Infrastructure Solution Earns Top Honors for City and Local Firm
11/19/2004

While plans were being developed after the 1997 flood to construct a new levee/floodwall system for the City of Grand Forks, the GFWTP was also struggling to operate an undersized and aging Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) located east of South 3rd Street, and in the direct path of the proposed floodwall. It was determined that demolition and replacement of the WRF with a new residuals treatment process would alleviate expensive floodwall design conditions at that location and best maintain high quality water treatment processes at the GFWTP. Because of the potential for relocating the GFWTP due to aging infrastructure, tightening regulatory requirements, and irreparable flood damage, the residuals management process was designed to be interim in nature (usable life ~ 10 years), minimizing capital costs. The project incorporates renovation of existing City infrastructure, was constructed in conjunction with other projects being designed in the system vicinity, and incorporates concepts to allow the future GFWTP to continue utilization of portions of the newly constructed system. The City worked with Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. (AE2S) to complete six separate phases of construction including a residuals pump station, related miscellaneous underground pipeline improvements at the GFWTP site, a force main to transfer the residuals streams, and construction of residuals ponds for storage purposes.

CONSTRUCTION SAVES CITY TAX PAYERS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
The newly constructed portion of the project includes the installation of approximately 8.5 miles of 14-inch residuals force main; five (5) miles of which was simultaneously constructed with the Transmission Lines project. Residuals piping modifications near the GFWTP incorporated construction of a storm sewer and water main required for the Levee/Floodwall project and the Raw Water Intakes Part 2 Project. It is estimated that the simultaneous construction has saved the City hundreds of thousands of dollars in construction costs. Construction of the project was recently completed and the new residuals management system is fully operational.

Due to the complexity of the situation and the uniqueness of the project, the City and AE2S earned the North Dakota Section of the American Public Works Association “Project of the Year Award” for cities over 5,000.