City of Benicia Emergency Repair: Emergency Repair of a Critical Water Supply Pipeline Severed by a Landslide

The City of Benicia, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, faced a critical emergency in March 2023 when a landslide severed its primary water supply pipeline. This 12.4-mi, 36-in. diameter bar-wrapped steel cylinder raw water pipeline, supplying over 80% of the city’s water demand was severed, effectively cutting off the community’s water supply and putting City’s residents and businesses at risk. Stantec Consulting Inc. (the Engineer) was retained by the City to implement an emergency bypass, with the knowledge that the City’s emergency water supply was only 1 month. A new manifold and a set of two 12-in. emergency bypass pipelines were installed within 1 week to meet immediate demands. An additional two 12-in. bypass pipes were added later to meet summer demands.