Skagit River Pipeline Replacement & Clearwell Construction

The Skagit River Pipeline Replacement and Clearwell Construction project included the construction of a new raw water pipeline and a new water storage tank (clearwell). IMCO crews installed a 42-inch diameter pipeline up to 50 feet below the riverbed of the Skagit River using horizontal directional drilling. 

The project also included construction of a 2.1-million-gallon welded steel water storage tank, yard piping, valves, instruments, appurtenances, and a concrete vault associated with the new clearwell. IMCO coordinated the integration of instrumentation and controls, SCADA programming and testing, and provided support during commissioning. 

The City of Anacortes provides a significant portion of the region’s water supply, serving residents of Anacortes and La Conner, two refineries in Skagit County, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, the City of Oak Harbor, and the Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island. The project also benefited the Skagit PUD, which receives water from Anacortes through intertie connections to supplement its system during drought conditions. 

The new pipeline served as a backup to the existing raw water line, originally built in 1970, ensuring reliability in the event of repairs or maintenance. The new clearwell added critical storage capacity to the system.