Valentine is proud to announce that our team has been awarded the 2025 Engineering Achievement Award by the California Water Environment Association (CWEA), Monterey Bay Section.
This recognition highlights the dedication, collaboration, and technical expertise that went into delivering the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project (Reversing Flow through the System). The award was presented in partnership with Tim O’Halloran of California American Water and Samantha Terrell of Valentine Environmental Engineers, whose combined efforts were instrumental in achieving this honor.
Project Overview
This award recognizes engineering efforts associated with the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project (Reversing Flow through the System), a critical initiative to ensure long-term water reliability for the Monterey Peninsula.
Historically, the Monterey Main water distribution system has been supplied from the Carmel Valley, requiring water to flow from the southeast to the northwest. With the implementation of new water supply sources located in the northwest portion of the system, including groundwater, aquifer storage and recovery (ASR), and recycled water, the system needed to be reconfigured to operate in the opposite direction.
Reversing flow through an existing distribution system of this scale presented significant hydraulic and operational challenges. The system serves approximately 40,000 customers, includes dozens of pump stations and storage tanks, and spans areas with complex elevation changes. Extensive hydraulic modeling, system evaluation, and coordination with operations staff were required to ensure pressures could be maintained and infrastructure limitations addressed.
As part of this effort, new pump stations, including the Forest Lake Pump Station (6,500 GPM) and San Carlos Pump Station (2,400 GPM), were strategically designed and implemented to support the reversed flow conditions. Additional improvements included transmission main upgrades and complex system interconnections.
Team Insight
“Great engineering isn’t just about getting the answer right – it’s about collaborating with operators, owners, and stakeholders to deliver solutions that are both reliable and effective. Proud to be part of the team that solved this challenge.”
— Samantha Terrell, Senior Project Engineer
Looking Ahead
Valentine remains committed to delivering innovative and resilient engineering solutions through strong partnerships with our clients and industry collaborators. Recognition from organizations like CWEA reinforces the importance of this work and the positive impact it has on the communities we serve.
We extend our thanks to CWEA Monterey Bay Section, California American Water, and all project partners for their continued trust and collaboration.
