• 8,000 LF of 6”–10” mainline CIPP lining
• 200 residential lateral rehabilitations
• 200 top hat lateral-to-main connections
• Manhole rehabilitation (epoxy & fiber-reinforced liners)
• Cleaning and CCTV inspection
• Full traffic control and community coordination

The City of Rohnert Park needed to restore aging sewer infrastructure in a fully developed residential neighborhood without major excavation, prolonged service interruption, or significant disruption to residents.

The existing system included deteriorated Orangeburg pipe, a paper-based material that had become fragile and prone to collapse. Wet, saturated soils near the coastal bay added risk, while strict municipal work-hour restrictions limited daily production windows.

The City required:

NorCal Pipeline Services delivered a turnkey, trenchless rehabilitation approach designed to restore structural integrity while minimizing surface disturbance.

• Installed ~8,000 LF of CIPP liner, creating a seamless, structurally sound pipe inside the existing host line
• Rehabilitated 200 laterals to eliminate infiltration at the source
• Installed 200 top hat connections to permanently seal lateral-to-main junctions
• Rehabilitated manholes with epoxy and fiber-reinforced liners
• Utilized bypass pumping systems to maintain uninterrupted sewer service

By combining mainline lining, lateral rehabilitation, and top hat installations at this scale, Nor-Cal delivered a fully integrated, watertight system from house to main. An uncommon level of completeness for projects under $10 million.

During high-pressure cleaning, sections of fragile Orangeburg pipe collapsed, allowing soil intrusion into the mainline. We anticipated these challenges and had excavation crews on standby

Rather than pause operations:

• Crews immediately excavated and replaced failed sections with PVC
• Emergency repairs were performed overnight to protect the production schedule
• Lining operations resumed without interrupting sewer service

Working in saturated soils required shoring and dewatering, while continuous bypass pumping ensured system reliability.

Despite these complications, the project finished on schedule and within budget.

Proactive coordination drove project success.

Nor-Cal, subcontractors, the City, and construction managers met weekly to review:

• Progress
• Safety
• “Good catches”
• Change orders
• Upcoming work

This early-issue identification prevented schedule slippage and minimized rework.

Foremen aligned production across multiple work fronts to keep crews synchronized and avoid downtime.

Because of municipal work-hour restrictions, Nor-Cal developed detailed street-level schedules sequencing:

• Cleaning
• CCTV
• Lateral lining
• Mainline CIPP
• Top hat installation
• Surface restoration

This disciplined sequencing ensured steady workflow despite limited daily windows.

Operating within an active residential neighborhood required deliberate communication and planning.

Residents received advance written notifications, “No Parking” signage, and door-to-door outreach before work began near their homes. Traffic control plans were adjusted weekly based on actual production, keeping crews productive and residents informed.

The result: minimal complaints and strong community goodwill.

• Completed on schedule (November 2024)
• Delivered within the original $2.0M budget
• Minimal change orders
• No lost-time safety incidents
• Continuous sewer service maintained
• 8,000 LF of structurally renewed pipeline
• 200 sealed laterals preventing root intrusion and infiltration

• Prevents groundwater infiltration
• Reduces treatment volumes and operational costs
• Protects the surrounding coastal environment
• Extends system life for decades
• Reduces future maintenance needs

This project exemplifies Nor-Cal’s ability to:

• Self-perform complex trenchless rehabilitation
• Manage fragile legacy infrastructure
• Maintain service during active construction
• Deliver integrated lateral-to-main system sealing
• Execute safely in tight residential corridors
• Finish on time and on budget despite unforeseen conditions

The A&B Sections Sewer Rehabilitation Project was nominated for the AGC of California Constructor Awards – Specialty Under $10 Million, recognizing excellence in execution, innovation, and collaborative infrastructure delivery.