Aspen completed two EIRs and several associated studies and reports for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to address the construction of a new major pipeline for water transmission. The existing pipeline was built in the 1940s to transport large amounts of water from the Van Norman Reservoir Complex in northern San Fernando Valley and local ground water wells to reservoirs and distribution facilities located in the central areas of the City of Los Angeles. As the existing water pipeline aged, numerous issues began to emerge. For example, the pipeline pressure was very low and below the state drinking water standards. The pipeline also experienced leaks. In addition, to meet new state and federal water quality regulations, the LADWP had begun to remove several open-air reservoirs (Ivanhoe and Silver Lake Reservoirs), some of which were destinations for the existing water pipeline, from direct service to the LADWP water distribution system.
The LADWP tasked Aspen to prepare an EIR for the construction of a new larger water pipeline in a new alignment. Aspen’s original analysis evaluated an approximately 13-mile alignment that crossed the Cities of Los Angeles and Burbank. The LADWP decided to first consider only the Lower Reach of the project because of complications with the design and alignment of the Upper Reach. The assessment of the Upper Reach followed, after the design and alignment issues had been addressed.
