Seawater Intake Remediation

Situated within a national marine sanctuary along the Pacific Coast, Power Engineering Construction's ADCI-certified dive team, supported by topside crew, dive vessels, and construction barge, is upgrading the structural support system of two 950-foot-long parallel seawater intake pipelines.

The existing intake system is made up of two parallel 16-inch diameter High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes extending 950 feet offshore, supported by concrete blocks placed at 15-foot intervals on the seabed. With varying levels of age deterioration of the existing support system, a comprehensive renovation became necessary to ensure the continuous and sound operation of the system while maintaining its minimal ecological footprint.

Divers are utilizing a two-pronged approach, each determined by seafloor geology. In the Surf Zone (5 to 20 feet below sea level) and Intake Zone (55 feet and deeper), concrete block supports are retrofitted with stainless steel brackets, securing them to the seabed. In the Sand Zone (20 to 55 feet below sea level), concrete blocks are replaced with socketed pipe-and-beam support systems designed for the sandy seabed's stability and long-term reliability.

The project adheres to rigorous marine protection regulations and includes continual surveillance, observation, and monitoring to ensure protection of marine life.

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