Gallery

View of construction site at Royal Palm Beach. [6/2025]
EPA Assistant Administrator Radhika Fox, LA County Sanitation Districts Chairwoman Cathy Warner, and State Water Resources Control Board Chairman Joaquin Esquivel visited the Clearwater Project site. [5/23/2023]
View inside tunnel. [5/2023]
About 2,000 feet was completed by April 2022. Mining staff is shown walking underneath the trailing gear, a mini city that follows the TBM as it digs. [4/2022]
Contractor's mining crew standing in front of TBM prior to the launch ceremony. [4/2021]
On April 15, Rachel was revealed to the public along with the winners of the art contest where LA County students submitted artwork that showed why it's important to keep our rivers and oceans clean. [4/2021]
Backside of the Tunnel Boring Machine Cutting Head [4/21]
Basil Hewitt explaining slurry treatment plant [4/21]
Chief Engineer Robert Ferrante providing opening remarks at Clearwater Launch Event in front of Tunnel Boring Machine [4/21]
Basil Hewitt introducing front segments of the tunnel boring machine [4/21]
Rachel was assembled at the bottom of the access shaft. [6/2021]
The TBM pushed off this steel frame to begin tunneling. [7/2021]
Ground monitoring sensors were installed along the tunnel alignment as an additional safeguard to ensure there are no impacts to the surface. [11/2021]
Since most of the shaft is below the water table, a tremie (a long hollow tube) was used to pour concrete directly to the bottom of the shaft to create the slab for the floor. [6/2020]
A scuba diver inspected the rebar at the bottom of the shaft before the tremie began operation. [6/2020]
Like ships, tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are named before entering service. In fall 2020, students across Los Angeles County participated in a contest to name the TBM. The winning name, Rachel, was submitted by Hanna Hsu of High Oaks Elementary School in honor of Rachel Carson, whose work inspired a global environmental movement.
Students submitted artwork showing why it’s important to keep rivers and oceans clean. The top three pieces were displayed on the side of the tunnel boring machine. Dagny Tang of Montemalaga Elementary School won first place in the elementary category. [Fall 2020]
Shaft construction began with a hydromill digging a 135-foot-deep trenches around the perimeter using a rectangular drill bit. These trenches later became the walls of the 60-foot-wide access shaft. [11/2019]

Videos

Launch Event for Clearwater Project Tunneling Machine – April 15, 2021

A virtual event to unveil the Clearwater Project tunneling machine and recognize the student finalists of our TBM naming and art contests.

Tunneling Machine Lowered Underground

Rachel, our tunnel boring machine (TBM), was lowered in sections about 100 feet below ground using the access shaft in Carson. After being assembled and tested underground, she will start tunneling.

A.K. Warren Water Resource Facility Aerial Video

This video includes aerial footage of the A.K. Warren Water Resource Facility in the City of Carson, which currently processes approximately 260 million gallons of wastewater per day and is the Sanitation Districts' largest treatment plant. The footage also shows the location of the Pure Water Southern California Program, which could become the nation's largest water purification facility.

Presentations

Presentation to Sanitation Districts Board of Directors

On July 24, 2024, the Sanitation Districts updated their Board of Directors on the Clearwater Project, covering tunneling progress and remaining construction work.

Presentation on How We Build Modern Tunnels

On October 30, 2021, The Sanitation Districts gave a virtual presentation to the public on how we build modern tunnels. A construction update on the Clearwater Project is included.

Presentation on Construction Updates

On January 30, 2021, The Sanitation Districts provided a virtual construction update on the Clearwater Project to the public, covering construction progress at the Carson shaft site.

Fact Sheets

School Outreach Program

On July 24, 2024, the Sanitation Districts provided their Board of Directors with a construction update on the Clearwater Project, covering tunneling completed to date and the estimated work remaining.

Water Recycling

This fact sheet highlights the Sanitation Districts' leadership in water recycling over the last 50 years. Information is presented on past achievements and future projects.

Clearwater Project Overview

The Clearwater Project and upcoming construction are summarized, with above-ground work limited to the southwest end of the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant in Carson and Royal Palms Beach in San Pedro.

Visual Resources

Gallery

View of construction site at Royal Palm Beach. [6/2025]

EPA Assistant Administrator Radhika Fox, LA County Sanitation Districts Chairwoman Cathy Warner, and State Water Resources Control Board Chairman Joaquin Esquivel visited the Clearwater Project site. [5/23/2023]

View inside tunnel. [5/2023]

About 2,000 feet was completed by April 2022. Mining staff is shown walking underneath the trailing gear, a mini city that follows the TBM as it digs. [4/2022]

Contractor's mining crew standing in front of TBM prior to the launch ceremony. [4/2021]

On April 15, Rachel was revealed to the public along with the winners of the art contest where LA County students submitted artwork that showed why it's important to keep our rivers and oceans clean. [4/2021]

Backside of the Tunnel Boring Machine Cutting Head [4/21]

Basil Hewitt explaining slurry treatment plant [4/21]

Chief Engineer Robert Ferrante providing opening remarks at Clearwater Launch Event in front of Tunnel Boring Machine [4/21]

Basil Hewitt introducing front segments of the tunnel boring machine [4/21]

Rachel was assembled at the bottom of the access shaft. [6/2021]

The TBM pushed off this steel frame to begin tunneling. [7/2021]

Ground monitoring sensors were installed along the tunnel alignment as an additional safeguard to ensure there are no impacts to the surface. [11/2021]

Since most of the shaft is below the water table, a tremie (a long hollow tube) was used to pour concrete directly to the bottom of the shaft to create the slab for the floor. [6/2020]

A scuba diver inspected the rebar at the bottom of the shaft before the tremie began operation. [6/2020]

Students submitted artwork showing why it’s important to keep rivers and oceans clean. The top three pieces were displayed on the side of the tunnel boring machine. Dagny Tang of Montemalaga Elementary School won first place in the elementary category. [Fall 2020]

Shaft construction began with a hydromill digging a 135-foot-deep trenches around the perimeter using a rectangular drill bit. These trenches later became the walls of the 60-foot-wide access shaft. [11/2019]