Construction crews convert an open canal to buried pipeline while Oakley roadway is widened.
Contra Costa County, California, August 24, 2025
The Contra Costa Water District is advancing a major canal replacement program to convert roughly 20 miles of its main open canal into buried pipeline, part of a broader effort to reduce water loss, improve safety and boost drinking water quality. The work is tied to an Oakley road‑widening project that requires burying the canal under a new roadway; the district will reimburse the city $2.2 million for the pipe under the road. The program affects service for more than half a million residents, includes reservoir and reuse targets, and is linked to a senior engineering leadership recruitment.
The Contra Costa Water District has moved its Main Canal Replacement Program to the top of its capital work list, with plans to replace about 20 miles of a 48-mile canal system at an estimated cost of $1 billion. The program, ongoing for more than a decade, now pairs major pipeline work with local projects that require the canal to be buried beneath new roadways.
The canal replacement converts open-channel sections into buried pipelines to improve water quality, reduce losses and boost resilience during events such as fires and earthquakes. The district has completed four miles of canal replacement so far and has roughly 16 miles remaining in the current phase. The new pipe design favors very ductile materials to better handle ground movement and seismic shaking.
Supply conditions are solid in the near term. The district draws water from the Central Valley Project supplied by Lake Shasta and stores water in its own Los Vaqueros Reservoir. Recent levels reported show Lake Shasta near 94 percent full and Los Vaqueros near 93 percent full. The district also uses recycled water for about 10 percent of its deliveries and aims to increase that to 15 percent.
The water district serves most of central and eastern Contra Costa County and delivers water to a population reported in various references as around 500,000 to 560,000 people. Service areas include cities and communities across central and east county, with both treated and raw water customers roughly split evenly. Keeping tanks topped during power outages and meeting state water quality limits are routine parts of operations.
The district operates a budget of about $200 million per year. Rising energy costs and medical benefits have been the largest price drivers from 2020 to 2024, followed by pension and other post-employment liabilities. Infrastructure investments listed in planning slides include pipeline renewal, canal replacement and treatment plant upgrades, along with system operations, purchased water and customer services. The district maintains a strong bond rating that helps keep borrowing costs lower.
The average residential customer in the service area pays roughly $3.00 per day for water, which works out to about 1.3 cents per gallon. That compares to higher per-gallon rates in some neighboring systems.
A localized project in eastern Oakley cleared a major hurdle when city leaders and the water district agreed to replace a stretch of canal at East Cypress Road with a buried pipeline. The undergrounding is necessary for a planned rebuild of a roughly 2,200-foot road segment that will become a six-lane corridor with bike lanes, sidewalks, streetlights and a new storm drain system. The district will reimburse the city about $2.2 million for the pipe work under the roadway; the city estimates the first phase of the roadway rebuild at about $10 million.
The Oakley work is being coordinated with multiple landowners, developers and county agencies. The project team expects construction to start later in the month mentioned in public updates, with a one-year completion goal for the first phase if there are no delays. Additional widening and a possible 1.5-mile extension of Bethel Island Road are being pursued to improve emergency access and to provide alternate routes.
The district is recruiting for the role of Assistant General Manager, Engineering & Construction, who will serve as the agency’s chief engineer and report to the General Manager. The position will oversee a team of 38 staff and guide the Main Canal Replacement Program along with other capital investments in the 10-year capital improvement plan.
Minimum and preferred qualifications for competitive candidates include at least ten years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a municipality or special district, including five years of senior-level management responsibility. Training equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering is required. Registration as a California Professional Civil Engineer and experience managing large-scale capital projects are highly desirable. The salary range reaches up to $305,240 depending on experience, and the role comes with a comprehensive benefits package.
Interested candidates are directed to the recruitment firm website for a full brochure and online application. The application closing date is listed as September 21, 2025. Contact phone numbers are available for the recruiting leads.
The district has weighed major projects against costs and supply risks. An expansion of Los Vaqueros Reservoir was studied but found not viable in its earlier form because projected costs rose sharply and supply agreements could not guarantee sufficient new water. The district continues to evaluate other storage and supply options and to participate in regional planning. Officials note that conservation success in the district has reduced per-capita use even as population has grown over the last two decades.
The current plan covers about 20 miles of the district’s 48-mile canal at an estimated cost of $1 billion.
Burying the canal with a pipeline at East Cypress Road allows a needed road widening and improves water quality and safety. The district agreed to reimburse the city for the pipeline under the new roadway.
Current storage levels reported for major reservoirs are high, and the district maintains both treated and raw water supplies. Storage and operations aim to support supply during emergencies, though larger projects and transfers can be limited by regulatory and supply agreements.
The role seeks an experienced water-industry administrator with a civil engineering background and senior management experience. Applicants should apply online through the recruiting firm’s website before the closing date listed.
Roadway work will bring temporary traffic changes, lane shifts and slower travel through work zones. Drivers are advised to slow down and expect longer travel times during construction.
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Canal replacement | About 20 miles targeted, estimated cost $1 billion, pipeline replacement, 4 miles completed |
| Service area | Central and eastern Contra Costa County, serving roughly 500,000 to 560,000 residents |
| Water supplies | Lake Shasta (CVP) and Los Vaqueros Reservoir; storage levels reported in the 90% range |
| Recycling goal | Increase recycled water use from 10% to 15% |
| Oakley road project | East Cypress Road rebuild, 2,200-foot first phase, district to reimburse $2.2M for pipeline |
| Assistant GM role | Chief engineer role, oversees 38 staff, up to $305,240 DOQE, application closes Sept 21, 2025 |
| Budget | Approximately $200 million per year; major cost pressures include energy and medical benefits |
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