AWWA DPOC56495

This paper discusses an Alley Water Main Relocation Program begun by the Long Beach Water Department (LBWD). This program relocates aging and outdated water mains located in alleyways to adjacent city streets. Many of the alleyways in the City range from 15-feet to as little as 5-feet in width. In addition to water mains, these alleyways contain a number of other substructures. Often times with the many substructures, there is not sufficient space to replace the water mains in the alleyways nor is it feasible under the present state and local health standards governing horizontal and vertical separation of water mains from sewer mains. The solution was to move the location of the existing water main from the alleyway to the adjacent city street. This solution required relocating the meter box and modifying the residents' on-site plumbing, work traditionally not undertaken by nor liability generally accepted by a utility agency. Nevertheless, there were benefits to the relocation: the new construction can meet current state and local sewer separation requirements; easier maintenance access for crews; and, less utility conflicts.