Project Updates
Oliver P. Roemer Expansion and Upgrade Project
West Valley Water District (District) proudly serves the Southern California communities of Rialto, Fontana, Colton, Bloomington, Jurupa Valley and unincorporated areas San Bernardino County. Over our agency’s many decades, our mission has always remained the same: to provide customers with safe, high quality, and reliable water service at a reasonable rate and in a sustainable manner.
To that end, the District is expanding the treatment capacity at the Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility to 21.6 million gallons per day (MGD) through an ambitious capital improvement project. The Project is being implemented to replace aging infrastructure, meet rising peak summer demands, provide existing users with a reliable water supply, meet projected demands due to infill and growth and to responsibly manage regional groundwater basins. With the implementation of the Project, the District is seeking to implement a conjunctive use strategy which is critical for the long-term, sustainable water management for the region.
The Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility is a surface water treatment plant that treats local surface flows from Lytle Creek and imported water delivered through the State Water Project pipeline. This Project will expand treatment capacity at the facility by 7.2 MGD and allow the District to maximize the use of surface water supplies when available and supplement this supply with local groundwater to meet water demands.
Benefits
- Enhances the existing water filtration facility to help ensure long-term dependability;
- Replaces aging infrastructure, bring the existing facilities and equipment up to today’s standards;
- Expands treatment capacity from 14.4 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) to 21.6 MGD which provides operational flexibility;
- Balances the use of groundwater, local surface water and imported water supplies.
Background
In 1995, West Valley Water District and the City of Rialto jointly constructed the original 7.2 Million Gallons Per Day (MGD) Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility to treat their Lytle Creek surface water rights for potable water use.
In 1998, the District expanded the treatment capacity at the facility from 7.2 MGD to 9.6 MGD to allow the District to treat both Lytle Creek surface water and purchased State Water Project water.
In 2006 treatment capacity at the facility was expanded again from 9.6 MGD to 14.4 MGD by installing two new contact adsorption clarification package treatment units. This upgrade expanded the treatment process capability of the plant to achieve both turbidity removal and total organic carbon reduction by installing pretreatment facilities consisting of chemical feed, flocculation and sedimentation facilities; installation of new ultraviolet light (UV) disinfection equipment; six (6) Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) removal vessels, construction of a raw water pumping station; influent blending pond; and sludge ponds.
In the summer of 2009, a new 36-inch raw water pipeline, which replaced an aging 12-inch pipeline was constructed which increased the District’s ability to take up to 20 MGD of SWP water. In 2016 four (4) GAC vessels were added to the system to aid in the removal of total organic carbon.
With this new expansion project, treatment capacity at the facility will be increased from it’s current 14.4 MGD to 21.6 MGD by installing three (3) Trident packaged Contact Adsorption Clarifier (CAC) and Filter units. A new influent pump station will supply water to the new Filter units and a new effluent pump station will pump this additional capacity to an existing off site storage reservoir through a 30-inch treated water pipeline in W. Via Bello Ave. Three (3) inline UV Reactors and GAC pumps will replace existing units to meet the increased needs from the added facility capacity. New recovery pond pumps and new piping will provide operators the flexibility to pump backwash and filter to waste water to either the existing pretreatment facilities or the existing sludge ponds. A pre-engineered metal Filter Building will be constructed directly adjacent to the existing Filter Building to house the three new CAC/Filters and includes room for future CAC/Filters. A new Programable Logic Controller (PLC) room, laboratory and SCADA room will be constructed to operate the entire facility. This system integrates existing equipment and facility operations with new equipment and is a single source of communication and control of the facility.
July 2023 Project Update
Construction on the Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility Upgrade and Expansion Project has just begun!!! The contractor has begun removing asphalt at the existing facility at 3010 N. Cedar Ave. in the City of Rialto in preparation for the new filter building slab and underground piping. Offsite activities including utility potholing and investigation (water, sewer, gas and electrical facilities) along Linden Ave. and Via Bello Ave. in anticipation for the future 30-inch transmission pipeline construction are underway.
PROJECT STATUS, NOTICES AND UPDATES
Upgrades and Expansion of the Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility began in July 2023 and is expected to be completed in the Spring of 2025.
The major phases of construction to occur over the course of the project include:
- Demolition at the existing site
- Earthwork excavation and shoring
- Concrete construction
- Influent and Effluent Pump Station construction
- Filter Building construction
- Onsite pipeline construction
- Offsite pipeline construction
- Site paving
As the lead agency, the District followed the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process and approved an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) in September 2021. Included in the IS/MND is the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) that was developed to ensure potential impacts will be mitigated to a less than significant level during construction.
The Initial Study/MND and the MMRP are available for download and review at the following document links:
Initial Study/ Mitigated Negative Declaration (PDF)
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (PDF)
Background
What is the Project?
The largest capital project that West Valley Water District (District) has undertaken, the Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility Upgrade and Expansion Project. This project expands water treatment capacity at the existing treatment facility by 7.2 million gallons per day and upgrades existing infrastructure.
Where is the Project?
The project is located at the existing Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility, 3010 N. Cedar Ave. in the City of Rialto. More specifically northern Rialto just off of Riverside Ave. between Linden Ave. and Cedar Ave.
What are the Project Elements?
The main elements of the 7.2MGD Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility Upgrade and Expansion Project include:
- Influent & Effluent Pump Stations
- Filter Building housing 3 New Trident Filtration Units
- New PLC Room, Laboratory & SCADA Control Room
- Electrical and Mechanical Upgrades
- 3 Ultraviolet Disinfection Reactors
- Upgrade UV Recovery & GAC Influent Pumps
- 30‐inch Treated Water Pipeline
- Replacement of Aging Infrastructure at the facility
- New and Upgraded PLCs, SCADA and System Security
- Emergency Generator
How does the Project Benefit the Community?
The project enhances various elements at the existing Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility which will help to ensure long-term dependability. It replaces aging infrastructure, bringing the existing facilities and equipment up to today’s standards and expands treatment capacity from 14.4 MGD to 21.6MGD which provides operational flexibility. The project will allow the District to balance the use of groundwater, local surface water and imported water supplies based on availability, water quality, treatment costs and water demands.
Who is Building the Project?
The District awarded a design build contract to PCL Construction for the construction and design of the project. PCL Construction has teamed up with Stantec to provide engineering services. In addition, the District awarded a contract to GHD for construction management of the project.
How is the water treated?
The Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility we use a series of water treatment steps that include coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.
For additional information, please see the video below.
Project Construction Details
When does construction begin and how long will it last?
Construction began in July 2023 and is expected to be complete in the spring of 2025.
What are the construction days and hours?
Construction work typically occurs Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Where will construction activity occur?
Construction will primarily occur on the treatment plant site. However, offsite pipeline trench construction will occur in the public right-of-way in the adjacent neighborhood along Linden Ave. and Via Bello Dr. and will impact traffic to local residences. Residences affected by the construction activities will be notified in advance. We understand that this will be an inconvenience and we will take all efforts to minimize those impacts as we construct these needed water system facilities.
How will this impact traffic in the area?
Local access will be maintained around the perimeter of the site to the extent is practical throughout construction. Construction vehicle access to the site will be via Riverside Ave. During delivery of equipment and materials, temporary access may be affected briefly. If needed, the contractor may implement a traffic control plan to decrease disruption to vehicular and pedestrian flow.
CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS AND MITIGATION
How will my water service and other utilities be affected during construction?
Water service to customers, due to construction activities on site, will not be affected. Water service to customers along Via Bello Ave. north of Linden Ave. will be intermittently impacted during construction of the 30-inch transmission pipeline. We realize that this construction will cause temporary inconveniences to those living nearby; however, we intend to make every effort to minimize the impacts of this project on our customers.
Will construction on the site be visible to residents?
Residences along Cedar Ave. will see construction activities as it relates to relocation of existing underground site utilities and construction of a new retaining wall on the north/west side of the existing filter building. Most of the upgrades/improvements will occur within the existing filter building or on the opposite side of the building away from residences.
How will noise be addressed during construction?
Heavy equipment used during construction will be in compliance with the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP). These mitigation measures are intended to reduce the impacts to the neighborhood to a less than significant level.
How will dust be contained on site during construction?
To minimize dust during construction, the contractor will water down excavated dirt piles when needed. All visible mud or dirt tracked-out onto adjacent public roads will be removed using wet power vacuum street sweepers.
Where will construction workers’ park?
Construction workers will park in the project site at a designated location adjacent to Riverside Ave. Construction workers are not to use residential streets for parking.
What are the hauling routes for the project?
Deliveries of materials and equipment is a regular part of construction activities. The approved designated hauling and delivery route is via Riverside Avenue.
What is the project impact on residential streets and their existing conditions?
The contractor is required to use approved designated haul routes. If there is an impact on the residential streets as in the case to Via Bello Dr., street resurfacing will occur after pipeline installation is complete.
Was an environmental review conducted for the project?
Yes. As the lead agency, the District followed the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process and approved the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) in September 2021. Included in the IS/MND is the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) that was developed to ensure potential impacts would be mitigated to a less than significant level during construction.
PROJECT INFORMATION
How is the community being informed about the project?
Regular updates on the project are being provided on the web site as well as the District newsletter. Pipeline Construction notices will be distributed to the impacted area seven days in advance and, again, 24 hours before work begins.
How do I contact the project team if I have a question, concern, complaint or compliment?
Residents can call, email or visit the District’s project webpage. From time to time throughout the construction process, neighbors residing directly adjacent to the project will receive construction notices at their door and the latest construction notices will be posted on the District’s project webpage. Please contact our Customer Service Department at (909) 875-1804 or our Director of Engineering, Linda Jadeski at (909) 820-3713 or via email at ljadeski@wvwd.org
As the lead agency, the District followed the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process and approved an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) in September 2021. Included in the IS/MND is the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) that was developed to ensure potential impacts will be mitigated to a less than significant level during construction.
The Initial Study/MND and the MMRP are available for download and review at the following document links:
As the District’s most important current water project in the Capital Improvement Plan, a team of experienced professionals has been contracted to deliver the upgrades and expansion of the Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility.
Design Build Contractor:
Long Beach, CA
Design Build Design Engineers:
Pasadena, CA
Project/Construction Management:
GHD – A company offering engineering, architecture, environmental & construction services
Irvine, CA
Contact Information
As one of the most important capital improvement projects in West Valley Water District’s history, the District is committed to providing our customers and the community at large with updates and information on the project. Answers to most questions can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions section above. For additional information, and answers to questions and concerns on the project, please contact our Director of Engineering, Linda Jadeski at (909) 820-3713 or by email at ljadeski@wvwd.org.
