Frequently Asked Questions About Group Jobs
Why is the City coming into my neighborhood to replace
the water and sewer pipes?
The project scheduled for your neighborhood is part of the City's program
to upgrade the water and sewer system. Many of the older water and sewer
pipes throughout San Diego have been scheduled for replacement because
of their age, a history of leaks, breaks or other problems. The larger
water pipes that serve streets are called mains. Smaller water pipes that
extend from the main to each house are called services. Most of the water
mains scheduled for replacement are located in the city's more established
neighborhoods, and some of them have been in service for nearly 100 years.
These older cast iron mains comprise less than 10 per cent of our water
system, but account for 60-80 per cent of the water main breaks. Replacing
these aging water mains with modern materials will help ensure safe and
reliable delivery of drinking water well into the 21st Century. Many of
the same neighborhoods that are served by old cast iron water mains often
have sewer mains that are very old as well. The smaller sewer pipes that
extend from the main to each house are called laterals. The sewer mains
and laterals slated for replacement are made out of concrete or vitreous
clay. These materials are far less durable and reliable than today's materials,
which are much more resistant to root blockages and deterioration. During
the past 40 years, the City has replaced more than 600 miles of original
concrete sewer pipe. Many of the aging sewer mains will be replaced at
the same time as the water mains to help meet the goal of maintaining
a safe and efficient sewage system for the region.
Why are these called Group Jobs?
The City has scheduled many of these water and sewer main replacement
projects for the same time and location to minimize the impact on the
community. The City's Water and Wastewater Departments coordinate adjacent
main replacement projects, which are generally grouped geographically
and called Group Jobs. In addition to the age and condition of the pipes,
engineering plays a major role in deciding which mains will be replaced
and when each project is scheduled. Replacing continuous segments of sewer
or water mains in a neighborhood is crucial to improving the efficiency
as well as the reliability of the system. While most Group Jobs involve
the replacement of both sewer and water mains in a neighborhood, a few
jobs are exclusively water or sewer replacements.
What does it mean if a main in my street or alley
is the only one in my neighborhood being replaced?
Sometimes a water main that is leaking or a sewer main that has been experiencing
leaks or blockages will be added to a Group Job that is nearly ready for
construction. That way, water or sewer mains in need of immediate attention
can be replaced more quickly by adding them to a Group Job that is nearing
the construction phase.
Who is going to do the actual construction work?
Group Job construction work is performed by private contractors who meet
set requirements and submit bids to the City. The City is required to
award the contract for each Group Job to the qualified low bidder. City
engineers provide quality control monitoring to ensure the work is built
according to the contract plans and specifications and is safe, reliable,
and cost-effective.
Will I have water and sewer service during the construction?
Sewer service generally is not affected when the sewer mains are replaced
in your neighborhood. If the water main that serves your home is being
replaced, you will be notified in advance of any
non-emergency service outages. Service to homes is temporarily shut down
at the start of construction so crews can bypass the old main that is
being replaced. There will also be a temporary service shutdown when the
new main is reconnected at the end of construction. During construction,
your household water will be supplied by temporary pipes called "high-lines."
What are high-lines?
High-lines are two-inch water pipes that are temporarily installed along
the face of the curb and attached by a rubber hose to your water meter.
The installation of high-lines is typically performed by the Water Department.
These temporary pipes will supply water to your home as the old mains
are replaced. You may experience a slight drop in water pressure when
high-lines are in use. The water in the lines may heat up during the day,
much like the water in a garden hose that is warmed by the sun. Because
these high-lines are placed above the ground, motorists and pedestrians
should exercise caution around them. For added safety, an asphalt mixture
is placed over the high-lines where they pass driveways and other high
traffic areas. If a high-line leaks or breaks, please report it to the
Water Department's 24-hour Emergency Services line at (619) 515-3525.
How long will the Group Job in my neighborhood last?
Group Jobs usually require about 12 months from the start of construction
to completion. Work on each individual block typically takes the contractor
about 2-3 weeks to replace the water main or sewer main. On Group Jobs,
the sewer mains are generally replaced first throughout the entire project
because they are farther underground and require a deeper trench than
water main replacement. The new sewer main is installed in the street,
then new laterals are connected to the existing sewer pipe that comes
out of the home or business. This new lateral also includes a clean-out
connection that is installed at the property line, which is typically
10-25 feet behind the face of the curb. Every effort will be made to restore
private improvements and landscaping to their original condition.
Once the new sewer main, laterals and clean-outs have been installed
and connected, the trenches are filled, compacted, and a temporary paving
is installed on top. Approximately 4-6 weeks later, the sewer mains are
further evaluated by a video camera to make sure there is no sagging and/or
settling or debris inside. Once the sewer main passes the tests, a permanent
concrete cap is poured to cover the trench.
The water main is replaced weeks or even months after the sewer main
has been replaced. Once the high-lines are connected to water meters,
a loop of water mains in the neighborhood is isolated and plugged. A new
trench is dug so the old mains can be removed and replaced. As each section
of water main is replaced, the trench is covered, compacted, and capped
with temporary paving. Once the entire loop of water mains has been replaced,
the mains are pressure-tested and sanitized before the individual water
services are re-connected to the water meters. A new, larger water meter
box will be installed. The temporary caps on the trenches are then removed
and the permanent street repairs are performed.
Can the water main and the sewer main on my street be
replaced at the same time?
It would be extremely difficult to safely manage two different large-scale
utility projects on the same street at the same time. Opening two parallel
trenches on a street poses a safety hazard. Replacing both the sewer and
water lines simultaneously also would require the closure of the entire
street because of the large area needed to excavate and work in two separate
trenches. Additionally, a full street closure wouldn't leave room for
emergency vehicles to get through. For these reasons, the sewer and water
mains are not replaced simultaneously.
Would it be easier to put the new water and sewer
pipes in the same trench?
Putting a water main and a sewer main in the same trench is prohibited
by health codes to avoid possible contamination of the water main in the
event of a sewer line break. A minimum of ten feet separating the water
main from the sewer main is required.
How will the construction affect traffic and parking
in my neighborhood?
Construction projects such as Group Jobs are rarely accomplished without
some disruptions to the pattern of everyday life. Before construction
is allowed to begin, contractors are required to get approval for a traffic
management plan for the affected neighborhood. The plan includes provisions
for moving traffic through the area when work is underway, maintaining
pedestrian access through the construction zone, and notifying residents
when access to driveways or pedestrian lanes will be affected. When a
street, driveway, or pedestrian access is to be temporarily closed, the
contractor is required to notify the affected property owners and tenants
in advance. The notice also will say how long the work will take to complete.
The contractor is responsible for providing proper access to homes and
businesses during construction. Temporary no-parking zones may be established
during construction in both business and residential areas. They will
be designated by signs at the curb.
In the event of an emergency will police cars, fire
trucks and ambulances be able to get to my home during construction?
Yes. The contractor is required to set aside lanes so emergency vehicles
can have access to all homes in neighborhoods where Group Jobs are underway.
In the event of an emergency, the contractor will assist emergency vehicles
as needed to provide access to all buildings and residences. All fire
hydrants are kept in service during construction in the event of an emergency.
What are the working hours for the construction crews?
Working hours on Group Jobs in residential areas are generally from 7:00
a.m. to 3:30 p.m., although this can vary due to preparation time and
individual project circumstances. Typically, construction work completed
during a normal 8-hour shift will be covered and ready for traffic by
the end of the shift. Open trenches will be covered by large metal plates
secured in place with an asphalt mixture. In some business districts,
work hours may be modified by the City Engineer to help business owners
accommodate their customers.
Where will the tractors and other equipment be parked
during non-working hours?
A Contractor typically makes arrangements with owners of private property
to use a vacant lot as a staging area to store equipment and materials
during construction. If a vacant lot is unavailable near the construction
area, equipment and materials such as pipe, sand and gravel may be stored
temporarily on streets near the project. In most cases, the equipment
and stockpiles of materials will move along as the construction project
moves along.
On some projects, new water pipes have been put in place
and buried in the street, but nothing happens for weeks or even months.
What's going on?
When water mains are replaced in a neighborhood, a section of the water
system covering several blocks is cut off and plugged so the mains can
be replaced. The entire section must be replaced before any of it can
be put back in service. It may take several months to finish the entire
section, so all customers in that area will continue to receive their
water from the high-lines. Once each section of main is installed, the
trench is filled with a mixture of asphalt and gravel called "cold
mix." This temporary paving allows the street to be reopened to traffic
while the remainder of the project is completed. Once all the new mains
have been replaced, they must be pressure-tested and sanitized by the
contractor, then tested for purity by the City's Water Quality Lab. This
process can take from several weeks to a month. Once this is completed,
Water Department crews will return to your street to disconnect the high-lines
and connect your water meter to the new water main. A new, larger water
meter box will be installed. The high-lines will be removed when all the
customers in the neighborhood have been connected to the new water main.
What inspections are performed to make sure the
work was performed properly?
The City's Resident Engineer on each Group Job monitors the construction
daily and provides quality control assurance by verifying through testing
that the materials used on each job meet the contract specifications.
This includes all the pipes, joints, and connections before and after
they are put into service. The Resident Engineer monitors the neighborhood
traffic plan, the saw-cutting of the streets before excavation begins,
trench shoring for worker safety, and the trench bedding before the pipes
are laid. Inspection of the backfill and capping of the trenches, as well
as monitoring the quality of the new street surface also are handled by
the Resident Engineer. Once the new mains are in place, the Resident Engineer
oversees the pressure tests, bacteria tests and chlorination of the new
water mains and the video evaluation of new sewer mains. In addition,
the Resident Engineer's administrative role in the Group Job includes
handling any unforeseen construction and engineering issues that arise,
authorizing monthly payments to contractors and coordinating the entire
construction project from beginning to end.
Will my street be repaired when the project is
finished?
After all the work is completed and has passed inspection, the contractor
is required to repair your street so its condition is as good as when
the project started. In most cases, trenches will be permanently capped
with concrete, then a slurry seal is applied to the entire surface of
the street. Slurry seal is a mixture of petroleum, sand, and a binder
that helps the mixture adhere to the street. The slurry seal both protects
the surface of the street and improves its appearance. In some cases,
when the condition of a street is very poor, a layer of asphalt will be
laid over the existing surface. On streets and alleys with concrete surfaces,
the trenches will be capped with new concrete. This new concrete cap may
initially differ in appearance from the existing concrete, but will fade
over time.
What should I do if my property is damaged during
the construction project?
The property owner should contact the City's Resident Engineer to provide
information and initiate the claims process. Near the end of each project,
the Resident Engineer prepares a "punch list" of final repairs,
upgrades and enhancements needed to complete the job. Most minor repairs
are made by the contractor at this time.
Who should I call if I have other questions?
You should contact the City's Resident Engineer on the Group Job in your
neighborhood because he or she is the most knowledgeable person about
that particular project. The Resident Engineer's phone number and the
contractor's name and phone number are sent to each home in the area before
construction begins. If you have any other questions or comments about
the Group Job in your neighborhood, call the Group Job Hotline at (858)
573-5081.
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