Nohl Canyon Water Storage Tank Project

Butier Engineering, Inc. is a subconsultant to Tetra Tech, providing construction management, field engineering, and inspection services for this $20-million water storage tank project. The project team is also responsible for providing geotechnical, soils testing, noise/vibration monitoring, pre-inspection, community relations, and surveying services.

The project consists of the construction of a single 10-million gallon buried pre-stressed concrete circular tank to replace the existing Olive Hills Reservoir site in the City of Anaheim. The Olive Hills Reservoir has been out of service since February 1999. Water storage in this area is critical to the effective and efficient management of the City's water supply and distribution. The City has been relying on a connection to the Metropolitan Water District to serve its needs on a temporary basis. MWD has requested that the City develop storage capacity of its own.

The decision to construct a 10 MG reservoir versus a 20 MG reservoir drastically reduces the construction impacts to the surrounding community. The design allows for regrading the existing slopes to a flatter grade (2:1) and is consistent with the current codes with regard to new construction. Other improvements include the installation of additional piezometers and inclinometers, appurtenant pipeline and pump station improvements, and landscaping.

Project Challenges:

• Community Outreach/Public Relations—Nohl Canyon is a high-profile, politically-sensitive project due to the size and proximity to multi-million dollar family residences and an elementary school. The public has a single point of contact eliminating nuisance calls to City senior management and City Council representatives.
• Large Scale Grading Operations—Experience of Butier's Resident Engineer has allowed the City, contractor, and community to efficiently plan the earth moving operation.
• EIR Compliance—Work is being conducted under tight permit constraints. Proposed staff is very familiar with the field implementation of the EIR.
• Contractor Claims—Project site presents constraints that may generate changes. The Tetra Tech/Butier team has assembled a group of professionals who have extensive experience in change and claims control.