AKM was responsible for preparing the plans, specifications, and estimates for the construction of a new 1,500 GPM, 450 HP variable frequency drive (VFD)-operated well facility. The project included a well building designed to match the surrounding architecture, a standby diesel generator, a biotreatment storm drain filter, site improvements, and a 12-inch diameter discharge pipeline connecting to the existing distribution system. The existing Beneta Well had been taken offline due to diminished production and was decommissioned, with the new Beneta Well 2 constructed on the same lot.

As part of the project, AKM and Kyle Groundwater Inc. prepared a Preliminary Design Report for the replacement well. The new well was constructed with a 20-inch, 304 stainless steel casing and drilled to a depth of approximately 1,010 feet below ground surface (BGS). Based on similar wells in the area, the well was anticipated to produce between 1,500 and 1,800 GPM, with groundwater levels expected to fluctuate between 140 and 160 feet BGS. AKM completed the contract documents for Phase 1 – Well Drilling, and drilling for Beneta Well 2 began in January 2022. Hydraulic analyses were conducted using the City’s hydraulic model to support pump selection and electrical system design. Following pilot hole drilling, step-drawdown testing, and constant rate pumping tests, the equipping design was adjusted accordingly to meet the selected operating conditions. The pump and electrical equipment were housed in a masonry block building, featuring acoustic sound panels on the interior walls to minimize noise. Most of the above-ground piping was located outside the building, including the check valve, flow meter, and pump-to-waste valve. The 6-inch pump-to-waste line discharged into a settling basin, which then flowed by gravity through an 18-inch reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) drain, ultimately discharging into a County of Orange channel. The chlorination equipment was housed in a separate masonry block building. The sodium hypochlorite bulk storage system included a 500-gallon high-density polyethylene (HDPE) storage tank, a mixing tank, a chlorine residual analyzer, and a pre-engineered sodium hypochlorite feed system. Backup power for the site was provided through a portable generator, with a portable generator connection box and manual transfer switch installed for emergency use. The electrical components of the well facility included a 600-amp switchboard with a 350 HP VFD and a solid-state bypass starter. As with all wells in the City of Tustin, Beneta Well 2 was integrated into the City’s SCADA network for remote monitoring and control.