Making way for water

When Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties in California decided to connect to the State Water Project, they needed a new treatment plant and nearly 140 miles of pipeline. This newest branch, the Coastal Branch Aqueduct and Extensions of the State Water Project, would bring 48,000 acre-feet per year of water to 23 communities. Built over 5 years, the project involved a new 43 mgd water treatment plant along with underground pipeline installed with the strategic use of trenchless technology through varied terrain. The $563-million project was a joint effort of the Central Coast Water Authority and the California Department of Water Resources.