Brown and Caldwell is proud to share that the Davis Aqueduct Reach 1 (DAR1) Parallel Pipeline Project received the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) National Recognition Award as part of the 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards, underscoring its impact at both the state and national levels. This top honor recognizes engineering achievement and highlights how client partnership and innovative thinking can deliver resilient infrastructure with community impact.
In addition, the project received top state honor, the ACEC Utah Chapter Grand Award for Engineering Excellence in Water Resource Systems. Brown and Caldwell's contractor, Whitaker Construction Company, received the 2025 Utah Construction & Design Most Outstanding Project award in the Water category for DAR1.
The Davis Aqueduct, Weber Basin Water Conservancy District's main pipeline, delivers water to over 650,000 residents across Davis County. Located along an active seismic corridor, the aqueduct is critical infrastructure that must continue operating—even during major earthquakes or system disruptions. The DAR1 Parallel Pipeline Project reduces risk and provides a reliable backup flow.
The project also included a strategically located emergency pump station, designed to keep water moving during outages or damage to the existing system. Together, these improvements provide multiple layers of protection—allowing operators to reroute flows, isolate damage, and maintain service.
This integrated approach proactively addresses vulnerabilities before emergencies occur and enables faster recovery after seismic events or outages.
As prime engineering consultant, Brown and Caldwell led the planning, design, and construction of the $81 million program. Key elements included a 2.2‑mile parallel steel pipeline and emergency pump station, designed to maintain water delivery during outages and capable of supplying up to 60 million gallons per day.
Most notable is the use of first‑of‑its‑kind seismic technologies in Utah, including the state’s first application of Kubota HRDIP joints. These specialized joints, combined with detailed geotechnical analysis and hydraulic modeling, allow the pipeline to flex and move during extreme ground shaking.
Despite construction challenges, such as canal and highway crossings and work near residential neighborhoods, the project was completed with zero water service interruptions and minimal change orders.
Collaboration with the District and project team, with a focus on constructability and operational needs, was key to the project’s success.
“BC consistently aligned their efforts with the District’s broader goals, including achieving the desired design level of service and supporting the District’s long‑term operational strategies,” said Brad Nelson, Assistant General Manager of Weber Basin Water Conservancy District. “Their approach in understanding the District’s priorities and commitment to delivering a quality end product resulted in a successful project, exceeding our needs.”
Beyond Davis County, the DAR1 Parallel Pipeline Project offers a roadmap for utilities nationwide looking to modernize aging infrastructure, manage seismic risk, and protect critical water supplies. The ACEC awards celebrate how collaboration across planning, engineering, design, and construction can deliver solutions that serve the community's long-term resilience goals—safeguarding essential services today while preparing for the uncertainties of tomorrow.