Press Releases

SAN DIEGO, California – The El Monte Pipeline is a key asset for the delivery of raw water from the El Capitan and San Vicente Reservoirs to the City of San Diego’s Alvarado Water Treatment Plant.  This 12.2-mile-long pipeline has delivered water to the central part of San Diego for over 70 years.  Since its completion in the 1940s, the East County communities of Lakeside, Santee, El Cajon, and La Mesa have grown and expanded over the pipeline, leaving minimal access points and complicating future repairs.

Recognizing the age of the infrastructure, the City authorized a comprehensive condition assessment to confirm the need to rehabilitate the El Monte Pipeline and the Lakeside Valve Station which throttles the flow from the reservoirs. The City prioritized addressing the Lakeside Valve Station, and over the summer of 2018, selected Kleinfelder as the design lead for the project. Now, with the most recent contract award for the $2.7M rehabilitation of the El Monte Pipeline, Kleinfelder has captured the remainder of this critical raw water pipeline project.

“The City’s selection of Kleinfelder solidifies our presence in the water/wastewater market in Southern California with the design, rehabilitation, and construction services of the main raw water feed system to the largest water treatment plant in the City of San Diego,” remarked Kleinfelder Project Manager Ed Matthews.  “These two major projects are critical towards extending the remaining life of this vital infrastructure for many decades.”

The El Monte Pipeline and Lakeside Valve Station form the regulating and conveyance backbone for over 130 million gallons per day (mgd) of raw water intake to the Alvarado Water Treatment Plant, supplying water to over 1 million residents. As a critical part of San Diego’s water infrastructure, the project requires a strong team of technical specialists and design managers.  Kleinfelder’s thorough understanding of project phasing will ensure minimal disruption to the day-to-day operations of water conveyance. In addition, Kleinfelder’s strategic delivery approach will streamline the project schedule, reduce cost and risk, and enhance consistency between the El Monte Pipeline project and Lakeside Valve Station project.

“Kleinfelder has distinguished itself as a trusted advisor within the Southern California water market through our team’s technical capabilities, unmatched knowledge, and our ability to offer risk reduction and value through innovative approaches,” said Kleinfelder Principal-in-Charge Simon Wong.

Kleinfelder. Bright People. Right Solutions. Founded in 1961, Kleinfelder is a leading engineering, design, construction management, construction materials inspection and testing, and environmental professional services firm.  Kleinfelder now employs more than 2,200 professionals and operates from over 75 office locations in the United States, Canada, and Australia.  The company is headquartered in San Diego, California.  Poised for growth, Kleinfelder continues to provide high-quality solutions for our diverse client base.  Visit Kleinfelder.com or follow us on LinkedIn/Kleinfelder.