March 2026 Update

Preconstruction activities ongoing. Contractor has completed work on their traffic control plans for the phases of the project along Pacific Avenue from Ardmore Avenue to approximately 300 feet north of 27th street. Contractor is continuing to work on shoring and right-of-way permits.

Coordination with Los Angeles County Sanitation District ongoing.

Thank you to everyone that joined the February 25, 2026, Community Meeting. More information will be added to our Public Outreach and FAQs sections. 

February 2026 Update

The City’s Public Works Department is in the final stages of preconstruction activities with contractor Environmental Construction, Inc. to begin the construction of the conversion of the existing Pacific Sewer Lift Station to a gravity line. The project involves demolition of the existing station, installation of manholes, and utilizing trenchless technology to install approximately 900 feet of sanitary sewer gravity line to connect to a Los Angeles County Sanitation District sanitary sewer line at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and North Ardmore Avenue. 

Community Meeting: Pacific Sewer Lift Station Conversion to Gravity Line
February 25, 2026
6:00 PM
City Council Chambers located in Manhattan Beach City Hall
1400 Highland Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Download the Community Meeting: Pacific Sewer Lift Station Conversion To Gravity Line Project postcard (PDF).

Potholing Activity for Pacific Sewer Lift Station Conversion to Gravity Line Project

On February 2, 2026, the Public Works contractor Environmental Construction, Inc., will perform potholing excavation work along Pacific Avenue from Valley Drive to 27th Street as a part of the initial construction activity for the Pacific Sewer Lift Station Conversion to Gravity Line Project. This project aims to remove the existing sanitary sewer pump station at 2803 Pacific Avenue and replace it with a gravity-flow system.

The localized excavations will take place at the proposed manhole locations in the street adjacent to 2513 Pacific Avenue, 794 27th Street and 2803 Pacific Avenue. The purpose of this initial construction activity is to verify existing utility locations and depths adjacent to the new gravity sewer line and manholes. Traffic lane modifications will be implemented according to the approved traffic control plans in the Right-of-Way permit. These lane changes will take place from 8:30AM to 3:30PM. The potholing work is scheduled from Monday, February 2, 2026, to Friday, February 6, 2026. Please reduce speed in the cone zone and observe the “no parking” signs posted around the work areas. The contractor will be at one pothole site at a time and will remove signs as each location is completed.

Sanitary sewer lift (pump) stations are complex facilities with auxiliary systems designed to move wastewater from lower to higher elevations through a force main pipe. Pump stations must be monitored and maintained regularly to ensure a reliable operating condition. Key elements of lift stations include a wastewater receiving well (wet-well), often equipped with a screen to remove coarse materials; pumps and piping with associated valves; motors; a power supply system; an equipment control and alarm system; and an odor control system and ventilation system. Lift station equipment and systems are often installed in enclosed concrete underground structures. Underground sewer pump station concrete structures typically last 50 to 100 years, with internal mechanical and electrical equipment lasting 15 to 20 years. The Pacific Avenue Sewer Lift Station structure, located at 2803 Pacific Avenue, was initially constructed in the early 1950s and has reached its useful life at nearly 70 years old. Mechanical and electrical upgrades were implemented approximately 25 years ago, around the late 1990s. Once exceeded, these facilities become less reliable, expensive to maintain, and are subject to failure.

City Council approved the preliminary engineering study for the Pacific Avenue Sewer Lift Station. The preliminary engineering design work has been completed, and its findings are detailed in the final draft Basis of Design Report (BODR). The BODR is the first primary deliverable for the project design. It identifies improvements needed to provide greater emergency storage capacities, pumping capacities, and other enhancements for the existing sewer lift stations site. The purpose of the respective BODR is to help City Council identify and consider a practical and cost-effective upgrade option. Specifically, for the Pacific Avenue site, staff was able to identify a viable alternative to remove the current station from service by constructing a gravity sewer main connection to an existing Los Angeles County trunk sewer gravity system at the Ardmore and Pacific Avenue intersection, thereby significantly reducing the risk of sewer spill and reducing the operating and future capital replacement costs. This option can be implemented to eliminate the requirement for the complete rehabilitation of the station. Site improvements will also be included in the project and detailed in the Final Design phase.

Pacific WWPS BODR Rev1 - PreScreening Initial Study

  *See project updates section for 3-week lookahead when construction starts.

Schedule of SoCalGas completed utility relocations below:

• Relocation #1 along Pacific Avenue from Valley Drive to 27th Street.
  • Status - Completed April 2024. 
• Relocation #2 on Ardmore Ave between Pacific Ave and Laurel Avenue.
  • Status - Completed November 2024 with asphalt restoration completed December 2024. 

March 28, 2024, PPIC Meeting

Project status update was presented at the March 28, 2024, Parking and Public Improvements Committee (PPIC) meeting. 

Please click image below to view the PPIC Meeting Presentation (PDF):

Note the NE corner of Pacific Ave and Ardmore Ave/Marine Ave manhole pit shown during the December 20, 2024 Community Meeting has shifted to NW corner of Pacific Ave and Ardmore Ave. This change can be seen in slide 4, 5, and 6 of the PPIC presentation.

Previous Outreach:

December 20, 2023, Community Meeting

Project was presented to the community at the Joslyn Community Center on December 20, 2023, at 6:00PM.

Please click image below to view the Community Meeting Presentation (PDF):

Link below to view the YouTube video from the National Clay Pipe Institute (NCPI) "No Dig Pilot Tube Method (PTM) Install":

NCPI Pilot Tube Method Install YouTube Video

(1) What does a typical sewer lift station look like? See image below. 

(2) What is the anticipated construction zone at Ardmore Ave and Pacific Ave? See image rendering of construction zone. Note this subject to change with contractor's traffic control plans. 

City Project Manager:

Marzena Laskowska
Phone: (310) 802-5325
Email: mlaskowska@manhattanbeach.gov

Design Consultant:

PACE Advanced Water Engineering
Address: 17520 Newhope Street, Suite 200
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Phone: (714) 481-7300
Website: https://pacewater.com/

CM/Inspection Consultant:

BUTIER Engineering
Address: 117822 E 17th ST, Suite 404
Tustin, CA 92708
Phone: (714) 832-7222
Website: https://butier.com/

Contractor:

ENIVRONMENTAL CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Address: 21550 Oxnard Street, Suite 1060
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Phone: (818) 449-8920