Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 27
Upper Chiquita
Reservoir update
By Brian Fraser
T
his article is a review of the Upper Chiquita Reservoir
project originally constructed in 2011 and today remains
one of the largest and most challenging potable-water liner and
geomembrane floating cover projects installed in the United
States. The reservoir liner and floating cover have been in
operation approaching 15 years and a 2024 project inspection
confirmed the geosynthetic cover system performing very
well as designed.
Background
The Upper Chiquita Reservoir is a large reservoir that is part
of the Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) in Southern
California. The Santa Margarita Water District is the second
largest water district in Orange County, covering 52,000 acres
of land just east of Mission Viejo and San Juan Capistrano.
Today, the SMWD provides water to approximately 200,000
residents and businesses in Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa
Margarita, Coto de Caza, Las Flores, Ladera Ranch and Talega.
All domestic water supplied to the SMWD has to be purchased
from outside sources as there are no local water sources.
Most of the region's water is piped from the Robert B. Diemer
Treatment Plant in Yorba Linda. The district had experienced
major supply disruptions with a previous unplanned break in
the district supply pipeline and the additional planned outages
of the Diemer Plant in previous years. Any disruption in water
supply required immediate and severe water conservation
measures in the district.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
UPPER CHIQUITA RESERVOIR UPDATE
LOCATION
Las Flores, Calif.
OWNER
Santa Margarita Water District
CONTRACTOR
Layfield Geosynthetics USA
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Sukut Construction
ENGINEERS
AECOM
GEO PRODUCT
CSPE 60 mil, fRPP 60 mil, Geocomposite
GEO MANUFACTURER
Burke Industries, Carlisle Syn-tec, Layfield
Brian Fraser is the vice president of Layfield
Geosynthetics and has been active in the
geomembrane industry for over 40 years including
manufacturing, construction and product
development working in the United States,
Canada and internationally. He has authored and
co-authored numerous technical papers and case
studies on new innovation and best practices of
geomembranes and geosynthetic floating covers.
He is currently on the board of advisors of the
Fabricated Geomembrane Institute and recently
completed a three-year term on the board of the
Geosynthetic Institute. Brian has an MBA from
Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia
and is based in Yuma, Ariz.
All photos courtesy of Layfield Geosynthetics USA.
GeosyntheticsMagazine.com
27
http://www.GeosyntheticsMagazine.com
Geosynthetics October/November 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Geosynthetics October/November 2024
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - Cover1
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - Cover2
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 1
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 2
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 3
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 4
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 5
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 6
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 7
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 8
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 9
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 10
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 11
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 12
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 13
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 14
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 15
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 16
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 17
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 18
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 19
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 20
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 21
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 22
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 23
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 24
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 25
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 26
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 27
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 28
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 29
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 30
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 31
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 32
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 33
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 34
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 35
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 36
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 37
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 38
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 39
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 40
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 41
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 42
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 43
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 44
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - cover3
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - cover4
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - GeoFrontiers1
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - GeoFrontiers2
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - GeoFrontiers3
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - GeoFrontiers4
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - GeoFrontiers5
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - GeoFrontiers6
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - GeoFrontiers7
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - GeoFrontiers8
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