Overview
The existing pipeline was installed in 1983 beneath the San Leandro Channel and is vulnerable to damage during a major earthquake due to the high potential for the soils to liquify during strong ground shaking. Because Alameda has no local drinking water storage tanks, it relies on transmission pipelines that deliver water by gravity from storage reservoirs in Oakland.
The San Leandro Channel Crossing (SLCC) Project will improve the seismic resilience of this critical water supply connection by installing approximately 2,100 feet of 30-inch-diameter high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe about 100 feet beneath the San Leandro Channel using trenchless drilling technology. The project will also install new steel pipe through open-trench construction to connect the channel crossing to Alameda's water transmission system.
This investment will strengthen the reliability of EBMUD's water delivery system and help ensure continued service to Alameda and Bay Farm Island for decades to come.
Community Benefits
The SLCC Project will be the second seismically resilient water transmission pipeline serving Alameda. The first resilient pipeline was completed in 2023 beneath the Oakland Inner Harbor, connecting Oakland and northern Alameda.
Together, these two crossings provide redundancy in the water transmission system, helping maintain reliable water service to Alameda during emergencies, maintenance activities, or following a major earthquake.
Why We Are Doing This Project
As a not-for-profit public utility, EBMUD reinvests ratepayer dollars in the communities we serve through infrastructure improvements that deliver safe and reliable drinking water. The SLCC Project is part of EBMUD's ongoing commitment to strengthening and modernizing the water system that Alameda and Bay Farm Island depend on every day.
This investment will help maintain reliable water service for homes, businesses, schools, and emergency services while preparing the system to better withstand future challenges.
Timeline
Summer 2026:
Field investigations and utility locating activities.
Fall 2026 – Spring 2027:
Trenchless drilling beneath the San Leandro Channel and installation of the new pipeline.
Spring – Fall 2027:
Open-trench pipeline construction and connection to Alameda's water transmission system.
Fall 2027:
Project completion and restoration activities.
What to Expect During Construction
Construction activities for the SLCC Project will occur in phases between 2026 and 2027. Residents, businesses, and travelers near the work areas may experience temporary construction-related impacts, including:
- Noise from drilling equipment, construction vehicles, and pipeline installation activities.
- Temporary lane closures, parking restrictions, and traffic delays near active work zones.
- Increased construction vehicle traffic in the project area.
- Temporary impacts to pedestrian and bicycle access near construction activities.
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)
To install the new pipeline beneath the San Leandro Channel, EBMUD will use Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), a trenchless construction method that allows the pipeline to be installed deep below the channel without disturbing the waterway above.
HDD involves drilling a borehole beneath the channel, assembling the pipeline on the surface, and then pulling the completed pipeline through the borehole. This specialized construction method helps protect the channel environment while providing a durable and seismically resilient water supply connection.
HDD is a complex engineering process. Drilling the borehole and assembling the pipeline requires specialized contractors and will be completed during extended daytime work hours over several weeks. Pulling the pipeline into the borehole requires continuous 24-hour operations and will be completed over a 2-3 day period. These activities will generate noise near the work areas. EBMUD and its contractor will implement noise mitigation measures and work to minimize construction impacts whenever possible and will provide advance notice of major construction activities and traffic changes.
Frequently asked questions
What impacts are expected when pipelines are installed?
What work is happening near you? Use our map.
What is EBMUD's plan to replace pipelines?
Contact Information:
Community Affairs
Email: construction-south@ebmud.com
Phone: 510-287-0544
For after-hours assistance, please contact: 1-866-403-2683
Related Resources
To review all planning and design stage details for this project please see Alameda-North Bay Farm Island Pipeline Crossings.