WHB Engineers served as lead sub-consultant to various prime consultants providing construction management and inspection services to the City of San Diego Public Works Field Division, supporting City staff on a variety of capital improvement projects. 

WHB’s Resident Engineers and inspectors interfaced as the main point of contact with the contactor, representing the City’s Field Division in coordination with various city departments, governmental agencies, and the community. 

WHB Engineers successfully completed over 10 tasks over the course of the contract. The following summary provides examples of representative projects:

Alvarado Trunk Sewer Phase II – Resident Engineering and Inspection

The WHB Engineers team provided full resident engineering/inspection services for the critical installation of approximately 500 linear feet (LF) of 48- to 72-inch steel casing by means of tunneling for a sewer installation located in an easement at San Diego State University (SDSU). Construction included installation of 1,290 LF of 15-inch diameter pipe using open trench pipe methods.

The project location posed unique challenges, as this easement paralleled an intensively used roadway and foot path entrance to campus, used by SDSU students and faculty.  Existing sewer facilities located within the environmentally sensitive Alvarado Canyon and Alvarado Creek areas were removed from service and habitat was restored to natural conditions.  Pipeline realignment provided improved maintenance access and reduced the need for entry into the sensitive canyon area.

The WHB Engineers team coordinated closely with the City, SDSU, and nearby businesses to ensure the project posed minimal impact to these stakeholders.  Key project milestones were scheduled to minimize impacts relative to the school calendar and major events at the campus.  Night work was required while school was in session.  The project was completed with no claims and to the satisfaction of CB and SDSU.

Water and Wastewater Facilities – Electrical, Instrumentation and Controls Inspection and Start-up Assistance

WHB Engineers skilled electrical and I&C team assisted Field Division and Operations staff in trouble shooting and start-up assistance of major water and wastewater facilities. 

WHB Engineers tasks included electrical testing, functional tests, start-up assistance, attending weekly meetings and representing the city at start-up meetings, and coordinating work with construction contractors.  Electrical installations were inspected for conformance to the contract drawings, industry standards, and applicable codes.  WHB Engineers prepared the final punchlist for electrical, instrumentation and controls.  

South Bay Water Reclamation Plant Demineralization

WHB Engineers successfully provided electrical and I&C inspection and start-up support for The South Bay Water Reclamation Plant Demineralization project. This Design-Build project involved the full installation of two electrodialysis reversal (EDR) trailer units relocated from the North City Water Reclamation Plant to establish a new demineralization facility at SBWRP, including a new clean-in-place system, new chemical feed systems, and integration into the existing control system at the plant.

Description: Since 2013, WHB Engineers has been providing the SDCWA authority with Electrical and Controls As-Needed Services. The WHB Engineers team has a strong working relationship and history with the SDCWA. Our experience provides us with an understanding of the Water Authority Polices and Standards along with understanding of the distribution system. Below is an example of a Flow Control Facility successfully completed.                 

Carlsbad 6 Flow Control Facility – The project included replacement of an existing Flow Control Facility (FCF) with a new FCF in Carlsbad, California. WHB Engineers scope of services included the design of all electrical, control and communications systems associated with demolition of the existing FCF and construction of the new FCF. 

The electrical design of the new FCF included a new electrical service and power distribution system to support the power requirements of the FCF and two turnout structure vaults. The new FCF provided monitoring and control of a primary flow control valve (FCV) and two additional FCVs located at nearby turnout structure vaults.

The instrumentation and control (I&C) system design included a new control panel with an Allen Bradley CompactLogix family programmable logic controller (PLC) which provided local monitoring and control of the three FCVs and interfaced to the SDCWA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system via cellular radio. 

To provide enhanced security for the SDCWA assets associated with the FCF an ancillary turnout structures, an intrusion detection system equipped with intrusion switches at all hatches and doors and access card reader for the FCF was incorporated in the design. 

Primary challenges associated with the project included limited real estate near a congested commercial intersection with multiple stakeholders near the project boundaries and maintenance of operation of the existing FCF during construction of the new FCF.

The City of San Diego has initiated a Pure Water project that will use proven water purification technology to clean recycled water to produce safe, high-quality drinking water. The Program offers a cost-effective investment for San Diego’s water needs and will provide a reliable, sustainable water supply.

WHB Engineers was tasked with creating the electrical design for the new 34 MGD Pure Water Plant in San Diego, CA.

The plant utilizes Ozone, BAC filtration, Ultra filtration, Reverse Osmosis, UV and CO2 systems. The power requirements were 12kV 15MVA Main Electrical Building, medium voltage 1000HP pumps at the pump station, and multiple process systems. The DCS system is networked to the North City plant that also feeds the raw water to the new plant. Smart MCCs and ARC resistant switchgear were incorporated into the design. Multiple valve networks and analyzer networks were part of the design along with a fully
integrated security system.

Provisions for a future renewable energy generation feeders to the plant from the existing wastewater plant was critical. CAISO metering, SDGE metering, and redundant multi-function relays were incorporated.

The Mayfield booster pump station (BPS) was originally constructed in 1970 and had reached the extent of its expected service life. California American Water (CAW) had decided to replace the BPS with a modern premanufactured below-ground pump station that would alleviate several of the issues that were identified in the BPS condition assessment. The new BPS provides for more efficient operation with variable frequency drive (VFD) domestic water pumps; additional fire flow capacity to meet county requirements; emergency generator; ventilation; sound attenuation; and greater accessibility for maintenance. 

WHB Engineers provided preliminary engineering services that included hydraulic analysis of the closed-loop service area using the Water CAD model and projected demands; surveying, geotechnical investigation; and development of a Basis of Design Memorandum that identified several options and associated cost estimates. Close coordination with premanufactured vendors, USEMCO and EFI, resulted in a preferred installation with little impact to the surrounding residential area.   

Both premanufactured vendors were solicited for bids based on performance specifications and preliminary engineering drawings. WHB Engineers provided bid support review and recommendations for purchase by CAW. In the Final design phase, WHB Engineers provided construction documents for the civil, structural, electrical, and traffic control improvements to support the installation of the BPS. Construction support services included attendance at meetings, response to requests for information (RFI), and submittal review. 

One of the major challenges in the project were the existing site constraints. The original BPS had been located within a small 12ft x 15ft easement between two residential properties on a steep slope with relatively shallow rock bed. In 1991 and 1995 electrical improvements were made to the BPS that extended beyond the easement property lines. The new BPS required a greater area to support the additional pumps, emergency generator, and greater accessibility for maintenance.

During preliminary design an alternative was developed to relocate the pump station to the adjacent street and allowing for the existing easement to be used for the new emergency generator. The alternative design minimized impact to the existing residents by not requiring additional easement acquisition and still allowed for the installation of the new larger BPS within the street right-of-way (ROW) with all the CAW desired features.

Description: The Otay Crossings Commerce Park Sewage Pump Station will service the new Otay Crossing development located in East Otay Mesa. The lift station includes a 7700 gallon wet well with a 15,000 gallon emergency storage manhole and two 15 HP lift pumps each capable of 275 gpm of sewage flow.

WHB Engineers provided electrical and control systems design, including power, controls, site lighting, grounding, and maintaining County SCADA standards to maintain consistency across all facilities.

Services Provided: Topographic Study, Hydraulic Design, Civil Design, Architecture, Mechanical/HVAC Design, Structural Design, Electrical Design, I&C Design, Landscaping, Construction Cost Estimates 

Construction Value: $580,000

Description: Located adjacent in Cordata Park in Fountain Valley, California the Reservoir No.2 and Pump Station Rehabilitation project provides for the demolition of the existing 7,500 gallon per minute (gpm) pump station and design of the new Reservoir No. 2 pump station complete with 3 – 2,500 gpm vertical turbine pumps, variable frequency drives, dewatering pump, piping and valves, SCE electrical room, SCE transformer, installation of a standby generator and HVAC facilities.  Site improvements include, new concrete driveway and paver maintenance road; site grading, landscaping and irrigation improvements, park improvements, new sidewalks and miscellaneous utility lines and connections. In addition, the design work includes new appurtenances for the existing Reservoir No. 2.

WHB Engineers provided design services and preparation of contract drawings and specifications for demolition of the existing pump station, design of the new pump station and replacement of the Reservoir No. 2 appurtenances. Design disciplines for this project included civil, mechanical, architecture, structural, electrical, instrumentation and control and landscaping. WHB’s engineering services also included topographic surveying, geotechnical investigation and structural assessment of the existing Reservoir No. 2. With the new pump station located across the street from residential homes, special attention was given to architectural features, materials and color schemes. The project will also include construction of a new basketball court in the park, new lighting around the park playground areas and 19 new trees planted in the park. WHB’s construction management staff was assigned the task of preparing estimates of probable construction at the 30 and 100 percent complete designs. 

The WHB Engineers team met the challenge of designing a new municipal facility in a city park and residential development while maintaining the City’s need for a secure potable water pump station and reservoir that is aesthetically pleasing for the neighborhood. In addition, improvements included operational improvements for the City of Fountain Valley operation and landscaping department.

WHB Engineers was tasked with the design of a new Reservoir No. 2 pump station to replace a 7,500 gallon per minute (gpm) pump station in Fountain Valley, CA adjacent to Cordata Park.  The new pump station was located across the street from residential homes and needed to be aesthetically pleasing, leading to special attention being given to architectural features, materials, and color schemes.

WHB Engineers provided design services and preparation of contract drawings and specifications for the demolition of the existing pump station, the design of the new pump station and replacement of the Reservoir No. 2 appurtenances. The design incorporated improved access via a new concrete driveway and paver maintenance road and site grading.  To incorporate the necessary aesthetics, the design also incorporated landscaping, irrigation, and park improvements.

The WHB Engineers team met the challenge of designing a new municipal facility in a city park and residential development area while maintaining the City;’s need for a secure potable water pump station and reservoir that is aesthetically pleasing for the neighborhood.