Program Management for Collection Infrastructure Projects

Harris & Associates has partnered with Valley Sanitary District to deliver comprehensive program and design management services for the District’s Collection System Infrastructure Program in Indio, California. This 12-year initiative encompasses approximately 246 miles of sewer pipeline, with a total construction value of approximately $57 million. The program is focused on modernizing aging infrastructure, strengthening regulatory compliance, and advancing resilient, cost-effective wastewater solutions for the Indio community.

Harris has completed the district’s systemwide wastewater collection evaluation and prioritized and programmed the critical components for improvement. The program has one project in construction, two in design (one of which is for the improvement of a pump station) and another in the planning phase. As the PADM, Harris presented the project to the District Board, who approved the project in November 2018.

Core Elements

Due to the location of the existing infrastructure, this project required the team to access private property to locate the sewer laterals. This required coordination with the District’s Engineering Department and the collection systems supervisor. The Harris team utilized a flexible public outreach approach that accounted for different property owners’ preferences and schedules. As a result, we were able to access the remainder of the sewer laterals in question.

As part of this multi-year initiative, Harris provided:

• Development of the capital program scope, prioritization strategy, and budget framework
• Engineering design for sewer rehabilitation and new pipeline installations
• Preparation of construction documents and technical specifications
• Constructability reviews and value engineering to optimize project delivery
• Environmental and water resources engineering support
• Development and maintenance of a comprehensive master program schedule

The program addresses approximately 246 miles of collection system infrastructure, ensuring long-term system reliability while minimizing disruption to the community.

Beyond the Blueprints

Delivering a 12-year infrastructure program requires more than technical design — it demands strategic coordination, transparency, and institutional strengthening. Harris’ services include:

• Managing stakeholder engagement and District coordination
• Preparing detailed status reports and updating program findings
• Establishing quality assurance and quality control procedures
• Implementing GIS-integrated asset management tools
• Developing a public-facing web dashboard to enhance transparency and community awareness
• Supporting knowledge transfer and best practices to strengthen internal District capabilities

Through this collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, Harris is helping Valley Sanitary District address the challenges of aging infrastructure and evolving regulatory requirements while building a resilient wastewater system designed to serve the community for decades to come.