In October, Rachel, our tunnel boring machine (TBM), began boring, stopping every five feet to construct a ring of tunnel wall. About 350 feet of tunnel has been completed, and the pace is expected to pick up once the supporting "trailing gear" (over two football fields long) has been lowered into the access shaft at our Joint Water Pollution Control Plant and connected to the TBM. We expect Rachel to reach Figueroa Street in the first half of 2022. Overall, she will take almost 4 years to build a 7-mile tunnel between the treatment plant in Carson and Royal Palms Beach.

A network of monitoring devices has also been installed along the tunnel alignment that detects small amounts of movement and vibration. These devices help to ensure residents and businesses at the surface are not impacted. In November, the installation of monitoring equipment along Gaffey Street was completed. Equipment on Figueroa Street was installed earlier this year.

We continue to offer educational presentations about environmental stewardship as well as virtual tours of our wastewater (sewage) treatment plants to schools in our service area. We have recently reinitiated in-person tours. Our hope is to inspire careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Our programs are for all grade levels. We have presented to more than 30 schools this year, including Normont Elementary in Harbor City and Crestwood Street Elementary in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Ms. Melissa Lopez, Magnet Coordinator at Crestwood Elementary, said, "The Clearwater Project presentation provided students the opportunity to learn how wastewater becomes clean water. Students were engaged, excited and loved interacting with 'Olivia the Otter.' Most importantly, students come away knowing how to keep our waterways clean." We also have a new presentation on "How we build modern tunnels." To request a virtual tour or presentation, please click on the request a presentation button below.

Community engagement has been a hallmark of the Clearwater Project. Despite the pandemic, we continued this tradition by giving virtual presentations to community groups and schools in the South Bay. We also hosted a launch event in April (photo below) and two virtual construction updates that were open to all. Please contact Glenn Acosta at gacosta@lacsd.org if you'd like a presentation to your group or school. To track the project, follow us on Facebook or our YouTube channel.