Construction is moving forward on one of California’s most significant drinking water treatment upgrades, as highlighted in a recent Engineering News-Record article. Carollo is proud to be part of the design team supporting the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) on this critical water quality improvement project.
Advancing Water Treatment in Orinda, California
Located in Orinda, the $341-million project will modernize EBMUD’s existing water treatment plant by replacing aging chemical treatment components with ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and a new chlorine contact basin. Once complete in 2027, the facility will strengthen water quality protections for a system that has historically relied on pristine Sierra snowmelt but faces new challenges tied to worsening climate variability.
Engineering Complex Water Infrastructure Underground
Much of the project is taking shape 65 feet belowground, where crews are working within a two-level excavation. The UV chamber roof slab will also serve as the base of a two-story maintenance and electrical building, requiring carefully sequenced construction to maintain stability and progress. Carollo is leading the design of advanced treatment and structural systems for the facility, collaborating closely with prime contractor Flatiron Dragados.
A Collaborative Effort to Improve Water Quality
This extremely complex five-year construction project will be completed without a single full-plant shutdown. The project team carefully sequenced construction activities to maintain progress and stability throughout the five-year build, reflecting the extensive planning and coordination required for a facility of this scale and complexity. The upgraded facility will deliver a resilient, reliable drinking water supply for EBMUD’s customers.
Read the full article in Engineering News-Record to learn more about this critical project and Carollo’s role in advancing drinking water treatment for California’s East Bay:
