Pipelines in the Alameda County Water District are nearing the end of their useful lives and need replacement. There are also portions of the conveyance system that will be upsized to better provide water service to customers and reduce transmission inefficiencies. West Yost is designing more than seven thousand feet of new water mains, which includes a crossing of Mission Creek, and will provide bid support and construction services. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2021.
Because continuous water service must be provided to customers, West Yost is minimizing service shutdowns and maintaining system performance by careful project phasing. Significant agency and project coordination is required to maintain this phasing because the Driscoll main will cross pipelines from three additional agencies, encroach into the Caltrans right-of-way, and service a local school. The mains follow a major roadway (Driscoll Road) and traffic considerations are important.
The City of Fremont is a dense metropolitan area with utilities often crowded together. In addition, the project spans two pressure zones. The connections to existing structures include different pipe sizes in both steel and asbestos cement pipes. After the improvements are installed, some of the existing asbestos cement pipes will be removed.
Team Spotlight
Adam Brown, PE
Pipeline Practice Area Lead, Senior Engineer II
Adam Brown, PE
Pipeline Practice Area Lead, 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.”
Christina Ramirez, PE
Senior Engineer I
Christina Ramirez, PE
Senior Engineer I
“My passion for access to water and the universal need for water led me to a career in engineering. I enjoy juggling different projects to not only expand my skills and perspective but to work with different clients and people in our company. It’s exciting being part of a design team and seeing a project through construction.
In my first two months at West Yost I was part of a winning proposal for the Driscoll Main Renewal project for the Alameda County Water District (ACWD). We are designing replacement water lines to provide better service to customers. I have enjoyed working on my first project with the District, am looking forward to seeing it through to completion, and hope to work on more ACWD projects in the future.”
Spencer McLintock, EIT
Engineer I
Spencer McLintock, EIT
Engineer I
“I want to leave things better than I found them. My work is rewarding because it has an immediate and large effect on society. My first degree was in aquatic biology. A T.A. doing research in the tropics made marine biology sound very appealing. However, as I performed that work, I gradually moved upstream into rivers. There, I noticed that how we manage the water is what leaves the lasting impact on the environment. The engineers working on water quality and its management get to do that. So I attended graduate school for environmental engineering, with a focus on water resources.
In my first year at West Yost I had the challenge to set up my own alignments on my projects. When I started here, figuring out where things were supposed to go was very daunting, but with all of the resources I have at my disposal, the people I work with have been very patient and helpful as mentors. The Wykoff Drive Project in Vacaville (for the City of Vacaville) has been very challenging with many utilities and a winding narrow road. Now I know how to do it very well and now it is a regular part of my job duties on multiple projects.”