March 9, 2022 – Tens of millions of gallons of water will soon be flowing again through a major pipeline in North County following successful repairs on a distressed section of Pipeline 4 near Bonsall.

San Diego County Water Authority staff detected potential pipeline weaknesses just north of West Lilac Road in late January using real-time acoustic fiber-optic monitoring. This technology locates distressed sections of pipelines even while they are in use as part of the agency’s high-tech asset management program.

The repair is part of the Water Authority’s proactive approach and long-term commitment to maintaining regional water supply. Strategic investments in money-saving management tools and training paid off when staff spotted a potential problem that could have led to an unplanned shutdown of a 7.5-foot diameter water pipeline.

(Editor’s Note: B-roll video and photos of Pipeline 4 work: https://bit.ly/3hUsIkc)