Willis Road Wastewater Pumping Station, Gardner, MA

Tata & Howard was contracted to provide construction administration and part-time resident project representative services for the construction of upgrades to the Willis Road pump station.

The Willis Road Pump Station in Gardner, MA is a wastewater pumping station originally constructed in 1983. The pumping station was designed to handle a Total Maximum Daily Flow of 625 gallons per minute (gpm) or 900,000 gallons per day (gpd). The station pumps all the wastewater collected into the collection system through approximately 1,050 feet of 6-inch ductile iron force main.

The wastewater pumping station improvement project consisted of replacement of the station’s two 270 gpm centifugal pumps and motors, new control panels, new emergency generator, and upgrade of the existing pump building at a cost of $775,000.

 

 

 

East Mountain Road Water Storage Tank, Westfield, MA

Tata & Howard was contracted to provide design, bidding services, construction administration, and resident observation for the new water storage tank on East Mountain Road in Westfield, MA. The project included subconsultant work for the development of a survey, borings work, geotechnical evaluation and report, and environmental services to prepare a Habitat Assessment and MESA Checklist.

The design phase of the project consisted of the following:

  • Development of a site plan showing the proposed 2.1 MG precast, pre-stressed, wire-wound concrete tank location
  • New 16-inch diameter water main
  • Removal of the existing 16-inch AC water main
  • Access road improvements.

The new tank and access road required a Stormwater Management Permit to be filed with the City Engineering Department. Permits were filed with MassDEP, FAA, and MESA.

The construction administration phase consisted of the following:

  • Attending progress meetings with the client
  • Providing consultation on construction matters
  • Contracting with a qualified biologist to develop and supervise implementation of the Rare Vertebrate Protection Plan
  • Review and approval of shop drawings, schedules, and other data
  • Final observations of project
  • Finished set of record drawings

The resident project representative phase included the services of a part-time Resident Project Representative at the site to assist in the observation of the work.

The precast concrete tank, constructed by DN Tanks, is made of multiple concrete panels that were cast on site and lifted into place by a crane.

 

The new 2.1 mg tank will replace the city’s original 2.7 mg tank and is now online.

 

Auburn, MA Water Storage Tank

Tata & Howard was contracted to provide Design, Construction Administration, and Resident Project Representation services for the construction of the Prospect Street Water Storage Tank in Auburn, MA.

The project consists of the construction of a 1.0-million-gallon capacity glass-fused-to-steel water storage tank with associated piping and appurtenances, electrical work, a tank mixing system, and site work.  Other work included the decommissioning and demolition of the pre-existing 500,000-gallon capacity welded steel water storage tank at the site.

 

 

 

Maher Water Treatment Plant – Groundbreaking Ceremony

On Wednesday, August 7, 2019, the Hyannis Water System and officials from MassDEP held a ceremonial groundbreaking for construction of the new Maher Water Treatment Plant designed by Tata & Howard, Inc.

The $12 million water system upgrade, funded by the MassDEP SRF program, will enable the Town to meet new and stricter federal and state regulations for emerging contaminants. The new plant will treat elevated levels of Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), 1,4-Dioxane, iron, and manganese in the three drinking water production wells at the existing facility.

The water filtration building at the Maher Water Treatment Plant has a design capacity of 1,500 gallons per minute. Using granular activated carbon filtration, the successful removal of PFOS/PFOA will be obtained. Advanced oxidation with peroxide and ultraviolent (UV) light will treat 1,4-Dioxane. Lastly, greensand pressure filtration will not only remove the iron and manganese, but also extend the useful life of the granular activated carbon.

Tata & Howard has been instrumental in the evolution of this project. In December of 2016, Tata & Howard provided a conceptual design report to Barnstable’s Department of Public Works. A pilot test report was submitted in early 2018 and design began shortly thereafter.

The Hyannis Water System currently consists of four water treatment facilities, four storage tanks, 12 well pumping stations, and a 107-mile distribution system. The water system provides drinking water services to approximately 18,000 residents through 7,249 metered service connections to residential and commercial properties.

Waterline Industries Corporation of Seabrook, NH constructed the filtration building, and Tata & Howard provided construction administration and resident observation. The facility was operational in October 2020.

Newton, MA – Lead Service Replacement Program

Tata & Howard was contracted to provide design, construction administration and resident project representation for the replacement of 588 lead services in Newton, MA. Although the water that services the City is not corrosive, replacing lead services is a cautious and preventative measure to avoid lead from potentially leaching into tap water via the service connection which is located from the water main to the meter.

Lead service replacement program in Newton, MA. Excavator and men.

Lead pipes are more likely to be found in older cities and homes built before 1986. As such, the affected lead services in Newton were installed between 1875 and 1915. Of the 588 total services;

  • 318 were full-service replacements (from water main to meter)
  • 266 were partial-service replacements (from curb stop to meter)
  • 4 were street only replacements (from water main to curb stop)

Prior to the construction phase of this project, Newton residents were notified about the City’s Lead Service Replacement Program (LSRP). Although not required, those wishing to participate in the program were able to take advantage of a ten-year, no interest payment plan through the City.
Under the LSRP, the City replaced, at its own expense, the portion of the water service pipe which was within the public way from the street line in front of the homeowner’s property, to the City water main. The homeowner then had the option to replace the portion of the water service pipe that ran from their meter to the property line.

Lead service replacement program in Newton, MA. Newton home with construction cones.

Tata & Howard scheduled construction and coordinated with the residents who elected to participate in the LSRP. Crews from C.J.P & Sons Construction worked to excavate the properties and remove/replace the water service pipes. In most cases, limited excavation of homeowner property was needed.

When the project reached completion, 427 total services had been replaced.

Lead service replacement program in Newton, MA. Excavator and men. Construction worker replacing pipes.

(De)leading the Way – Marlborough, MA

The City of Marlborough, MA (home of T&H headquarters) contracted Tata & Howard for the design, pre-construction services, construction administration and resident observation of approximately 1,200 lead water service connections.
Until 1944, lead was widely used in service lines and is quite common in many of the older cities and towns in Massachusetts.

Lead pipes currently placed between the streets and homes of identified Marlborough residents will be replaced with copper pipes in five phases – each phase consisting of approximately 250 homes.

Tata & Howard will be involved in each phase, reviewing tie cards, attending field surveys to determine what each service placement will entail, and advising contractors on the quantity of pipes to be installed in each location.

Although lead is known to be  a major health risk to children and pregnant women, the supplier of Marlborough’s water, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), treats all water to reduce lead from getting into drinking water.
   
   

Falmouth Main Street Water Main Construction

Tata & Howard was contracted to provide design, construction administration and resident observation for the installation of 18,000 linear feet (approximately 3.5 miles) of 16-inch ductile iron water main in Falmouth, MA. Water main replacement will be in Main Street and Route 28. That is, from the intersection of West Main Street and Locust Street, to the intersection of Teaticket Highway and Oxbow Road

New water main will be replacing the town’s 10-inch cast iron water pipes that were originally installed in 1898. Falmouth’s 121-year-old water infrastructure has stood strong for more than a century; however, it has become clear that it’s nearing the end of its useful life and approaching the age at which it needs to be replaced. Evidence of this can be seen in the three water main breaks that have occurred since August of 2018. In addition, the original water main is hydraulically deficient and needs to be up-sized to meet the increasing demands in the system.

Construction began at the beginning of April and continued up until Memorial Day of this year. Construction was limited to off season times due to the heavy tourist months in Cape Cod. Project completion was in the spring of 2021.


Hemlocks Raw Water Pumping Station

Tata & Howard provided engineering services for design, bidding, construction administration, and resident observation to Aquarion Water Company for improvements to their existing Hemlocks Raw Water Pumping Station in Fairfield, CT. The project included refurbishing five 300 hp centrifugal pumps and motors, replacing the existing variable frequency drives (VFDs), installing new piping, check valves, and strainers for each pump.

Hemlocks Pumps
BEFORE improvements to the Hemlocks Pumping Station.

As this facility is a source of supply for Aquarion’s Main System, it needed to be kept operational throughout the construction. The sequence of work required a single pump to be taken off line; refurbished; reinstalled with new piping, VFD, and appurtenances; tested and placed back into service prior to the next pump being taken off line.

Hemlock Pumps
AFTER improvements to the Hemlocks Pumping Station.

Another important aspect of the project was to replace the existing strainers so that they were easier for the plant operators to clean as they get clogged with eels. To simplify maintenance, new stainless steel wye strainers with bottom access to the screens were installed on the suction side of each pump.

Chamberlain Highway Receives New Water Main Connections

The Chamberlain Highway in Meridan, Connecticut has 536 linear feet of new 16-inch ductile iron main and two new fire hydrants. After Tata & Howard completed several test pits to verify connection locations at each end of the new main, construction work started on May 3, 2018 with the installation of a 16” x 16” tapping sleeve and valve at the north end of the project. This existing water main at the north end connection was originally installed in 1894.

Chamberlain West Main

Work progressed south until the new main was approximately 50 feet away from the other connection point in West Main Street. Connections to the existing main in West Main Street was performed over a 36-hour period due to the complexity and amount of utilities around the service connection, including a live 24-inch water main five feet away and multiple telephone conduits located 6 inches above the replaced main. Tata & Howard personnel on site at all times to observe that work was in performed in accordance to the plans and specifications.

Following the completion of the Chamberlain Highway water infrastructure improvement project, work to replace two water mains on the state-owned bridge crossing Sodom Brook in Meridan will begin.

UMASS Amherst Hydraulic Modeling

Tata & Howard developed an extensive hydraulic model of the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst campus. The model was verified under steady state and an extended period simulation (EPS) was completed. Tata & Howard conducted a hydraulic review and criticality assessment and used the results to make improvement recommendations. Tata & Howard also identified water distribution system sustainability projects for the irrigation, cooling tower makeup, and toilet flushing water.

This project included a supplemental water supply system analysis. Potential ground and surface water sources on campus, including existing and potentially new stormwater retention ponds, were evaluated for process and irrigation water. In addition, Tata & Howard created a hydraulic model of the UMass reclaimed water system.

The study also examined the effects that the proposed system improvements and interconnections would have on water quality.