To: The Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Grant Davis 547-1900, David Royall 521-1892
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First
Title:
Title
Completion of Emergency Work to Stabilize Dangerous Conditions Resulting from a Pipeline Break within the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District’s Reclamation System.
End
Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
Receive Report and Make Findings to Terminate Emergency Need to Stabilize Dangerous Conditions Without Bidding Resulting from a Pipeline Break within the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District’s Reclamation System (First District)
end
Executive Summary:
This item requests that the Board of Directors for the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water), receive a report of completed emergency actions taken to stabilize hazardous conditions resulting from a pipeline break within the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District’s Reclamation System and make findings that there is no longer a need to suspend competitive bidding requirements.
Discussion:
On December 31, 2025, staff at the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District’s (District) Treatment Plant identified a leak in the District’s reclamation pipeline. Staff located and isolated the broken section and stopped discharges from the pipeline. Staff estimated that the broken reclamation pipe had released about 700,000 gallons of treated reclaimed water into Schell Slough in Sonoma Valley.
As described in the Board’s January 6, 2026, emergency declaration, the pipeline break occurred in an area subject to tidal inundation and adjacent to a levee, creating challenging site conditions, increasing the risk of erosion and instability, and limiting what repair activities could commence before inundated areas became dry enough to permit access.
The repair and restoration of the project site was made possible by the a Contract Change Request/Potential Change Order that was issued to W. M. Lyles Co. to begin emergency repair activities on the broken pipeline on February 27, 2026. W. M. Lyles Co. is the project contractor for the in-progress SVCSD Influent/Effluent Pumps and Piping Upgrade Project, was already mobilized to the Sonoma Valley Treatment Plant just north of the break on the District's reclamation pipeline, possessed the appropriate contractor's license classification for the emergency work, and had directly relevant experience with the types of piping systems, materials, and site conditions involved in the repair. Utilizing the existing contract vehicle allowed the District to engage a qualified contractor without the delay of a separate procurement, consistent with the urgency established by the Board's emergency declaration.
Exploratory excavation was not able to commence until March 3, 2026 because the previously inundated areas around the pipeline break were dry and stable enough. The excavation activities exposed a compromised coupling joint that was the source of at least one leak. W. M. Lyles Co. procured the replacement coupler, pipe sections, and mechanical joint restraints over the following weeks. The repair work began during the week of April 20, 2026. The pipeline was repaired and successfully pressure tested. The excavation site was backfilled and restored to original grades per District environmental recommendations on May 5, 2026, marking the completion of the emergency repair of the broken recycled water pipeline and restoration of the project site.
The pipeline repair and verification of no additional leaks along with the restoration of the project site has allowed the reclamation line to be put back in service while preventing further impact to Schell Slough and not contributing to risk of erosion and instability.
Prior Board Actions:
5/12/2026 Report and Make Findings to Continue Emergency Work to Stabilize Dangerous Conditions Resulting from a Pipeline Break within the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District’s Reclamation System
4/28/2026: Report and Make Findings to Continue Emergency Work to Stabilize Dangerous Conditions Resulting from a Pipeline Break within the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District’s Reclamation System
4/07/2026: Report and Make Findings to Continue Emergency Work to Stabilize Dangerous Conditions Resulting from a Pipeline Break within the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District’s Reclamation System
3/24/2026: Report and Make Findings to Continue Emergency Work to Stabilize Dangerous Conditions Resulting from a Pipeline Break within the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District’s Reclamation System.
3/03/2026: Report and Make Findings to Continue Emergency Work to Stabilize Dangerous Conditions Resulting from a Pipeline Break within the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District’s Reclamation System.
2/10/2026: Report and Make Findings to Continue Emergency Work to Stabilize Dangerous Conditions Resulting from a Pipeline Break within the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District’s Reclamation System.
1/27/2026: Report and Make Findings to Continue Emergency Work to Stabilize Dangerous Conditions Resulting from a Pipeline Break within the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District’s Reclamation System.
1/06/2026: Resolution Making Findings of an Emergency Need to Perform Work to Stabilize hazardous conditions resulting from a pipeline break in the reclamation distribution system
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
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Attachments:
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Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
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