Around LADWP
Historic Milestone Reached for Foothill Trunk Line Project
Photos by Art Mochizuki and Chris Corsmeier
The Foothill Trunk Line project is a historic undertaking for LADWP. This 54-inch diameter water pipeline is not just any ordinary pipe – it’s earthquake-resistant ductile iron pipe (ERDIP). It also has the distinction of being the longest and largest diameter ERDIP project installed in the U.S. entirely by in-house crews, LADWP’s Trunk Line Construction crews A and C to be specific.
“LADWP is the only utility in the nation that does this kind of work. They faced many challenges along the way, like triple digit temperatures and giant boulders, but their attention to detail, determination and commitment to safety made the project a success,” said Anselmo Collins, Senior Assistant General Manager of the Water System. “Foothill Trunk Line is a source of pride for everyone involved, and it’s a lasting legacy of the hard work and dedication that defines Trunk Line crews A and C.”
ERDIP is specifically designed to withstand severe seismic events so it was strategically chosen for the Foothill project because the alignment runs over a major fault line in Sylmar. This large diameter earthquake-resistant pipeline project replaced a smaller diameter trunk line pipe that was installed in the 1930s and had experienced several leaks over the years. Alongside the 6,700-foot length of 54-inch pipe, the crews installed a 12-inch mainline, which was also made of ERDIP. For more information about the ongoing Foothill Trunk Line Project, please visit www.ladwp.com/foothill.
Represented in the two photos are just some of the employees who worked on the project, including Water Distribution division management; Trunk Line Construction crews A & C; manufacturer representatives; planning, design, and construction support engineers; Survey staff; and Community Relations staff.
JFB Cafeteria Re-Opens
Facilities Services announced a “soft” reopening of the JFB Cafeteria on Monday, January 30 for breakfast and lunch, weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The initial opening includes cook-to-order hot and fresh foods as well as pre-made items. Since then, the cafeteria has fully opened catering to employees and guests at JFB. All meals can be purchased via point of sale credit/debit card or cash. Weekly menus, as well as breakfast, lunch and catering menus, can be found on the homepage of MyDWP in the “Courtyard Café” section.
Access to microwave ovens and ice machines are available from the exit side of the cafeteria area only. Please do not enter the cafeteria for ice or microwaves from the front entrance.
Photo by Art Mochizuki
Photo by Chris Corsmeier
LADWP Science Bowl Held In-Person Once Again
North Hollywood High School Team A won the LADWP Science Bowl XXXI Regional Championship, held in-person on March 4 at JFB after several virtual competitions during the pandemic. The team will represent the city at the National Science Bowl Office of Science National Competition, taking place from April 27-May 1 in Washington, DC.
As the regional champion, the school received the Melinda Rho Memorial Trophy, named in honor of the late Manager of Regulatory Affairs in the Water Quality Division, who was also a leader for more than 25 years on the Science Bowl Volunteer Steering Committee. The school also received $3,000 from the Department, and team members received the $1,000 Hitachi Scholarship.
Also held this year was the Hands-On Competition. In this part of the program, teams had to assemble a holder or claw made of household items and then move other items to one of two buckets, with the one further away earning more points. Chaminade College Preparatory High School won the Franklin Lu Memorial Trophy, named for the late LADWP electrical engineer and Science Bowl Volunteer who was instrumental in developing this part of the program. The students received LADWP $500 scholarships.
The successful event was made possible by teamwork from many groups at the Department, including the Science Bowl Volunteer Committee, Corporate Strategy and Communications, Joint Facilities Services and JFB Building Maintenance, Security Services, Reprographics and the Print Shop.
Customer Service Employee Bill Geisler Recognized
On January 27, General Manager and Chief Engineer Martin L. Adams presented Customer Service Representative Bill Geisler with a Certificate of Recognition signed in December by former Mayor Eric Garcetti. Bill was honored for receiving over 200 customer commendations, a genuine example of LADWP staff supporting our residents and customers. Thank you, Bill for your commitment to customer service and the lasting impression you’ve made to so many.
Photo by Art Mochizuki
Equity Ambassadors Help Foster a More Inclusive Culture
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEIO) initiated the Equity Ambassador program in December, and hosted the program’s first workshop, “Inclusive Leadership in Action” workshop, at La Kretz Innovation Campus on January 19. The event began with opening remarks by Dr. Robert Meteau, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, who introduced himself, his team and the Office’s overall goals and what it hopes to achieve with the Ambassadorship program. The workshop continued with meaningful discussions around DEI led by Dr. Steven Jones, a DEI national speaker and thought leader. He stated that the ultimate goal for the day was to start thinking about how the Ambassadors can help move the Department from “compliance” to “commitment.” To achieve this, Ambassadors learned about the different skills to understand, recognize and interrupt the impact of conscious and unconscious bias in the workplace. Ambassadors were also introduced to different inclusive communication skills to help increase trust and create greater psychological safety. They also learned how to develop individual Equity Ambassador action plans to further advance DEI within their respective teams, which helps drive change within the Department. This is the first of many workshops hosted by DEIO to ensure that a more inclusive culture is encouraged and implemented within the Department.
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This publication is written and published by the Corporate Strategy and Communications Division. For 2022-2023 issues, click the three horizontal lines icon next to the Contact logo at the top left of the document. Then click the “Editions” tab. For issues from 2000-2021, see Intranet page MyDWP/.
