Pacific Hydrotech wins $49.5m SCV Water reservoir contract

Pacific Hydrotech wins $49.5m SCV Water reservoir contractThe California agency approved construction and support contracts for a new concrete storage facility to serve the western Santa Clarita Valley, with work slated to begin in March 2026.

Pacific Hydrotech Corporation awarded $49.46 million construction contract for the Backcountry Reservoir.

MWH Constructors and Michael Baker International secured support services contracts totaling $2.6 million.

The 9-million-gallon facility will utilize a rectangular concrete design to optimize storage volume and reduce maintenance costs.

Construction is scheduled to run from March 2026 to July 2028.

The Board of Directors for the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency (SCV Water) has approved a resolution awarding a $49,463,700 construction contract to Pacific Hydrotech Corporation for the Backcountry Reservoir Project. Located on the west side of the agency’s service area near the Magic Mountain theme park, the project involves the construction of a 9-million-gallon (MG) partially buried reinforced concrete potable water reservoir. The facility will effectively serve as the terminus for the Magic Mountain Pipeline. Engineer Mark Aumentado presented the project details, noting that the reservoir will feature two distinct 4.5-MG basins sharing a common wall, spanning 304 feet in length and 114 feet in width. The facility will include a valve vault, mixers, a residual management system, and a chemical building with on-site sodium hypochlorite generation. The board selected Pacific Hydrotech as the lowest responsible bidder out of four submissions electronically received on November 5, 2025. Other bidders included Shimmick Construction Company ($56.2 million), Steve P. Rados ($58.1 million), and Anvil Builders ($59.6 million). Pacific Hydrotech brings a history of constructing concrete reservoirs in California to the project, such as the 8-million-gallon Brinton Reservoir in Chino Hills and the Milliken Reservoir in Ontario. The company specializes in municipal water infrastructure, with a portfolio of storage projects ranging from 1 to 8 million gallons. The winning bid came in higher than the engineer’s estimate of approximately $44.8 million. Aumentado attributed the delta to the estimate being performed in March 2025, higher-than-anticipated insurance premiums, and an increase in the project duration to 850 calendar days. During the meeting, the board discussed the material choice for the tank. Staff explained that while steel tanks are often used for smaller volumes, concrete becomes more cost-effective for reservoirs exceeding 2 million gallons. Staff noted that concrete designs eliminate the need for recoating every 10 to 20 years, a maintenance activity that can cost upwards of $500,000 per cycle. In addition to the construction award, the board authorized two professional services purchase orders. MWH Constructors, Inc. was awarded a not-to-exceed amount of $1,250,000 for inspection and materials testing services. Michael Baker International, Inc., the project’s design consultant, received a purchase order not to exceed $1,350,000 for engineering services during construction. To manage costs, SCV Water will handle construction management in-house. The total project budget is approximately $55 million, which includes planning, design, and construction. A Notice to Proceed is expected to be issued in February 2026, with construction scheduled for completion in July 2028.