-inch gravity sewer main along Mono Way between Hillsdale Drive and Edgemont Acres Drive. Existing manholes within the Mono Village parking lot were reconfigured to accommodate the new gravity flow system, and the obsolete lift station was decommissioned and removed.
The completed project eliminated the need for a lift station at this location, reducing long-term maintenance requirements, improving employee and public safety, and enhancing the reliability of wastewater service for the Mono Village area.
The Parrotts Ferry Sewer Lift Station is one of the most critical facilities in Tuolumne Utilities District’s wastewater collection system, receiving high volumes of flow from the surrounding service area. Prior to rehabilitation, the station’s main sump and overflow sump were undersized for the demands placed on the facility, and key infrastructure components—including the building, generator, and electrical control panel—had reached the end of their useful lives.
To improve reliability and system resilience, TUD completed a comprehensive reconstruction of the lift station. The project included replacement of the building, generator, electrical controls, and pumping infrastructure, along with construction of larger sump facilities designed to provide additional storage capacity during peak flow events and emergency conditions.
The Twain Harte Wastewater Treatment Plant clarigester had failed and could no longer be operated. Additionally, the clarigester was no longer manufactured and due to the age of the equipment, repair parts were not available. The inability to run equipment had reduced the level of wastewater treatment and had caused an increase in odors and created poor water quality at the plant.
This project had begun with determining the best method of treatment and installation of the required equipment. Storage was retained on site to buffer the flow into the new Sonora Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (SRWWTF) and create redundancy. Grit removal/disposal system was added, and a trash compactor was installed to reduce labor and handling of waste.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Tuolumne Utilities District is excited to announce that new construction is underway at the Sonora Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Built in the 1970’s, the existing Sonora Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (SRWWTF) is approaching 50 years of service and while it has undergone several process upgrades over the decades, the facility needs replacement. The District Board has awarded a construction contract to Kiewit Infrastructure West, Co., of Fairfield, Ca. in the amount of $35,025,010.
The Project started in October 2021 and includes constructing a new wastewater treatment facility capable of treating an average of 2 million gallons of wastewater per day that will meet the current California Title 22 Standards for Disinfected Tertiary Treated wastewater. Specific improvements include a new septage receiving facility, new headworks screening and grit removal system, secondary treatment process consisting of extended aeration, secondary clarification, tertiary filtration, disinfection, an emergency storage basin, rehabilitation, and conversion of existing secondary anaerobic digester vessels to aerobic digesters, new sludge screw press for solids dewatering, along with emergency standby power, and a new administrative/operations building. The project site is contained within the footprint of the existing treatment plant located at 1400 Southgate Drive in Sonora.
Most of the project cost will be covered thanks to a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant/loan package that includes over $8.5 million in grant dollars, and approximately $24.9 million as a low-interest loan. TUD will contribute approximately $8.8 million of its own funds from wastewater reserves.
Project partners include Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc. (PACE), Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. (Kiewit), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Mountaineering Engineering, Condor Earth Technologies and Municipal Capital Markets.
PROJECT UPDATE – DECEMBER 1, 2021
Construction of the new Sonora Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility Project is in progress. Kiewit Infrastructure West Co., the contractor hired for this project, is currently constructing two, 65-foot diameter, 18 foot deep, secondary clarifiers. The clarifiers incorporated in the design are part of the treatment process and are Secondary Clarifiers, meaning, they are located downstream of a biological treatment process. Once completed, wastewater will flow from two new aeration basins into the clarifiers. From there, floating solids, such as oil and grease, float to the top and are skimmed off and removed, and settleable solids, more commonly known as sludge, settles to the bottom of the clarifier basin and is collected by a rotating rake system and removed. Some of the sludge is conveyed back to the aeration basins where the cycle repeats. The remaining sludge is thickened and conveyed to the aerobic digestion process where the sludge is processed and hauled offsite. The clean effluent leaves the clarifiers for filtration and disinfection before entering the Quartz Reclamation System in Jamestown.
The photos below show the excavation of the slab and central footing of the clarifiers. Once the slab is placed, it will form and place the 1-foot thick walls of the clarifiers.
PROJECT UPDATE – January 25. 2022
Jennifer Batt, Project Manager and Associate Engineer for TUD, presented a PowerPoint update at the Board of Directors meeting held on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. To view the presentation, click this link: Project Update Jan 25, 2022.
PROJECT UPDATE – APRIL 20, 2022
Jennifer Batt, Project Manager and Associate Engineer for TUD, reports that the project is progressing well and on target. With the dry winter, the project is 15 days ahead of schedule. Kiewit Infrastructure construction crews have completed the new clarifiers, built a pad for the South Process Station and completed the Filter/Chlorine Contact Basin formwork.
PROJECT UPDATE – OCTOBER 25, 2022
Jennifer Batt, Project Manager and Associate Engineer for TUD, presented a PowerPoint update at the Board of Directors meeting held on Tuesday, October 25, 2022. To view the presentation, click this link: Project Update October 25, 2022.
PROJECT UPDATE – MAY 23, 2023
Jennifer Batt, Project Manager and Associate Engineer for TUD, presented a PowerPoint update at the Board of Directors meeting held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. To view the presentation, click this link: Project Update May 2023
PROJECT UPDATE – AUGUST 29, 2023
Erik Johnson, District Engineer for TUD, presented a PowerPoint update at the Board of Directors meeting held on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. To view the presentation, click this link: Project Update August 2023
PROJECT UPDATE – MAY 3, 2024
Jennifer Batt, Project Manager and Associate Engineer for TUD, reports that Phase 1 of the new Sonora Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility Project is nearly complete, with only a few remaining items left.
- Phase 1 included:
- Site civil
- Buildings
- Headworks
- North and South Process Stations
- Extended Aeration Activated Sludge Basins (Two 2.75 MG basins)
- Clarifiers
- Filter/Chlorine Contact Structure
- Emergency Storage Basin – 3MG
While the majority of Phase 2 work is about 90% complete, there are still some remaining tasks to be done, which include:
- Digester rehab
- Upgrading the facility from secondary to tertiary
Final completion of this project is scheduled for May 2024.
MAY 28, 2024
Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) is thrilled to announce the successful completion of the Sonora Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (SRWWTF). The SRWWTF project represents a significant achievement for TUD and the community it serves. The project, which began in October 2021, has been a substantial undertaking for the district, with the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility capable of treating an average of 2 million gallons of wastewater per day. This $42 million facility replaces an outdated plant built in the 1970s and marks a major milestone in TUD’s commitment to providing efficient and sustainable wastewater management solutions for the community.
The Sonora Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility has been designed to meet the current California Title 22 Standards for Disinfected Tertiary Treated wastewater. Specific improvements include a new headworks screening and grit removal system, secondary treatment process consisting of rehabilitation, and conversion of existing secondary anaerobic digesters to aerobic digesters, new sludge screw press for solids dewatering, emergency standby power, a new administrative/operations building, and eventually a new septage receiving facility. The project site was strategically contained within the footprint of the existing treatment plant at Southgate Drive.
The majority of the project cost was covered by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant/loan package which included over $8.5 million in grant dollars and approximately $24.9 million in low-interest loans. TUD contributed approximately $8.8 million of its own wastewater reserves. “This state-of-the-art facility represents a major investment in our community’s future and our commitment to environmental sustainability,” said TUD General Manager, Don Perkins. “It will ensure we have the infrastructure in place to meet current and future wastewater treatment needs. We are proud to mark the completion of the Sonora Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, a testament to our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and community well-being.”
To celebrate this occasion, TUD will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Sonora Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility on June 26, 2024, at 9 a.m. TUD kindly requests all prospective attendees, including members of the public, to RSVP Emily Long at (209) 532-5536, ext. 518 or [email protected] by June 19th, 2024, as parking availability is limited.
The Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) construction/maintenance crews have completed construction of the Apple Valley Sewer Lift Station Rehabilitation Project.
This critical sewer lift station facility serves the residents of Apple Valley in Sonora. The rehabilitation project, which started in July 2020, includes adding one new sump, two new pumps, a new generator, a new building, and fence. The access road to the lift station is scheduled to be paved in May 2021 and a fence will be installed around the facility once the paving project is complete.
The Apple Valley Sewer Lift Station is located next to Chicken Creek which has flooded the pump station in past severe storm events. In 2018, a severe storm event occurred causing three feet of water to flow through the building and severely damaging several pumps, a generator and the fence surrounding the pump station.
Completed Fuels Reduction Projects
March 21, 2023
Tuolumne Utilities District is excited and proud to announce the successful acquisition of the USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant, a crucial step in fortifying our community against the escalating threat of wildfires. This grant, totaling $249,927 will allow TUD to develop a comprehensive Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan- a roadmap for addressing local wildfire risk. A key focus of the grant will be to establish a Wildfire Protection Draft-Points Plan, strategically identifying raw water fire draft-points throughout the district.
Notably, the driving force behind securing this vital funding was Board Vice President, Ron Ringen and Board Director, Barbara Balen (who served as Board President at the time of the grant application), both dedicated advocates for the community’s safety. Their commitment and leadership were pivotal in navigating the grant pursuit process, showcasing TUD’s proactive approach to wildfire prevention.
Vice President Ringen expressed his excitement stating, “I’m just thrilled that we are going to be getting that grant to finally accomplish our goal, which will benefit the entire community. By improving firefighter’s access to untreated water sources, we preserve the system’s potable water for critical drinking and sanitary purposes.”
Director Balen emphasized the significance of this plan stating, “This plan will maximize TUD’s ability to make gravity-fed, non-potable, raw water available for emergency fire response while reducing the risk of fire to our water infrastructure through vegetation management. TUD pulled together a stellar team including Rick Lind from EN2 out of Placerville and Biology Conservation Institute who worked with post-fire recovery plans for Paradise. It is critical that we protect our green infrastructure for wildlife while making non-potable water available. It all works together, and I hope the insurance companies take these things into consideration.”
The District is excited to receive this funding and looks forward to engaging the community and its agency partners to identify shared wildfire concerns and begin prioritizing risk-reducing actions to mitigate the risk of wildfire.
June 6, 2024
Tuolumne Utilities District is pleased to announce the successful completion of the TUD Critical District Fuels Reduction (Phase 2) Project, which reduced hazardous fuel loading around the Twain Harte Wastewater Treatment Facility.
The $160,522 project, funded by a grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Climate Investments Wildfire Prevention Grant Program, treated 22.2 acres around the critical wastewater infrastructure using a combination of hand thinning and mastication. This strategic effort has made the facility more resilient and better able to withstand a wildfire event, demonstrating TUD’s ongoing commitment to community goodwill by enhancing safety and resilience for not only the facility, but the surrounding residential area. “TUD sees investing in critical infrastructure protection as a key strategy for building community wildfire resilience,” said TUD General Manager, Don Perkins.
The TUD Critical District Facilities Fuels Reduction Project is part of the district’s broader efforts to reduce community wildfire risk and protect its water and wastewater infrastructure. The district aggressively seeks grant funding to fund much needed projects like this, with the completed project being the second CAL FIRE grant-funded project the district has undertaken which included performing fire protection and resiliency on eight critical water storage facilities throughout the TUD service area in a year. Additionally, the district is currently working with a consultant to develop a Wildfire Defense Plan and a Wildfire Protection Draft Points Plan, both grant funded and focused on wildfire risk for TUD water systems and surrounding lands. Key objectives include mapping essential district, community, and natural resources and identifying and prioritizing specific locations and opportunities to manage the system for protecting water resources and community assets. The Draft Points Plan will evaluate water draft points of raw-untreated water and determine the highest priority locations for water drafting to enhance community wildfire protection.
September 24, 2021
The Tuolumne Utilities District was notified by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) that it will receive $297,869 in grant funding to protect nine water and wastewater facilities situated in high hazardous areas within Tuolumne County from the threat of wildfire.
In May 2021, the District applied for the Cal Fire Climate Investments (CCI) Fire Prevention Grant for the TUD Critical District Facilities Fuels Reduction Project. The TUD Critical District Facilities Fuels Reduction Project provides protection and resiliency to vulnerable infrastructure facilities throughout the TUD service area. To protect life support and public health and provide reliable service to these rural communities, the District will implement a hazardous fuels reduction and vegetation management project to protect eight (8) critical water storage facilities (tanks) and the Twain Harte Wastewater Treatment Facility by using a combination of hand thinning and mastication fuel treatments under the direction of a licensed forester.
“It is always exciting to receive grant funding for important district projects. The District works aggressively to seek grant funding in order to fund much needed projects with a minimum impact to our ratepayers. With this funding, the District can protect valuable water and wastewater infrastructure in very high prone wildfire areas. If these facilities were destroyed by a wildfire, it would be catastrophic as we have seen happen to other foothill communities.” states Don Perkins, Interim General Manager.
The District will begin implementation once the funds are available in January 2022 with the goal of completing the project by March 2024.
PROJECT UPDATE
Dead or dying trees pose a significant threat to TUD water infrastructure by falling onto or around TUD facilities including water tanks, buildings and TUD’s 71 miles of ditch system which delivers water to most of the population in Tuolumne County. Falling trees could significantly damage water tanks, water treatment plant buildings and completely block open ditches causing severe erosional damage or uprooting of ditch berms causing ditch failure, system damage and water outages.
Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) was approved to receive partial reimbursement of funds from the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) to help combat the tree mortality issue facing the District. TUD received notification from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) that its CDAA application was approved to fund 75% of total eligible costs related to the hazard tree removal efforts.
On November 17, 2015, the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors Adopted a Resolution Declaring a Local State of Emergency in Tuolumne County due to pervasive tree mortality and requested the State of California to assist in the coordination of resources to assist in the removal of dead and dying trees due to drought and bark beetle infestation. The County received approval of its CDAA application from Cal OES in November.
Hazardous Tree Removal Project Update
- Number of trees felled: 1670
- Number of projects completed: 3
Projects: Current and Completed (as of November 1, 2017)
- Tank sites and other infrastructure (560- Completed)
- Section 4 ditch (240 – Completed)
- Soulsbyville ditch (870 – Completed)
Future Projects
- Eureka ditch – Estimated start date: December 2017, weather permitting
- Columbia ditch – Estimated start date: Spring 2018
- Phoenix ditch – Estimated start date: Spring 2018