Dam spillway

The City of San Diego entered into a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with the San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council, to oversee all construction under the Authority’s Emergency Storage Project (ESP).

The ESP is a critical $1.5 billion capital improvement initiative aimed at ensuring the storage and delivery of water throughout San Diego County, particularly in the event of an interruption in imported water supplies. This project represents a significant investment in the region’s infrastructure and includes the construction of dams, reservoirs, interconnected pipelines, and pumping stations designed to secure the county’s water needs for the future.

Key Components of the Emergency Storage Project

The Emergency Storage Project includes several major components, all of which have been constructed with the highest standards of safety and quality by skilled union tradesmen and women:

  • Olivenhain Dam and Reservoir: A 318-foot-high dam and a 24,000-acre-foot reservoir designed to store and regulate water supply.
  • Pipeline Connections: Pipelines connecting the new Olivenhain Reservoir to the Water Authority’s Second Aqueduct and Lake Hodges, ensuring seamless water transfer and distribution.
  • San Vicente Reservoir Expansion: A pipeline connecting San Vicente Reservoir to the Water Authority’s Second Aqueduct, along with the raising of the San Vicente Dam by at least 54 feet to increase water storage capacity.
  • Pumping Stations: The construction of five new pump stations to facilitate water movement across the system.

Our Commitment to San Diego’s Water Security

The San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council is proud to have played an integral role in this vital project, ensuring that the construction was carried out by highly skilled professionals under a PLA that prioritizes fair wages, job security, and safe working conditions. The ESP is not only a testament to the strength of our partnership with the San Diego County Water Authority but also a critical step in securing the region’s water future.

For more information, please refer to the Emergency Storage Project provided by the San Diego County Water Authority.