Large amounts of water will be needed to control dust from the demolition of the Sixth Street bridge and the construction of its replacement, but instead of using drinking water, the city will instead draw water from the Los Angeles River, city officials announced today.
This will help the city conserve an estimated 13 million gallons of drinkable water following a major drought, officials said.
“L.A. is still coping with the drought, and we cannot let up on finding innovative ways to conserve water,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said. “Using river water for this project allows us to conserve our most precious resource while replacing aging infrastructure.”
Water will be pumped directly from the river onto trucks and sprayed at dust created by the demolition of the Sixth Street Viaduct. River water will also be used while constructing the new $445 million bridge. The existing bridge is being taken down because of a structural problem caused by a chemical reaction in the concrete.
The Bureau of Engineering had to work with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the construction contractor, Stacy Skanska and Witbeck, to arrange for river water to be used instead of drinking water.
“Construction projects like the $445 million Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project need large amounts of water to control dust,” Gary Lee Moore, Los Angeles City Engineer. “This partnership enables us to use available water and save drinking water for the residents of our city.”
