For Water Subcommittee Meeting June 23, 2025
TO: Honorable Water Subcommittee Members
APPROVAL: John Rossi, Interim Utilities Manager
FROM: Toyasha Sebbag, Assistant to the City Manager
Title
Staff request that the Water Subcommittee provide feedback on posting a Notice Inviting Bids for the Sycamore Avenue Sewer Trunk Line Upgrade Project, from the Sycamore Lift Station to Baseline Road, with an engineer’s estimated cost of $5.52 Million. (ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Water Subcommittee provide feedback on posting a Notice Inviting Bids for the Sycamore Avenue Sewer Trunk Line Upgrade Project, from the Sycamore Lift Station to Baseline Road, with an engineer’s estimated cost of $5.52 Million.
BACKGROUND:
The Sycamore Avenue sewer trunk line is an 8-inch gravity main serving the east side of Rialto’s sewer service area. Located downstream of the Sycamore Sewer Lift Station at 1965 N. Sycamore Avenue. The proposed project would install approximately 5,300 linear feet of new 15-inch sewer main, which extends from the lift station to Baseline Road.
Due to significant population growth in the area, wastewater flows have increased beyond the capacity of the existing line. Hydraulic modeling in the 2022 Wastewater Master Plan Update identified this segment as a high priority for upsizing, with current flows frequently exceeding 80% of pipe capacity. Mains operating above this threshold are at elevated risk for sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs).
This finding has been corroborated by Rialto Water Services (RWS), operated by Veolia, through closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspections. These inspections involve guiding a track-mounted camera through the sewer pipe to visually assess flow levels and pipe conditions. In this segment, the camera footage confirmed surcharge conditions, where wastewater consistently fills more than 80% of the pipe diameter, further supporting the need for upsizing.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
Staff request that the Water Subcommittee provide feedback on posting a Notice Inviting Bids for the Sycamore Avenue Sewer Trunk Line Upgrade Project, from the Sycamore Lift Station to Baseline Road.
The engineer’s estimated cost of $5.52 million includes planning, design, construction, and contingency. Staff has requested that RWS/Veolia ensure that bids will be good for at least 90 days.
The tentative timeline for the project is as follows:
Anticipate Release of Bids to be Issued: July 2025
Anticipate Award by City Council/Rialto Utility Authority Board: August 2025
Anticipate the Start of Construction: September 2025
Anticipate Construction Completion: July 2026
The tentative timeline incorporates construction during periods of minimal community disruption, either the Summer break (June-August) and/or Winter Break (December- January), thereby minimizing traffic congestion and access issues around Morgan Elementary School.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
The proposed action is not expected to impact RUA’s Operating Budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
Staff is waiting for RWS to provide a cash flow model to ensure funds are available for this and other capital improvement projects anticipated through June 30, 2026.