North Coast Interceptor Reach 5 Replacement Project

The North Coast Interceptor Reach 5 Replacement Project, managed by the City of Laguna Beach, involves the replacement of approximately one mile of pipeline through Aliso Canyon. The project scope extends from Coast Highway to the South Orange County Wastewater Authority Coastal Treatment Plant. The existing infrastructure, originally constructed in the 1970s, consists of a single pipeline utilizing gravity, a force main, and an inverted siphon. This system is owned by the South Orange County Wastewater Authority and is operated and maintained by the City of Laguna Beach. The replacement will be executed using a combination of open trenching, horizontal directional drilling, and slip lining. The project was approved on August 5, 2026, and a Notice of Determination was filed on August 6, 2026, confirming that the project will not have a significant environmental effect under the California Environmental Quality Act. Ulises Escalona serves as the Senior Project Manager for the initiative, which is categorized under NAICS code 237110.