Upper Chiquita Reservoir

The Upper Chiquita Reservoir project required the excavation and placement of over 1.4 million cubic yards of material in order to construct the large earthen dam which consists of multiple distinct ‘zones’ of material to ensure stability and to meet the stringent seismic requirements. The earthen dam is monitored by state of the art vibrating piezometers, which send information regarding settlement and water levels in real time to the command center. Sukut constructed over 11,000 feet of piping ranging from large 66” steel welded pipe to the standard 24” and 48” RCP variety. The flow of potable water in and out of the reservoir is managed and controlled by the new pump station built for the project by Sukut and its sub-contractors. Finally, the reservoir is lined and covered with a high resistant ‘hypalon’ material that rises and falls with the reservoir’s current water level. This will ensure the emergency potable water will be protected and ready to serve Orange County when required.