AWWA JAW51674

A portion of an existing water system that comprised five separate pressure zones was consolidated into one zone. This article reports on the process of increasing the water pressure by 241 kPa (35 psi) in 46.7 km (29 mi) of distribution pipelines serving 2,900 connections. Because of aging infrastructure and the need to meet current fire department standards, construction of new facilities was needed. However, the real challenge to the staff of the Sweetwater Authority in southern California was to adequately develop a plan to convert a water system more than 50 years old to this higher pressure while maintaining water service to residential and commercial customers as well as a hospital. Considerable planning and communications among all departments within the authority and public notifications proved to be valuable in completing this project with minimal effects. Includes reference, tables, figures.