City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Utilities
Meeting Date: January 20, 2026
Report #:2510-5282
TITLE
Approval of the City of Palo Alto’s Updated 2026 Water, Gas, and Wastewater Utility Standards (Design and Construction); CEQA Status- Not a Project.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the City of Palo Alto’s updated 2026 Water, Gas, and Wastewater Utility Standards (2026 WGW Utility Standards).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As a utility best practice, the City’s Water, Gas, and Wastewater Utility Standards (WGW Utility Standards), which include utility design standards and construction specifications are reviewed and updated periodically. The review and updating of the standards ensures that the City’s design and construction practices remain current with regulatory requirements, industry materials, and efficient construction practices. This staff report provides information on the updated WGW Utility Standards1, a redline version showing the recommended changes2, and the previous version of the Standards provided to City Council in 20243.
BACKGROUND
The City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) Department’s Water, Gas, and Wastewater (WGW) Engineering Division implements standard design and construction specifications for water, gas, and wastewater facilities, set forth in the WGW Utility Standards, as updated periodically. City staff and contractors will reference the WGW Utility Standards for construction work on CPAU- 1 2026 WGW Utility Standards Proposed Changes (Clean Version) http://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/city-council-agendas- minutes/2026/january/2026-wgw-utility-standards_proposed-changes-clean-version.pdf 2 2026 WGW Utility Standards Proposed Changes (Redline Version) http://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/city-council-agendas- minutes/2026/january/2026-wgw-utility-standards_proposed-changes-redline-version.pdf 3 City Council, June 3, 2024; Agenda Item #19; SR #2404-2860, https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=14299
owned facilities within the public right-of-way and on private property to ensure that utility infrastructure is constructed and maintained in a safe, uniform, and reliable manner. The WGW Utility Standards include installation requirements, material specifications, and standardized configurations.
ANALYSIS
CPAU Engineering staff updates the WGW Utility Standards periodically and last issued revisions in 2024. This 2026 WGW Utility Standards reflects current construction material availability to expand procurement marketplace, and incorporates up to date field practices, contract management, as well as other non-substantial technical editing. These changes are intended to further clarify contractor’s responsibilities, thereby enhancing staff’s ability to enforce contract requirements and manage contract disputes or potential change orders. A summary of the more significant recommended revisions is provided below:
Establish an annual or bi-annual update cycle to keep the standards current with new technologies, codes, and construction practices.
Additional required items for progress payments (Section 800). Additional third-party codes and standards incorporated by reference (Section 800). Update the Water Design and Construction Standards section (Section 2660) comprehensively to align with current state regulations, incorporating new design criteria, material specifications, and system performance requirements. The revisions clarify pressure, separation, and installation standards while introducing stricter testing, certification, and digital documentation procedures to ensure safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. The updates also include changes related to backflow preventers as part of the state’s Cross-Connection Control Program. Although these changes may have associated cost implications for customers and developers, the assessment of such costs is beyond the scope of the Utility Standards, which are limited to documenting required updates resulting from state regulations.
Revise the Natural Gas Distribution System section (Section 2685) to align with federal pipeline safety regulations and modernize materials, testing, and installation requirements. Updates include clarifications for incorporating by reference CFR Title 49, Part 192.7; updating service length protection for different models of Excessive Flow Valve (EFV) fittings; specifying the make of the EFVs; clarifying transition fitting specifications; establishing minimum standards for manufacturer testing; and defining the horizontal design location of new gas mains relative to parallel utility lines. Comprehensively revise and expand the Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) rehabilitation section (Section 2736) with defined ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials International) requirements, including testing, quality control, and performance standards.
Update Survey and GIS data collection standards section (Section 2740) to require the use of additional City GPS control point feature codes.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
There is no anticipated fiscal impact associated with the recommended revisions to the 2026 WGW Utility Standards. The recommended changes are not expected to result in significant cost increases for construction involving the City’s WGW systems.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Other than providing this item for City Council approval at a regularly scheduled public meeting, no stakeholder engagement was sought or received for this routine item.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This administrative activity is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as defined in CEQA Guidelines, section 15378(b)(2), and no further environmental review is required.
LINKS
2026 WGW Utility Standards Proposed Changes (Clean Version) 2026 WGW Utility Standards Proposed Changes (Redline Version) APPROVED BY:
Alan Kurotori, Director of Utilities
Staff: Nelson Schlater, Water, Gas and Wastewater Engineering Manager