Lowney Associates performed geotechnical engineering analyses, and materials
testing construction services at the San Gabriel County Water District's Longden
Reservoir No. 1 in Los Angeles County. The former reservoir was unused for
decades, and the remnants demolished in late 1999. A new 3.8 million-gallon
reinforced concrete water reservoir was designed based on two geotechnical
reports by prior consultants. One prior consultant recommended a costly foundation,
including compaction grouting of native sands and over excavation and recompaction
of shallow sands. Design and construction management engineers were concerned
that this recommendation was conservative. Lowney, therefore, was retained
to provide alternative foundation recommendations for the new reservoir. Lowney
determined that grouting and most of the over excavation and recompaction
was unnecessary. Lowney's work saved the District approximately $300,000.
The reservoir was completed in April 2001.
