Construction on the City of Poway’s clearwell replacement is anticipated to begin this fall following the award of contract to Gateway Pacific Contractors, Inc. The contract was awarded at the Sept. 19 Poway City Council meeting.
The clearwell is Poway’s major storage reservoir for water treated at the water treatment plant, prior to being distributed to Poway water customers.
Poway Water Infrastructure Program
Replacing the aging clearwell, built in 1964, is the second phase of the Water Infrastructure Improvement Program. This program is the largest capital improvement program (CIP) in the city’s 43-year history. The first phase of the program built the infrastructure necessary to bypass the clearwell. The improvements to Poway’s water system will increase the reliability of drinking water for water customers now and for generations to come.
The two tanks that will be built as part of the clearwell replacement project, will provide Poway’s water system with redundancy and operational flexibility in that one tank can be taken offline for maintenance and repairs without interrupting service. Gatweway Pacific was the lowest responsible bidder for the project, with a bid amount of approximately $31.6 million.
The targeted construction start date is Fall 2023 and will include the restoration of the ballfield at Lake Poway once the new tanks are operational. The project is expected to be completed in Fall 2026.
Water Projects Overview
With the goal of increasing the reliability of drinking water for water customers now and generations to come, the City of Poway is undertaking the largest capital improvement program (CIP) in the city’s 40-year history.
The CIP will include replacing the clearwell (water storage reservoir) at the water treatment plant and a new San Diego County Water Authority treated water connection and redundant pipeline. In order to replace the clearwell, a bypass system consisting of two 1.4 million-gallon tanks, pipelines, a pump station and other appurtenances will be constructed.
These infrastructure improvement projects have been in the planning stage for a long time and are moving ahead as part of a mutual agreement between Poway and the State Division of Drinking Water.
SDCWA Treated Water Connection/Redundant Pipeline
The San Diego County Water Authority treated water connection and redundant pipeline project provides Poway with its first treated water connection to the Water Authority’s treated water aqueduct, as well as providing redundant pipelines. This project will help diversify Poway’s water supply portfolio and allow for operational flexibility and plant maintenance. It will also provide a redundant pipeline to the 36″ water transmission line on Lake Poway Road, which is currently the single transmission line that carries treated water to the distribution system.
The Poway City Council considered approval of the engineering design agreements during the April 5, 2022 City Council meeting. The City is also working with the Water Authority to evaluate alternatives to reduce the cost of this project.
(Editor’s note: The City of Poway is one of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that deliver water across the San Diego County region.)
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Image-of-Reservoir-clearwell-city-of-Poway-PRIMARY.jpg450845Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.pngMike Lee2023-09-21 12:11:452023-09-21 12:32:12Major Reservoir Upgrade is Part of Poway Water Infrastructure Program
The Poway City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to move to Level 2 drought restrictions.
The decision follows an executive order in March by Gov. Gavin Newsom calling for increased water conservation after the driest first quarter in California’s history. The state is in the third year of significant drought.
Residents and businesses in Poway soon could be paying more on their water bills.
Poway City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to set a public hearing on a proposed four-year rate increase for water, recycled water and wastewater rates. It comes as the city grapples with how to deal with the future of water for its residents, challenged by rising costs to import water and the need to pay into capital improvement projects.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png00Chelsea Camposhttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.pngChelsea Campos2021-09-09 10:15:022021-09-09 10:30:01Water Rates Could Increase in Poway Under New Proposal
The City of Poway’s water infrastructure improvement program is estimated to cost about $69.5 million, with the cost intended to be spread over water customers for generations to come.
The program’s estimated costs were discussed at the Poway City Council meeting Tuesday night. The council, minus Mayor Steve Vaus, who was absent, received an update on the program and approved with a 4-0 vote issuing a reimbursement resolution.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png00Chelsea Camposhttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.pngChelsea Campos2021-06-07 09:52:552021-06-07 09:54:22Poway’s $69.5 Million Water Infrastructure Project to be Funded By Future Bond
Two water-related items are on the Poway City Council agenda for its 7 p.m. meeting Tuesday.
The council will receive an update on its ongoing Water Infrastructure Improvement Program. It will also be asked to adopt the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan.
The Water Infrastructure Improvement Program update will include current planning and design level cost estimates, said Aaron Beanan, director of finance. The council will also be asked to adopt a resolution authorizing reimbursement of some water capital improvement expenditures.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png00Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.pngMike Lee2021-05-27 11:16:462021-05-27 11:18:17Water Infrastructure Program, Management Plan on Poway City Council Agenda
The Poway City Council Tuesday evening directed staff to further negotiate with regional partners on the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon restoration project. The council chose that option over immediately spending $6.7 million, as part of a multi-agency agreement, to reduce the level of sediment in the lagoon.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png00Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.pngMike Lee2021-01-20 10:07:592021-01-20 10:12:37Poway Council Unready to Dip Toes into Los Peñasquitos Lagoon Restoration
The Poway City Council will discuss the potential restoration of one of its watersheds, the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon, at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The council will be asked to direct staff on how it wants to move forward with its involvement in a restoration project of salt marshes in the lagoon. The project is part of a joint-agency effort to reduce sediment in the watershed.
The Poway City Council approved several initial steps at Tuesday night’s meeting which could lead to a massive water improvement program for the city. The improvement program, if completed, would be the largest capital improvement program Poway has ever undertaken, said Shadi Sami, principal civil engineer for the city.
The program consists of several parts, but would ultimately replace the city’s existing, decades-old clear well with new storage reservoirs. It would also connect the city with the San Diego Water Authority’s treated water, creating treated water pipelines, a pump station and forebay. Currently, Poway only receives raw water from the SDCWA.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png00Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.pngMike Lee2020-11-19 09:28:452020-11-25 06:30:11Major Changes to Poway’s Water System in Works
Thousands of people in Poway will receive a small break on their water bill after Poway City Council voted 4 – 1 to distribute varying amounts of bill credits.
At its meeting Tuesday night, the council approved spending up to $420,000 to issue one-time credits to those impacted by the week-long Boil Water Advisory in November 2019.
Residents noticed discolored water coming from their faucets in late November, and the city issued a Boil Water Advisory the next day.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png00Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.pngMike Lee2020-02-05 09:30:362020-02-05 09:30:36Poway City Council Votes to Give Money Back to Customers After Boil Water Advisory
Poway City Council members voted 4-1 Tuesday night to give most city water customers small credits on an upcoming bill due to last year’s six-day boil water advisory.
The average customer will see a one-time credit of about $28.72 in March or April, depending on which bimonthly billing cycle the customer is on. This includes a $5.29 credit on the fixed rate and $23.43 for commodity equal to 1/8th of the bimonthly bill. Seventy-seven percent of all water customers will have a commodity credit of between $10 and $50, depending on how much water they typically use.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png00Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.pngMike Lee2020-02-05 09:10:582020-02-07 10:16:56Water Bill Credits Approved by Poway Council
