Staff recommends the replacement of this aging infrastructure and relocation of the valve and associated vault outside of Linda Vista Drive to remedy safety concerns.

Staff would like to inform City Council and the public about an upcoming project that will impact water pressure in over 500 homes and businesses and cause lane restrictions and closures along Linda Vista Drive during the month of March 2020.  The purpose of the Linda Vista PRV Replacement/Relocation Project, under Water Services Aging Infrastructure program, will serve to not only replace an aging piece of critical infrastructure in our water distribution system but to remedy safety concerns to City crews and the public.  During this four (4) week construction window, it will be necessary to hydraulically isolate the section of pipe containing the PRV, effectively lowering available water pressure to the impacted neighborhoods by nearly 50%.  This impact should be limited to only five (5) days during the construction timeframe.  It will also be necessary, due to the location of the existing valve and piping, to impose lane restrictions and lane closures during portions of the construction project.  These lane closures will result in both lanes being entirely shut down for a period of time while crews excavate and remove the old infrastructure and make provisions to reposition the new equipment out of Linda Vista Drive, backfill and replace asphalt.  This could be for a week or more during the month-long construction event. 

The Water Services project team has developed an extensive public outreach campaign since there are over 500 customers and businesses anticipated to be impacted including the driving public along Linda Vista Drive.  Public outreach will begin in early February and will consist of the following:  staff will knock on every customer and business door to personally talk about the project and its impacts, if they are not home then door hangers explaining the project including Water Services contact information will be left; press releases to the newspaper; public service announcements on local radio; social media posts on Facebook and Next Door; physical posters (11"x17") will be displayed in the neighborhood and local businesses; directly coordinating with Police, Fire, Public Works, Guardian, U.S. Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, NAIPTA, etc. 

This Water Services Capital Project will consist of relocating a set of new pressure-reducing valves and vault in a Public Utility Easement just east of the roadway, beyond the existing sidewalk to remedy access safety risks.  The new PRV will be entirely accessible to Water Services staff through a new vault hatch at a reasonable six-foot depth, out of the path of unpredictable vehicle traffic.  This pressure reducing valve serves to balance system pressures between two different water distribution zones.  The current location of the valve is in an area presenting safety concerns - in the middle of the westbound road lane of Linda Vista Drive, on a curve.  The current pressure reduction valve is located over nine feet below the surface in the vault, accessed through a manhole in the middle of the street.  This location creates safety concerns for crews to access for repairs and adjustments. The existing valve was installed 30 years ago and continues to age limiting water pressure to the affected neighborhoods of Shadow Mountain, Forest Heights, and Swiss Manor.

The old pressure reducing valve, vault, and seventy (70) linear feet of old waterline will be removed from the roadway and replaced.  Modern flow and pressure data transmitters and loggers will be installed allowing staff to closely monitor the valve performance for optimization.  Water Services will make every effort to minimize the impact on residents of these neighborhoods. During roadway closures, all vehicular traffic will be rerouted East to Fourth Street and South to access Linda Vista Drive.  Special consideration will be given to the six homes in the immediate vicinity of the construction site, between North Paradise Road and North Adrianne Way.  Upon completion, water customers can enjoy greater reliability in system pressures and increased ability to provide consistent water flows and pressures to homes, businesses, and safety infrastructure. 

Please see attached documents developed as part of Water Services' public outreach campaign.