The Somerset Reservoir No. 1 is a 100,000-gallon reinforced concrete reservoir, built in 1961 and located on Somerset Recreation Club property. The existing structure of the reservoir was created by excavating into the original slope, meaning that the current structure is partially tucked into the hillside. The reservoir has been out of service for nearly 20 years.
To improve the safety of the Somerset Recreation Club in the event of an earthquake and enhance the views from the pool deck, the reservoir was further stabilized and partially removed, and the hillside was regraded and landscaped.
Project Area
Project approach
At a workshop held in December of 2019, the City reviewed risks and opportunities associated with possible design alternatives for the project.
When choosing the most feasible design alternative, the City weighed several factors including:
- Feasibility of the alternative
- Constructability
- Cost, and
- Level of impact to the Somerset Recreation Club
The selected design alternative to decommission the reservoir is the most feasible option with the least impact on the Somerset Recreation Club. This alternative included stabilizing the reservoir east wall and the soil behind it with steel braces and installing structural fill to replace the weight of the reservoir roof and walls.
The reservoir roof and walls, except the east wall, were carefully demolished and removed. The remaining reservoir structure was buried and the hillside was regraded and landscaped. The project was completed in the Spring of 2023. The graphic below provides an overview of the project design.
