To address water shortages in Central California, the initial phase of the North Valley Regional Recycled Water Program aimed to deliver 15 million gallons per day of highly treated, recycled wastewater from Modesto’s wastewater treatment plant to nearby agricultural customers by way of a local canal system.

The project was structured on an aggressive 17-month delivery schedule to meet a state water-funding program deadline. Work incorporated three key elements: construction of approximately seven miles of large diameter, open-cut trench pipeline, reconstruction and upgrades of existing pump-station facilities originally constructed in the 1970s and construction of a wastewater discharge structure. To ensure that work did not disrupt or affect the crops of local farmers, the project team carefully studied seasonal cycles and worked closely with local property owners.

“The farmers were already working through an intense rainy season, so the entire project team worked diligently to ensure we worked with and not ‘around’ local property owners and farmers,” says Anthea Hansen, regional manager for local Del Puerto Water District, a partner stakeholder on the project.

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