Payran/Madison Sewer and Water Main Upgrade Project

Project Description

The City of Petaluma is committed to providing clean, safe water and sewer services to our community which requires us to replace and upgrade underground pipes when they get old and stop working optimally. The pipes in the Payran/Madison area are currently in need of repair. We are in the process of replacing and upgrading them.  

The project has been split into two phases. Phase 1 (trenchless sewer main replacement) is complete and Phase 2 (sewer and water main replacements with trenching) will begin in December 2024. Read on to learn more and please sign up to receive project updates using the form located on the right of this webpage.

Community outreach will continue throughout the design and construction phases to update and inform the neighborhood. Please sign up using the form on this webpage to receive project updates and information about upcoming neighborhood meetings.

Phase 1 - Trenchless Sewer Main Replacement - COMPLETE 

Existing sanitary sewer pipes made of clay have been replaced with new, heavy-duty plastic pipes (made of  high density polyethylene, also referred to as HDPE). This new plastic material provides increased reliability and ensures the lines hold strong for years to come.  

• The Good News: We used a replacement technique called “pipe bursting” in which we pulled new pipe through the existing pipe. This technique required us to only dig a small hole (about 3’ x 3’ per pipe) to connect each residential sewer lateral to the new sewer main pipe, rather than creating long trenches to dig up all the old pipe.  Less digging = less headache for residents. 
• An Unusual Situation: The sewer lines in this particular neighborhood are located in the backyards of many properties. While is it never ideal for the City to carry out construction in your backyard, our teams are extremely conscientious and have worked with each property owner/resident individually to ensure the least disturbance possible to landscapes and sanity.  

Next Steps

The underground work for Phase 1 has been completed. Please reach out to the project manager, George Howard (contact info below) if there are items that are not complete to your satisfaction. Please include which items are not satisfactory with an accompanying photo.

VIEW RECORDINGS OF OUR ZOOM MEETING FROM TUESDAY AUGUST 1 TO LEARN MORE

CLICK HERE to view the recording in ENGLISH.

CLICK HERE to view the recording in SPANISH.

Phase 2 - BEGINS December 2024

We will be replacing and upgrading portions of underground pipe to ensure all lines remain in safe, working condition.

Our contractor, Coastside Concrete & Construction, will be doing the work which includes improvements on Payran at the intersections of Lakeville and Madison Streets. This portion of the work is tentatively anticipated to take place over three nights, starting Monday 12/9/2024 at 10pm through Thursday at 5am on 12/13/2024.

We thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time. If you have any questions, please reach out to Paul Geoghegan [email protected] or (707) 707-512-5160 or to George Howard [email protected] or (707) 776-3776

The work will include the following:

Sewer Main Replacement with Trenching

To maintain and improve the condition of the City's wastewater system, each year we replace or upgrade deteriorating or undersized sewer main lines ("sewer mains") around town. We have found some sewer mains in your area that are in need of attention and we will be replacing some portions and upgrading others to ensure all lines remain in safe working condition. In order to complete this work, we will be digging trenches. Traffic control measure will be in place during construction to keep traffic flowing.

Water Main Replacement with Trenching 

The existing water main pipes (“water mains”) and fire hydrants will be replaced and moved so that they are no longer located on private property. 

The water mains are currently located in the front yards of many properties in the area. We will leave those existing pipes in place (front yards will not be disturbed). The new pipes will be placed in the street and will increase system reliability. Their relocation will also ensure City crews do not have to enter private property to conduct system maintenance in the future. New fire hydrants and will increase safety in the neighborhood. We will be digging trenches for this portion of the work, as well, and will have traffic control measures in place to help with the flow of traffic.