Construction of the 160- foot-tall, one-million- gallon elevated water storage tank and booster pumping station at the City of Waukesha (E. Broadway Ave.) site. Photo credit: R.A. Smith
Scaffolding for one of the 8.6-million- gallon ground storage reservoirs being built on the Waukesha Booster Pumping Station site.
Water + Stormwater
Overlooking the Waukesha Booster Pumping Station site.
Great Water Alliance Program TYLin Project Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin
Project Start Date: 30 June 2016 Project Completion: 9 October 2023 Project Team: Engineer of Record - TYLin, Client - Waukesha Water Utility, Contractors - SJ Louis, CD Smith, & Super Excavators, inc., Construction Manager - Black and Veatch Project Background: The Waukesha Water Utility (WWU) provides essential water treatment and distribution for a city of 72,000 residents, but they faced a critical issue with a depleting primary water source. The Great Water Alliance Program is a pioneering initiative to solve this critical water issue for the city of Waukesha by diverting water from nearby freshwater giant Lake Michigan. The multi-year, multimillion-dollar Program required adept navigation of complex regulatory landscapes and an exacting approach to balance long-term sustainability and cost-effectiveness for the community’s benefit. Key challenges included transitioning to the new water supply and relocating pumping stations. With 90% of the pipeline located outside its served community, coordination and extensive permitting across seven communities, two counties, and multiple federal agencies was crucial to keeping the project on schedule. The project included 36 miles of pipeline, two pumping stations, two eight-million-gallon ground storage reservoirs, a one- million-gallon water tower, a return flow pumping station, and a new outfall facility. Impact: The Program incorporated sustainable practices to protect the environment and sustain the Great Lakes watershed. Key achievements included the use of environmentally friendly materials such as ductile iron and asphalt produced from recycled source materials, the use of American Iron and Steel, stormwater management on the construction site to reduce the impact on surrounding wetlands, and the restoration and expansion of pollinator habitats to offset the effects on local wildlife. One of the Program’s most significant achievements is its ability to maintain a net zero impact on Lake Michigan. Twenty-three miles of force main, known as the “Return Flow Pipeline,” with a pumping facility at Waukesha’s Clean Water Plant, facilitate this process. Using environmentally friendly materials and advanced technologies allowed the team to minimize the environmental footprint while keeping costs down and delivering a project designed to last 100 years. These efforts saved the community an estimated $40 million. The benefits to the public and surrounding Great Lakes area will extend far into the future through the Great Water Alliance Program. Accomplishments & Accreditations: National Recognition Award, American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), 2024, Engineering Excellence Award, ACEC of Wisconsin, 2024 (Best of State), Project of the Year, Wisconsin Section of the American Water Works Association, 2024.
City of Waukesha (E. Broadway Ave.) site including booster pumping station, reservoirs and a water tower nearly complete. Photo credit: R.A. Smith
Open House during the route study portion of the Program to get feedback from the community on the proposed transmission main routes.
Trenchless installation of a 30-inch HDPE (high density polyethylene) pipe. Photo credit: R.A. Smith
Members of the TYLin team with the Waukesha Mayor and General Manager in the main pumping room of the Waukesha Booster Pumping Station.
Map of the City of Waukesha service completely transitioned to Lake Michigan water.
General overview of pipeline flow and location.
T E
5 csengineermag.com YEA 2024
Made with FlippingBook Annual report