Suburban Water Systems’ (Suburban) 870 miles of distribution pipelines provide water to customers for drinking, domestic use, irrigation, and fire protection. Suburban has a proactive annual program to replace aging and deteriorating water pipelines with new and robust pipelines to provide safe and reliable service to the community. The Safari Pipeline Project will replace 4,000 feet of pipeline in the City of Whittier neighborhood tract located north of Firebird Ave, south of Walburg St, east of Carmenita Rd, and west of Safari Dr. Construction for this project began in March 2023 and is expected to be completed by November 2023.
Suburban determined that the pipeline in this neighborhood needed replacement due to its extensive history of leaks that often lead to service interruptions for customers. The existing pipeline was installed in 1967 and is reaching the end of its useful life due to the deterioration of the pipe material. This pipe had experienced 32 pipeline, valve, and water service breaks since 1999 when data collection started. These breaks result in service interruptions from water system shutdowns required for repairs.
The existing pipeline is located behind the curb, where main breaks can damage customer driveways, landscaping, and fences, and makes access for repairs more challenging for Suburban’s crews. This replacement pipeline will be made from modern materials and constructed on the street roadway to reduce inconvenience and improve access. The new pipe will be made from PVC, characterized by its robustness and longevity, and expected to provide reliable service for decades.
This project is part of Suburban’s ongoing commitment to improve its water system and provide safe and reliable water to the community. Suburban is dedicated to improving the experience of both its customers and its employees. We appreciate our customers’ patience and cooperation during this critical project.
Assembling 12” PVC pipe with 12” valve on Safari Dr.
Installing 6” PVC pipe in the trench on Caffel Way.
Suburban crew exercising valve behind customer’s fence.
