Pipeline plan is already disturbing residents

The thought of work crews replacing a pipeline at night under South Coast Highway had some South Laguna residents bristling at last week’s City Council meeting.

South Coast Water District officials say a 10-inch-wide pipe that carries recycled water to district customers in Laguna and Dana Point is too small to handle the water pressure and needs to be replaced.

“With the speed of water, we risk a major break in the line,” South Coast General Manager Andy Brunhart said by phone this week.

But while there might well be “a lot less traffic” at night, as South Coast’s chief engineer, Rick Shintaku, said during the meeting, residents shuddered at the thought of night work, explaining that the surrounding hillsides to the east of South Coast Highway create a natural sound amplifier.

“Night work on a highway is a combination of light and noise that is quite extraordinary,” said Mayor Pro Tem Toni Iseman, who had asked the item be put on last week’s agenda to alert the community of the pending project.

“It’s much noisier, even though it’s the same noise. It’s much noisier at night because it’s [otherwise] much quieter. You can hear a cat outside at night, but you don’t hear a cat outside when the cars are running around on [South] Coast Highway. “

The district will replace 6,300 feet of existing pipe, which runs between Aliso Way south to 10th Avenue, with a 16-inch-wide version, and add an additional 200 feet of pipe under Aliso Way. Construction is slated to begin in September.

The pipe distributes recycled water for irrigation to the South Laguna Village Green Park and customers in Dana Point Harbor. Mission Hospital will also receive recycled water in the near future.

“Our sewage creates recycled water that goes south and benefits the region, but the burden is on the [Laguna] residents,” Iseman said during the meeting.

What’s unknown at this point is the time of day crews will work.

South Coast officials proposed a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift Sunday through Thursday.

Resident John Thomas suggested that crews start at both ends and work until they meet in the middle to speed up the process.

“We built the transcontinental railroad with two guys from both ends,” Thomas said. “If you had eight hours, or 16 hours, or 24 hours a day, from one end and you had the same thing going from the other end, they ought to be able to meet in the middle. Maybe you can get that 40 days to 20 days.

“Just get the pain over with. It’s like ripping the band aid off.”

South Coast officials proposed several alternatives to Caltrans, including day, night and 24-hour shifts, and are awaiting a response from the state agency, which owns the road.

Shintaku told the council that another option could be a split shift, whereby crews would work from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., take a three-hour break, and get back to it from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Iseman wants to complete the project as soon and possible and expressed support for 24-hour shifts.

South Coast met with representatives from the South Laguna Civic Assn., an organization of area residents, this week to discuss an outreach plan and will organize a community meeting to gain the public’s feedback on a schedule.

How long the project takes will depend on the schedule chosen, but the duration could range from more than one month to three months, Brunhart said.

The $2.1 million project is being partially funded by a $750,000 grant from Proposition 84. The 2006 ballot measure authorized $5.3 billion to fund various projects, including ones tailored to safe drinking water and water conservation, according to the state’s website.

Using recycled water means less reliance on potable water, Brunhart said, as the state endures a record drought.

“We understand how difficult this project could be for the community,” he said. “We must complete it before there is a failure. We’re working hard on a plan with the least impact on residents and commuters.”

--

bryce.alderton@latimes.com

Twitter: @AldertonBryce