The Sacramento Area Sewer District (SacSewer) has made a deliberate effort to identify, characterize, and prioritize sewer assets adjacent to creeks that pose a risk for spills.

SacSewer initiated the Creek Crossing Project to address twelve sewer creek crossings throughout Sacramento County. These sewer creek crossings included both aerial and originally buried gravity sewer lines ranging in size from 4 inches to 48 inches which were exposed in the creeks.

Exposed creek crossings exhibited erosion, partial loss of pipe and/or pier support, exposed joints, and debris accumulation which puts them at risk of failure which can lead to spills in a sensitive habitat.

WSC, alongside the consultant project team, evaluated alternatives, permitted, and designed improvement measures for each crossing. Improvements included protection in place from ongoing erosion within the creek, pipe replacement, structural shallow and deep foundation support for aerial crossings, and rerouting of the sewer lines.

WSC’s tailored solutions for each site and optimized rehabilitation and repair projects with strong Business Case Evaluations. The team also evaluated alternatives based on life-cycle spending costs, including capital costs, maintenance and operation costs, and risk costs annually and over the assets life cycle.

WSC delivered these projects with design solutions and permitting strategies that avoided, minimized, or mitigated environmental impacts. WSC’s final deliverables also constructed improvements during limited construction windows (during the dry season).

In addition to each crossing being in or near local creeks, several were within urban residential settings. Many required agreements with property owners for access. WSC also supported SacSewer in communicating with stakeholders, property owners and permitting agencies.