MMWD aims to replace pipes in Tiburon

Old water pipes along Paradise Drive in Tiburon might be getting a $2.9 million upgrade.

The Marin Municipal Water District’s operations committee is recommending that the board approve a project to replace 3,490 feet of iron pipes in the town.

The pipes along Paradise Drive and Mar West Street were installed as early as 1922 and are prone to leaking, according to district staff. The project would replace the pipes in the area with 8-inch, 6-inch and 4-inch welded steel pipes, according to Ava Pridgeon, an engineer with the district.

The project is part of the district’s capital improvement and fire flow improvement programs. About 77% would be funded by the capital improvement program and the rest by the fire flow program.

The water district will coordinate with the town, which is planning a road restoration project. During the town’s project, the street will be ground down to a depth of 18 inches, and the new water pipeline will be installed at 36 inches deep.

“I want to thank Marin Municipal Water District for ensuring that our pipelines along Paradise Drive and elsewhere in Tiburon are maintained to ensure public safety,” said Holli Thier, the vice mayor of Tiburon. “Upgrading our existing water system is critical for the residents of Tiburon and Marin County.”

The new pipe will give residents more reliable and seismically resilient water main along the section of Paradise Drive. Tiburon will waive the requirements for the water district to do resurfacing along Paradise Drive, and will repave the road after the pipe is replaced.

“We always try to closely coordinate public works projects with all of our utility partners,” said Greg Chanis, the town manager. “In this instance, it’s really important because we are planning a significant pavement project along portions of Paradise Drive, so we want to make sure that is completed before we start.”

The project was presented at the district board meeting on May 17. Ranjiv Khush, the board president, and board member Monty Schmitt were absent from the meeting.

Larry Russell, a board member, asked if the project was the “other half” of the work that was previously done on Paradise Drive. He confirmed the project would require the district to use one of the road lanes to do the work and traffic control.

“I hope it goes as smoothly as the last one,” Russell said.

The district hopes to have a contract awarded by June and the project completed by early December.