Pumping Project
SVS conducted a 3-day study on this project, consisting of a river intake structure to divert 8,500 acre-feet of water uphill for irrigation purposes. The team identified that the planned intake structure would not perform well, and proposed a much better alternative, as well as proposed new configurations of pumps, pipeline alignment, and holding pond. This achieved almost $2 million in savings and enhanced the performance and constructability of the project.
Canal Enclosure
  SVS provided a Project Manager and a Value Engineering Team Leader for a $200 million project to enclose a 21 mile long open canal with a 550 CFS river diversion. This project is to enlarge and enclose the conveyance system to increase capacity and increase safety. There are two concepts for accomplishing this enclosure. One concept uses a 14 to 11 foot diameter welded steel pipe that would provide a pressure conduit by installing downstream control in this gravity system. The second concept uses open channel flow in a 15 x 8 foot concrete box culvert.
Mountain Flow Pipeline
SVS recently completed a Value Engineering Study on a pipeline project consisting of construction of 2.2 miles of 84-inch welded steel pipeline along a major State highway through the mountains. To avoid disturbing potential slide areas adjacent to the highway, the pipeline is proposed to be constructed on the south side of the highway for the first 1.15 miles, then cross the highway and continue on the north side of the highway. The project includes installation of control valves near an existing flow control station. Primary issues involve the stability of adjacent slopes, high water table in some areas, coordination with future highway widening, and traffic control during construction. The owner accepted recommendations that will save almost $7.5 million and increase the water supplied to the users over the proposed design.
Mountain Tunnels, Inland Feeder
The study covered two contracts to build 10 miles of 14-foot diameter hard rock tunnels through the foothills mountains. The ground conditions are very difficult because of the fractured rock, hot ground water, and numerous fault crossings. The tunnels will be excavated with a tunnel boring machine. The lining is a combination of cast-in-place concrete and steel.
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