WSP02818

• File Number: 8210.140.20
• Description: Colorado River Basin Organizations and Entities - Colorado River Basin States Forum - California
• State: CA
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 7/1/1948
• Author: Metro Water District
• Title: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California - Tenth Annual Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

.
\

,
,

I'
I

~

"

I
I
~/

.. :.... ~.. ()
i. I I ;J

OPERATION A:>>lD MAINTENANCE ..,... 35

crete pipe of diameters of 48. 54 and 72 inches iind one 72-inch
diameter tunnel 0_9 miles in length, to a point 5.9 miles south of
the San Diego County line on the north side of the San Luis Rey
River. The design capacity of the initial construction from the
San Jacinto reservoir to the San Luis Rey River is 85 cubic feet
per second. except for L 7 miles of 72-inch diameter precast con-
crete pipe and O.~) miles of 72-inch diameter tunnel. which were
designed for the ultimate capacity of the system of .165 cubic feet
per second_
The quantity of water deIivercd to the San Diego County Water
Authority is measured by means of a venturi meter at San Jacinto
reservoir_ Actual delivery of water is made on the north side of
the San Luis Rey River into the southerly portion of the aqueduct
for which the Authority is responsible and at a 16-inch diameter
lateral, located 1.9 miles south of the San Diego County line, through
which water is delivered to the Fallbrook Public Utility District and
the City of Oceanside. Except for an initial testing period and shut-
downs of short duration, the aqueduct has been in continuous
operation at capacity or near capacity flows since December 1, 1947.
An average crew of five men. working under the direction of the
chief operation and maintenance engineer, has carried on all opera-
tion and maintenance of the system since it was taken over by the
District. The major work of this crew has been the patrolling of
the pipe lines and structures. operation of valves. meters and equip-
ment, minor repairs. daily observation of water deliveries, chang-
ing of meter charts, collection of water samples, and the cleaning
and treating of San .Jacinto reservoir. which required almost con-
tinuous attention due to shallow depth of water even when the reser-
voir was filled to capacity.
The lIow to the San Diego aqueduct was shut down on March 7,
.1948 to allow the San Diego County Water Authority to make a
\'alve installation for the Fallbrook-Oceanside branch, and to make
an installation of sluice gates at the regulating structure of the
Authority near the San Vicente tunnel. Draining of a portion of
the line was necessary in order to make the valve conncction. Upon
refilling the line an air valve stuck closed. causing an aveI'II ow at
an open vent structure in Rainbow Pass near th" Ran Diego County
line_ When the ail' valve was opened the lIow returned to normaL
The aqueduct was not damaged, but approximately 500 cubic yards
of backfill were washed from around the structure and pipe. and
some damage in the valley leading south from the structure resulted
from the overflow. Backfill was replaced by District forces, and all