Pier water line may be redesigned

City staff recently asked an engineering consultant to help determine the cost of a new water line to support fire suppression on the Seal Beach Pier. Staff was scheduled to update the City Council this week on the cost of repairing the structure.

However, staff is still reviewing the cost estimates for relocating the so-called fire line above the pier’s deck and outside the railing. Community Development Director Jim Basham told the council that staff will be ready with a report on the pier at the Monday, Feb. 22 meeting. Last month, the council asked staff to bring them cost estimates for repairing the pier, demolishing the building that once housed Ruby’s and possibly adding a restroom at the end of the pier.

While working on those estimates, staff looked at redesigning the water line that supports fire suppression. Repairs to that line can be expensive because it is under the pier. Basham said it recently took a day just to remove the decking to gain access to a 15-foot section of the water line to make an emergency repair.