First Aqueduct Maintenance Shutdown Runs Feb. 25 to March 5
February 20, 2024
Member agencies and Water Authority collaborate to minimize impacts for water users
Portions of the San Diego County Water Authority’s historic First Aqueduct will be shut down for inspections and maintenance to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for the region. The work – funded through water bills – is scheduled from February 25 to March 5.
Work will focus on the southern portion of the First Aqueduct and will isolate sections of the pipeline as part of a major pipeline structure rehabilitation project to be performed over the next twelve months.
The Water Authority and its member agencies are coordinating to minimize impacts to residents and businesses, while servicing critical regional pipelines that are more than 65 years old. Customers of the following water agencies should check with their local water provider if they have questions about localized impacts: City of Poway, City of San Diego, Helix Water District and Ramona Municipal Water District.
Pipeline 1 of the historic First Aqueduct was constructed in the 1940s with Pipeline 2 built in the 1950s. On November 28, 1947, the first Colorado River water flowed south from Riverside County for 71 miles into the City of San Diego’s San Vicente Reservoir via the First Aqueduct.
The annual shutdown is a key element of the Water Authority’s Asset Management Program. The agency continually assesses and inspects its 308 miles of large-diameter pipelines, which provide treated and untreated water to 23 member agencies across San Diego County.
As assets age, the Water Authority proactively replaces and repairs them to minimize impacts to member agencies and the public. Investments in the latest inspection technologies, including electromagnetic scanning, robotic inspections and 3-D tunnel inspections help the Water Authority’s asset management team detect defects in pipelines and related facilities. Identifying potential issues early helps avoid more costly fixes later.
For more information about pipeline management, go to: www.sdcwa.org/projects-programs/programs/asset-management/