Drinking Water Transmission Pipeline Exploratory Work to Begin April 2023
Posted: 3/23/23In April 2023, the Western Intake Partnership (WIP) will begin conducting field investigations along the proposed drinking water transmission pipeline routes for the Jordan Lake Water Supply Project. Field investigations will affect properties along the proposed transmission pipeline route, including portions where alternative routes are being evaluated. Below is an overview of the sights and sounds associated with the field investigations.
- Observation, notation, and photography will take place to assess the potential habitat suitable for federally- listed species.
- Delineating wetlands, streams, lakes, and other surface waters by hanging survey flags on trees or shrubs, or placement of wooden survey stakes to identify boundaries.
- In some locations, the work will include standard excavation of small shovel test pits with hand tools to survey for archaeological resources.
- Planimetric and Topography surveys will take place where required to determine the elevations and locations of certain areas, utilities, or surface features. This work may include hanging a small amount of conventional survey flags on trees or shrubs, or the placement of wooden survey stakes.
- Geotechnical investigations will take place within the road right-of-way and require drilling of three-to-four-inch holes in the ground to sample conditions. These operations are frequently seen around and along roadways where projects are being planned. Once the investigations are complete, the holes are filled, and the surface is returned to its original condition.
These investigations are critical to complete survey activities, environmental investigations, geotechnical borings, and other forms of data collection. All potentially affected property owners have been notified. The data collected from these investigations will help to finalize the finished water transmission pipeline routing preliminary engineering for the project.
While the fieldwork is expected to begin in April 2023, the field teams may need intermittent access to the properties throughout the 2023 calendar year.
Earlier this year, the Hazen and Sawyer consulting team performed modeling and desktop analysis on a comprehensive range of pipeline route alternatives to determine the best routes for the main pipelines to transmit water from the WIP water treatment facility to the various WIP Partner systems. The full map of all transmission pipeline routes studied is shown in the map inset in the upper left of the graphic. This comprehensive analysis helped the Partners identify the recommended water transmission pipeline routes shown in the larger map image below as the most efficient and effective options.
