Benicia’s Emergency Water Bypass Line Successful

 

Benicia’s Emergency Water Bypass Line Successful 

Mandatory Water Conservation Measures Reduced for Benicia Residents and Businesses  

Benicia, CA (April 20, 2023) -- The City of Benicia announces successful emergency bypass for water transmission line and reduces conservation measures. Effective immediately, all Benicia residents and businesses are under reduced water conservation measures returning to 20 percent conservation from 40 percent. The city’s water transmission line was damaged due to a hillside collapse near I-680 and Gold Hill Road on March 29, 2023. 

Water conservation measures were reduced due to a temporary bypass line that restored water from the city’s primary water sources for residential use. Meanwhile Valero Benicia Refinery will continue to receive water from Lake Herman. The bypass line will continue to be expanded to accommodate summer water usage. Plans for permanent repairs for the main line are being conducted in partnership with the City of Fairfield. The repairs are expected to take more than a year. 

The city is now under a stage 2 “Moderate Water Shortage,” which requires all residences, businesses, community organizations, schools, hotels and others to reduce water use by up to 20 percent.  

 

Prohibited water uses under this stage include:  

  • Allowing water to run off unused into a gutter, ditch, or drain 

  • Failing to repair a controllable leak 

  • Washing sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios, or other paved or areas 

  • Utilizing a hand-held hose without an automatic shut-off nozzle 

  • Irrigating during a rain event 

In addition, the city is limiting outdoor irrigation between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. daily. Vehicle washing must be done using a bucket or hand-held hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle or take place at a commercial car wash.  

“We would like to thank the community for doing its part to conserve water over these past few weeks,” said Benicia’s Public Works Director Kyle Ochenduszko. “We encourage customers to continue conserving water and ask for community support as we work towards adding capacity to the bypass line for summertime demand,” he added. 

The city will send regular information about this situation through the news media, email news, city social media channels and more through this situation. To receive emergency notifications, sign up for Alert Solano at AlertSolano.com. For more information on the Water Transmission Line Incident, visit www.ci.benicia.ca.us/WaterTransmissionLine.