Water Services
The Water Business Sector is a cohesive and collaborative team whose combined expertise brings value to our clients during the utility planning process. We provide planning, modeling, and regulatory services for recycled water, drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities. Our team is adept at master planning. We are often completing multiple plans concurrently. Recent examples include the City of Stockton’s Water System and Collection System Master Plans; and the City of Garden Grove Water and SCADA Master Plans, where West Yost was able to incorporate the City’s AWIA compliance while preparing recommendations to implement their SCADA master plan. This team provides comprehensive services for drinking water, from Urban Water Management Plans to surge and transient evaluations.
As recycled water becomes an integral part of water conservation, West Yost is actively innovating how we maximize its use. Our teams bring new technology and tools to the evaluation of internal plumbing, cross connection control, system conversion, and testing. We assist our clients with Title 22 recycled water treatment, recycled water use planning studies and the development of funding streams, including grants.
Our collection systems team provides planning, flow monitoring, and hydraulic modeling for collection systems and combined sewer/stormwater systems. They work with utilities to meet their regulatory requirements for sewer system management plans updates and offer recommendations to help municipalities manage growth. Our stormwater group, who are leaders in stormwater system planning, regulatory compliance and design of needed storm system improvements, complete this robust group of planners, modelers and compliance specialists.
Project Highlights
Water Facilities Master Plan and 30 Water Modeling Projects
Eastern Municipal Water District
West Yost completed the District’s 2015 Water Facilities Master Plan. The District anticipates significant future growth, projecting a three-fold increase in demand. To meet the District’s rapid buildout requirements, West Yost is providing on-call hydraulic modeling support with over 30 different projects completed to date.
Stormwater Capital Improvement Program Master Plan
City of Rancho Cordova
Here, West Yost is finishing the stormwater master plan, which focuses on evaluating the City’s trunk storm drain system. We have also completed hydraulic and hydrologic modeling for existing conditions and for evaluating improvements. West Yost has completed the data collection and condition assessment field work activities to confirm the configuration of the trunk drain system and define its condition.
Recycled Water and Alternative Water Supply Planning
Stanford University
West Yost has advised Stanford on recycled water use opportunities on campus since 2010. As part of our work for the university, West Yost prepared a recycled water white paper that outlines potential campus-related recycled water uses, recycled water regulations, permitting issues, and water quality.
Recycled Water Support Services
City of Oceanside
Our team is assisting the City of Oceanside with recycled water projects, including retrofit plans, plan review, inspections, annual inspections, and shutdown testing services. As part of this effort, our team will prepare site conversion evaluation reports for 68 sites (300 meters). The City’s customers who recently converted to recycled water include the Goat Hill Golf Course and the El Corazon Sport Complex (18 soccer fields). As the City’s representative, our staff coordinates with the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health, the State Water Resources Control Board, and customers.
Water Master Plan and SCADA Master Plan
City of Garden Grove
West Yost recently completed the City of Garden Grove’s Water System Master Plan Update. The City, located in north central Orange County, has an 18-square-mile service area and is close to being built out. The principal challenges facing the City include aging infrastructure and capacity issues associated with older small-diameter mains. West Yost updated the distribution system hydraulic model, planned and completed a field program to collect hydrant flow test data, calibrated the model pipeline roughness values using the field data, and verified the model comparing model operations to SCADA data.
Water Master Plan Update and Collection System Master Plan Update
City of Stockton
West Yost is preparing an update to the City’s Water and Collection System Master Plans. These efforts will provide an evaluation of water system and collection system infrastructure needs. The master plans will support buildout identified in the recently updated Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan with an updated capital improvement plan. After collaborating with the City to confirm project goals, priorities, and strategies a number of tasks are planned.
Team Spotlight
Les Chau, BCES, AAEES
Water Business Sector Leader
Les Chau, BCES, AAEES
Water Business Sector Leader
“I am passionate and prudently optimistic in contributing my 30 years of water consulting experience to addressing California’s water and climate issues. I have been aware of the changing climate and its impacts on water supply since 2004. More than ever, the need is to maintain reliable water infrastructure and manage our precious water resources.
I am thrilled to work with my colleagues in diverse areas of practice to focus on the One Water paradigm to advance the integrated and sustainable uses of “all water”. We are on the advent of technology with thirsts to nurture the political will of Californians to find and manage “new water”. Lastly, we want to be a voice for safe drinking water for the underrepresented communities and reliable water supply to grow food!”
Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents; it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrowed it from our children. – Native American Proverb
Michele Miller, PE
Associate Engineer II
Michele Miller, PE
Associate Engineer II
“I enjoy building in resiliency to stormwater and collection system infrastructure. Helping our clients navigate the uncertainties associated with climate change is foundational to public safety and system performance.
I am most proud of the synchronized effort to identify hydraulic and condition deficiencies for the City of Rancho Cordova SCIPMP. I led the extensive field investigation and developed hydraulic modeling. West Yost was able to offer a holistic approach to creating a capital infrastructure program. I created a cloud based WebMap for this effort, facilitating real time data collection and exchange with the City on all infrastructure data.”
Amy Kwong, PE
Principal Engineer II
Amy Kwong, PE
Principal Engineer II
“I enjoy working collaboratively with our clients to develop solutions to water supply and distribution challenges.
I’m proud of supporting the City of Tracy with water master planning and hydraulic modeling services for the past ten years starting with the 2012 Citywide Water System Master Plan project, which began in 2009. It’s been rewarding to see how our planning efforts using the City’s water system hydraulic model have successfully guided development in new pressure zones. Our current work on the 2020 Citywide Water System Master Plan Update will help guide the City’s water system improvements for years to come.”
Available Positions
Stormwater/ Flood Control Engineer
Posted
Engages on technical issues associated with stormwater and flood control engineering… projects
Cross Connection Specialist
Posted
Performs field inspection, cross-connection testing, site surveys of work related to water and recycled water systems for compliance with approved plans, specifications, Client rules and regulations.
Senior/ Principal Engineer – Water System Planning
Posted
We are looking for a motivated self-starter who can contribute, practice, and provide leadership in the following areas of expertise:
