Rio Linda, CA – A recent pressure test for the new Sutter Pointe Regional Wastewater Conveyance Project septic line in Rio Linda has residents concerned after leaks were discovered on Elwyn Avenue. Photos taken on the morning of Saturday, July 19th, show a significant leak on Elwyn Avenue near the intersection of Delano, with another similar leak reportedly occurring just a few yards north, closer to Elverta Road.
The Sutter Pointe Regional Wastewater Conveyance Project is a sewer line to extend wastewater service from the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District’s Upper Northwest Interceptor located in Rio Linda to the Sutter Pointe Specific Plan area in Sutter County.
This latest setback is part of a series of disruptions that have plagued the community for nearly a year. The project, which involves burying 14-inch pipes five feet deep, has faced numerous challenges, including repeated digging up of manholes and delays. A resident, who has been closely observing the project, reported hearing conversations from workers that suggest a sense of urgency. Apparently, crews are racing to pass the required pressure tests before August 18th, the date the county is scheduled to repave the road.
The standard for these pressure tests is intense: 150 psi for four hours. While the system may not operate under such extreme pressure in regular use, the presence of leaks during testing raises questions about the overall integrity of the pipeline.
More Questions Than Answers
Frustrated by the ongoing issues, a resident recently attempted to get answers from a job site supervisor and a higher-up from Ranger Pipelines. While the higher-up left quickly, the supervisor offered some information, though it wasn’t particularly reassuring. He was unaware of any plans to build a second, parallel pipeline—a detail that, if true, could mean even more disruption for the community in the future.
The resident also noted the lack of concern from their neighbors about the leaks and the prolonged construction. They were told by a Ranger Pipeline contact last September that the project would be completed by December, but jokes that they failed to ask what year.
With the pressure to pass the tests and the repaving deadline looming, the community awaits a resolution to the ongoing issues with the new septic line, hoping for a successful completion and the end of a year of construction headaches.
