2025 Goodyear Road Water Line Break
PRESS RELEASES
- 9/17/25 - Effective Immediately: Water Conservation Required for All Benicia Residents and Businesses
EBLASTS & COMMUNITY UPDATES
- 9/17/25 - Effective Immediately: Water Conservation Required for All Benicia Residents and Businesses
- 9/18/25 - Update: Water Line Repair Underway
- 9/19/25 - Water Line Repair Update
- 9/22/25 - Water Line Repair Update
- 9/23/25 - Water Line Repaired, Conservation Measures Lifted
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Where does the water from the water transmission line come from?
A: The City’s water supply consists of three surface water sources: State Water Project water via the North Bay Aqueduct (NBA); Lake Berryessa transported through the Putah South Canal (PSC); and our local source, Sulphur Springs Creek diverted at Lake Herman. Each source provides clean and safe water for drinking, fire protection, irrigation, and industry. Learn more by reading our 2022 Annual Water Quality Report here.
Q: If the damaged pipe was built in 1960s, was it regularly maintained?
A: Yes, the pipe is regularly monitored and maintained as issues arise. The pipe is buried without access points and in continuous use making inspection of the pipeline infeasible. Repairs are made as needed. Major valves are exercised throughout the year.
Q: Are there any backup lines that can carry water to the City?
A: The City’s alternate source of drinking water is own Lake Herman.
2023 Lopes Road Water Line Break
The City of Benicia has a water main transmission line along Lopes Road in the City of Fairfield adjacent to I-680 between Gold Hill Road and Marshview Road that supplies Benicia with water from the California Delta and Lake Berryessa. The pipeline is 36” in diameter and is part of a 14- mile-long water transmission pipeline that carries water from between the City of Fairfield and the City of Benicia’s Water Treatment Plant. Benicia also has a secondary, short-term source of water, which is the Lake Herman Reservoir.
PROJECT UPDATES
PRESS RELEASES
- 4/20/23 at 9:44 A.M. - Benicia’s Emergency Water Bypass Line Successful
- 4/5/23 at 1:15 P.M. - Benicia Proclaims Local Emergency; Announces Testing of Bypass Line for Damaged Water Transmission Pipeline
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3/29/23 at 8:05 P.M. - City of Benicia Announces Mandatory Water Conservation
PRESS CONFERENCES
- 3/30/23 at 11:30 A.M. - VIDEO: youtu.be/7QG61-xbxW0
EBLASTS & COMMUNITY UPDATES
- 08/15/23 - PowerPoint Presentation
- 08/15/23 - Video of Staff Presentation to City Council
- 06/06/23 - Water Transmission Bypass Line Expanded, Water Conservation Measures Reduced
- 04/20/23 - Benicia’s Emergency Water Bypass Line Successful
- 04/13/23 - Bypass Line Progress & Main Water Transmission Line Repair
- 04/11/23 - Bypass Line Update
- 04/07/23 - Bypass Line Ready for Testing
- 04/05/23 - Benicia Proclaims Local Emergency; Announces Testing of Bypass Line for Damaged Water Transmission Pipeline
- 04/03/23 - Water Transmission Line Update, City Manager Message
- 04/01/23 - Water Transmission Line Update
- 03/30/23 - Water Transmission Line Update
- 03/29/23 - Mandatory Water Conservation
Q: What happened? Why did the water transmission pipeline break?
A: Due to a wet winter the earthen slope in the vicinity of the water transmission pipeline became oversaturated causing a landslide. The damage occurred when a hillside collapsed near I-680 and Lopes Road between Marshview Road and Gold Hill Road, in the City of Fairfield just outside Benicia city limits. The slope failure caused a brief closure of I-680. The large landslide caused severe damage to Lopes Road resulting in full road closure and broke a portion of the City of Benicia’s three-foot diameter water transmission pipeline which carries water from the Sacramento Delta and Lake Berryessa to the City’s Water Treatment Plant.
Q: Has the water transmission line been repaired?
A: A temporary, above-ground bypass pipeline was successfully engineered and constructed that restored the transmission of water around the damage portion of the main pipeline. Construction began on April 5, 2023. Phase I included the installation of two twelve-inch diameter plastic pipes connecting to the intact sections of the water transmission line on either side of the slide, and was completed on April 7, 2023. Phase II included the installation of an additional two twelve-inch diameter plastic pipes for a total of four bypass pipelines, and the City may periodically use Lake Herman as a backup water source.
Are you interested in the status of the Lopes Road Landslide Project or the Federal reimbursement process for this project? Visit the City of Fairfield's Lopes Road Project page here.
ALERTS & NEWS
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MEDIA INQUIRIES
Contact Public Information Officer, at pio@ci.benicia.ca.us or call 707-746-4300