West Yost is designing upgrades and repairs to a water tank and pipelines for the City of San Bruno, California. The steel pipeline is 70 years old and in a hard to access area with steep slopes that can exceed 30% and covered in poison oak. Fixing leaks on this pipeline has proved to be very difficult for City staff, and a major failure of this pipeline would be problematic for the City. The 70 year old steel water tank has experienced severe corrosion from proximity to the Pacific Ocean.
Trenchless replacement options are being considered for the pipeline; however, the rugged terrain, remote location, and capacity requirements make those options very challenging. Instead, the pipeline design will likely utilize an open-cut construction method, which will introduce additional construction challenges caused by environmental considerations regarding the open space recreational area owned by the City, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and the National Parks Service (Golden Gate National Recreation Area).
The tank, which will be replaced with a concrete tank, is located on a small project site with steep slopes and less than one mile from the San Andreas fault. The primary geotechnical consideration will be strong ground motion and West Yost is working closely with geotechnical and structural engineers to design a tank that will resist failure in an earthquake. We are also designing additional seismic measures that will automatically close valves to preserve water in the tank in the event of earthquake and a break in a water pipe. The site adds challenges for vehicular and construction access.
Team Spotlight
Jeff Wanlass, PE
Principal Engineer II
Jeff Wanlass, PE
Principal Engineer II
“From a young age I have enjoyed construction and figuring out how things work. Upon completion of High School, my dad, who is also an engineer, encouraged me to consider a career in civil engineering. During my career I enjoy both the planning and design. Early in my career I focused on planning and analysis of storm drainage systems and then transitioned into a design focus of water supply facilities. I like resolving critical design issues and helping clients resolve current operational concerns to develop a solution that meets both their current and future needs.
I enjoy working at West Yost because I have had great technical mentors and now have the opportunity to mentor the next generation of engineers. The people at West Yost have always been great. Though I have worked on many terrific projects, one of the projects I’m most proud of is the City of San Bruno Glenview Tank 3 Project. This project is located within 300 feet of an active trace of the San Andreas fault. In fact, was an old fence on or very near the project site that shifted six feet in the 1906 earthquake! It was a fun project because we were able to work collaboratively with city staff, the tank builder, and the geotechnical and structural engineers to develop mitigation measures so that the tank would still be operational after an earthquake. It was gratifying that I was able to present this project at two AWWA conferences and that it was featured in an AWWA Source magazine.”
Adam Brown, PE
Senior Engineer II
Adam Brown, PE
Senior Engineer II
“I previously worked for eight years in land development for subdivisions, commercial, and infill. I learned that water was a strong option for my future and dove in when I got the opportunity to come to West Yost. Water is fascinating because it is vital to the future for western states and an important global resource. Having a hand in building, shaping, and improving water infrastructure is important to all of us. But I especially enjoy working on local projects near where I work and live.
I feel honored to be in a position with such a varied background. My experience with development work and agencies is well-rounded and gives me a wider perspective that helps my clients. I am honored to be the practice area lead for pipelines in the Infrastructure Sector. I enjoy the opportunity to design and manage projects at West Yost and am privileged to mentor our younger staff in order to help shape the make-up of our group moving forward.”
Julia Pavicic, PE
Associate Engineer I
Julia Pavicic, PE
Associate Engineer I
“In my career in the water field and at West Yost, I enjoy knowing that we are making a positive impact on the public and our communities. I am part of a team that provides services that everyone takes for granted where we live. People are accustomed to turning on their faucet and receiving clean water, or flushing their toilet and the waste miraculously goes away. I am very proud to give back to my community by providing the luxury of great water quality and water services.
I’m proud of my contributions to the Graham Hill Water Treatment Project. I participated on the team since it began. I learned a lot by watching senior engineers and managers in our client meetings ask the right questions to clarify and determine the end goals. This changed the project in several ways to provide things that our client did not realize they needed at the start. The project grew into an intricate, complex project with several iterations. I worked on preliminary designs, intricate water and wastewater piping, and other parts of this massive project. It was gratifying to finally complete the 100% design drawings and see it go out to bid.”