Pump Station/Clearwell and Associated Transmission Lines
City of Grand Forks, ND
North Dakota Ready Mix and Concrete Products Association Excellence in Concrete Award Winner

Flood Changes Planning

To address aging infrastructure challenges and primary disinfection requirements, the City of Grand Forks began working with AE2S to plan, design, and construct a multi-phased water storage, pumping, and transmission pipeline project.  However, the Flood of 1997 interrupted the improvements, and the proposed site for the new clearwell was eliminated due to interference with the proposed alignment of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood protection levee.

Multi-Phased Construction Throughout the City

After the flood, the City of Grand Forks and AE2S concluded a long-term planning process to address the current needs of the City, as well as provide the necessary flexibility for future expansion of the water supply, treatment, and distribution system.  AE2S is currently providing construction and warranty phase services for a new clearwell, high service pump station, and transmission pipelines.  Compatible with long-term plans for the water system, the new 7-MG clearwell and 24-MGD high service pump station were strategically located to facilitate future expansion.  Modifications to the existing WTP high service pumping system and the installation of approximately 5 miles of dual 30-inch transmission pipelines were required to convey finished water from the existing WTP to the new clearwell/pump station.  Due to the sensitive nature of planning major pipeline construction through the heart of the City, AE2S arranged numerous public informational meetings.  The concerns expressed by community residents and business owners were instrumental in identifying alternatives to minimize the impacts of the complex project on adjacent neighborhoods.

Solutions for the Present and Vision for the Future

The new clearwell and high service pump station serve to increase finished water storage capacity and provide a modified high service pump system capable of meeting the needs of the expanding City.  The dual transmission pipelines not only provide redundancy of the City’s primary finished water supply, but also provide the hydraulic residence time required to maintain compliance with federal disinfection regulations.  Although this project was critical in addressing the current needs of the City, the vision of AE2S insured that every component of the multi-phased construction project provided the flexibility and expandability necessary to complement the long-term needs of the water supply, treatment, and distribution systems.