700 Feet of 20” HDPE Pipe and Several Centrifugal Pumps divert Water for South Alamo Canal Bypass in Imperial County, CA

The Calexico East Port of Entry is one of the busiest crossing points between the U.S. and Mexico.  To accommodate increased commercial and passenger traffic, the State of California is constructing State Route 7 (SR-7) to connect the port of entry with I-8 in southern Imperial County.

SR-7 cuts across prime farmland where about half of the winter lettuce and vegetables consumed in the United States and Canada are grown. The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) supplies water to this farmland. The IID in Imperial County, California is the largest irrigation district in the United States.  The new road will cross several canals owned and operated by the IID.

Rain for Rent, Imperial, routinely deals with the IID on various construction and repair projects.  However when the IID contacted us in early August of 2004, they asked for Rain for Rent’s help in solving a problem!  Due to the construction of SR 7, the IID needed to install a siphon at the South Alamo Canal within 30 to 45 days.  This canal is the primary canal distributing irrigation and domestic water in the southern part of Imperial County. 

During September, farmers plant and germinate numerous vegetable crops, which are then grown and harvested throughout the winter months.  Peak flows fluctuate widely in a 24-hour period, from less than 20 cfs to as much as 80 to 100 cfs.

CalTrans wanted to install a bridge across the South Alamo Canal.  The IID decided to install a siphon.  This created a certain amount of friction between the two groups. The IID was extremely concerned with the construction schedule, which was very tight, and also with cooperation with CalTrans.  We were informed that Rain for Rent must adhere to all CalTrans and IID safety regulations.  In the end, the problem for RFR was that the siphon had to be installed quickly to keep the CalTrans construction schedule intact.

The solution was to bypass the canal while the siphon was installed.  The project involved plugging the canal, setting several pumps, and running lines about 700 feet over the SR-7 roadbed and discharging back into the canal.  Imperial branch personnel, with assistance from the Rain for Rent engineering department, developed a plan to utilize four DV-400’s and one DV-350c pumping into five 20” HDPE lines.  The pumps were to be monitored constantly by Rain for Rent personnel during the project to adjust to changes in water flow.  The plan presented to the IID was accepted and the fun began.