Los Alamos Hills Water
Facilities Project
Nick Kanetis, P .E.
April 16, 2024
Received After Agenda Printed
04/16/2024 - Regular Meeting
Staff Presentation
2 Project Background
• In early 2022 the City of Murrieta approached
EMWD seeking municipal water service for the Los
Alamos Hills community:
– Rural residential community
– Reliant on private water wells for their water
supply and fire prevention
– Report of failing wells
– Area not annexed into the Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California (MWD) or
EMWD’s service areas
– Approximately $3 million of ARPA funding
available
• Objective
– Provide safe and reliable water supply to the
Los Alamos Hills community
– Further the strong partnership and
collaboration between EMWD and the City of
Murrieta
3 Extensive Public Outreach
• Extensive outreach to inform the community
of the opportunity for a safe and reliable water
service.
– Letters, emails, town halls, a Los Alamos
neighborhood event, and notary meetings
• Explained the construction scope, the
annexation process and the costs involved.
• Provided an overview of the dual annexation
process required to expand MWD and EMWD’s
service area to accommodate residents
interested in connecting to the new water
system.
• Property owners were informed of their
responsibility to pay for required annexation
and connection fees.
4 Planning and Design Process
• In response to the City’s request, EMWD
prepared initial and final water system
designs and cost estimates.
• EMWD prepared financial assessments for
annexation and connections.
• EMWD and City staff worked with property
owners to gauge interest in connecting to
the new water system and navigate the
annexation process.
• EMWD led the Local Agency Formation
(LAFCO) process on behalf of the residents.
• Approximately 50 properties were
approached for annexation potential;
ultimately 36 opted to proceed.
Los Alamos Road
5 Project Costs
• A comprehensive project cost
estimate was developed including:
– Engineering & design
– CEQA
– Contract administration
– Construction
– Water services including fire
hydrants, and other related
appurtenances
– Paving rehabilitation
• Total estimated cost for the project
approximately $4.8 million.
• City provided ARPA funding
approximately $3.3 million.
6 Financing Program
• EMWD developed a specialized financing
program for each property to assist
property owners that committed to
connect to the new water system.
– Financing program will cover the
annexation cost and connection fees
– 30-year term @ 4% paid twice annually
with property tax
• Intent is to ease the financial burden
associated with annexation and connection
costs.
Mason Avenue
7 Project Details
• A looped water system from an existing
pressure zone available to serve the entire
Los Alamos Hills community.
• Pipelines to be installed along Los Alamos
Road, Mason Avenue, Mary Place, Celia
Road and Ruth Ellen Way.
• Project includes installation of:
– Approximately 2.2 miles of new pipeline
(8- and 12-inch diameter)
– Water services, fire hydrants, and related
appurtenances
8 Participating Property Owner Responsibilities
• EMWD will construct water services up to
the property line where the water meter
will be placed.
• Property owners are solely responsible for
their own onsite plumbing from the meter
to their house, and disconnection of any
well water to the residence.
• Property owners may continue use of their
wells for any outdoor use and landscape
watering.
• EMWD is working with property owners for
preferred meter locations, with ongoing
coordination efforts in place to ensure
community satisfaction.
9 Construction Contract Award
• The project was bid in September 2023
(five bids were received).
• SEMA Construction, Inc., based in San
Diego, California, was the lowest
responsive and responsible bidder, with a
bid of $3,498,562.
– Contract Start: December 2023
– Contract Duration: 365 calendar days
10 Construction Progress
• Initial construction activities included
potholing, contractor mobilization and
procurement operations.
• Water pipeline installation is now
underway on Celia Road and will turn the
corner onto Mary Place the week of April
15 th.
• Traffic control and any required road
closures will be carefully coordinated with
the City.
– Full closure of Los Alamos Road during
recent spring break with advance
noticing to the City, Rail Ranch School
and others in the community.
• Project is off to a good start and is
expected to be completed on schedule.
11 Construction Progress
Los Alamos Road
Celia Road
Celia Road
12 Construction Progress – Celia Road
13 Communication and Coordination
• Staff sends construction and schedule
updates to the community.
• Ongoing communication to address
inquiries from neighboring property
owners regarding potential future
connections beyond the project's current
scope.
• Staff is actively realigning the pipeline as
necessary as field conditions permit, to
avoid a road closure and to minimize
traffic disruptions, particularly along Los
Alamos Road.
• Continuous community interaction and
feedback on preferred meter location (via
stake placement) and appurtenance
locations to accommodate requests and
ensure customer satisfaction.
14 Project Completion
• Ongoing communication and
coordination with the City and
Community will ensure timely
delivery.
• Project completion anticipated by
December 2024.
At the City’s request, the pavement restoration on
Mason Avenue will repair the trench using a 4-inch
layer of asphalt concrete pavement laid over a 4-
inch aggregate base material. A 2-inch overlay of
asphalt will be applied over top across the entire
width of the existing pavement.
Mason Avenue
15 Questions?
Contact Information
Joe Mouawad, P .E.
General Manager
(951) 928-3777
[email protected]
Nick Kanetis, P .E.
Deputy General Manager
Operations and Maintenance Branch
Planning, Engineering and Construction Branch
(951) 928-3777 Ext. 6161
[email protected]
Roxanne Rountree
Public Affairs Manager
Public & Governmental Affairs
(951) 928-3777 Ext. 4391
Cell: (951) 203-2813
[email protected]