Title
Drought Resiliency Infrastructure Program Update
Description
This report provides the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee an update on the Water Services Department’s Drought Pipeline Project.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
Report
Summary
The Water Services Department (WSD) Drought Resiliency Infrastructure Program is an approximately $300 million improvement program that includes 12 miles of new pipelines and four booster pump stations. These improvements will allow water to be moved from the 24th Street and Deer Valley Water Treatment Plants, which use Salt and Verde River water, to areas of Phoenix that are dependent upon Colorado River water.
At the Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee meetings on Oct. 2, 2019 and Sept. 2, 2020, staff provided overviews and updates on the program.
Attachment A is a project map with updates to the design and construction stages discussed within this report.
Updates are provided below, by project:
Pipeline Project 1
There are two independent, but related, pipeline projects in the neighborhood near 22nd Street and Lincoln Drive and the Phoenix Mountain Preserve (Preserve).
48-inch Alignment
Construction for the replacement pipeline project in the neighborhood south of Orangewood is complete. Installation of the steel liner is ongoing for the existing 48-inch pipeline in the Preserve in an effort to rehabilitate that portion of the pipeline, while other City improvements are ongoing in Dreamy Draw Park.
66-inch Alignment
Construction started in May 2021 and is ongoing in multiple locations. Initial milestones have been met, including substantial completion of the pipeline installation next to Madison Heights Elementary School before the beginning of the school year in August 2021.
24th Street Water Treatment Plant Booster Pump Station
Construction started in May 2021 for a new 76 million gallons per day (MGD) booster pump station at the 24th Street Water Treatment Plant.
Pipeline Project 2
Construction started in May 2021 for the new 66-inch water main in the area of 32nd Street from Shea Boulevard to Bell Road. Also included in this project is construction of a 60 MGD booster pump station near 32nd Street and Bell Road which begins in September 2021.
Pipeline Project 3
Design is complete, and construction is tentatively scheduled for January 2024 for the installation of a new 42-inch water main in the area of 35th Avenue from Thunderbird Road to Greenway Avenue.
Central and Deer Valley Road Booster Pump Station
Construction started in July 2021 on the tie-ins for three new 60-inch pipelines at Central Avenue and Deer Valley Road, which includes a detour of Deer Valley Road to allow for the large excavation. Construction is scheduled to start in October 2021 for a 40 MGD booster pump station on Central Avenue south of Deer Valley Road.
Deer Valley Water Treatment Plant Booster Pump Station
This project includes design and construction upgrades to three water pump stations at the Deer Valley Water Treatment Plant. This project is currently in the 90 percent design process and construction is scheduled for January 2023.
Public Outreach
The project team began reaching out to schools and stakeholders in all affected areas in early 2019 to introduce the project and receive customer and resident input. Since then, extensive communication efforts continue.
The project team held online Open Houses on Oct. 28 and 29, 2020 for Pipeline Project 2 and the recordings of these meetings remain available on the project website. The project team also conducted nearly 400 in-person business meetings along the Pipeline Project 2 corridor to obtain information from businesses and enhance coordination during construction. Periodic business visits will continue throughout the project.
There is also ongoing coordination with schools and faith-based institutions, including Madison Heights Elementary School in the Madison School District, Mercury Mine Elementary School in the Paradise Valley Unified School District, Soka Gakkai International Phoenix Buddhist Center, Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish Community, Lincoln Heights Christian Church, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, and many others.
The project team will be presenting to the Mercury Mine Elementary School Parent Teacher Group on Sept. 14, 2021 and are planning to have an education booth at the Fall Festival for the Madison Heights Elementary School in October 2021.
The robust public outreach and information program includes:
- Ombudsman;
- Project website (phoenix.gov/waterservices/dpp) and WSD website (phoenix.gov/waterservices);
- Email address and telephone hotline;
- Weekly emails, direct mail, door hangers, social media platforms, and newsletters;
- Drought Pipeline Project Mobile App available in the Apple App Store and Google Play;
- Community and business meetings (HOA/Block Watch/Village Planning Meetings);
- Community events;
- Mountain Preservation Group meetings;
- Fire and Police coordination;
- Press releases;
- City Council engagement;
- Youth activities in schools;
- Public art project;
- Coordination with City departments;
- Traffic signage; and
- Park and trails signage.
The first community email update was sent on March 20, 2020, and the email updates have continued to be sent weekly since May 2020. There are more than 900 email addresses on the project distribution list.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee received Drought Resiliency Infrastructure Program updates on: Oct. 2, 2019; and Sept. 2, 2020.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Water Services Department.