Mains Archives - Page 3 of 4

On-Call Water Engineering Services, Franklin, NH

Tata & Howard has been assisting the City of Franklin, New Hampshire with general water engineering services since 2009. The Tata & Howard team has managed several phases of work, including the design and construction of the water treatment plant and distribution system improvements.

The first phase was the design and construction of 2,500 linear feet of water main on Hill Road to connect a new water treatment plant to the City’s distribution system. This project also involved use of four bioretention systems to treat and manage stormwater from the roadway, and was constructed in 2010.

The second phase of our work with the City included the design and construction of two parallel 2,500 LF sections of 12-inch diameter HDPE crossings beneath the Pemigewasset River using horizontal directional drilling to transport water from the City’s Franklin Falls Well to the water treatment plant site.

Tata & Howard managed the survey and geophysical studies and prepared a Preliminary Design Report and Environmental Review documents for several phases of work. The City’s wells are surrounded by lands controlled by the US Army Corps of Engineers, which required that we complete an extensive permitting process to secure permissions for the final design of the project.

Tata & Howard completed design, construction, permitting, and funding applications for a 1,000 gallons per minute groundwater treatment plant to remove iron and manganese from three of the City’s wells. The plant has four pressure filters containing Greensand Plus media and using sodium hypochlorite for oxidation and sodium carbonate (soda ash) for pH adjustment. This plant went online July 9, 2012.

Tata & Howard provided design services for the construction of a new prestressed concrete tank at the site of an existing tank. The existing tank was in poor condition and due to the site characteristics, it was determined that construction of the new tank on the existing foundation of the old tank would be the best option. A second tank on the site was demolished in 2013 and a new prestressed concrete tank will be constructed in its place.

Tata & Howard also conducted a full water system analysis for the City of Franklin, New Hampshire by utilizing our proprietary Capital Efficiency Plan™ methodology. Our CEP involved creating a model of all water infrastructure in the City including sources, pump stations, treatment facilities, storage facilities, transmission, and distribution lines. Using our GIS modeling software, the system was calibrated based on fire flows in an attempt to accurately replicate the existing system. We then pinpointed deficiencies within the system based on a custom rating scale given to multiple criteria such as age, break history, material type, criticality and size. Recommendations were made for improvements in order of need. The study renewed both above ground and below ground assets. Funding for this study was in part from an Asset Management Planning Grant from NHDES.

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Unidirectional Flushing Program, Capital Efficiency Plan™, and Water Main Design, Melrose, MA

Tata & Howard provided assistance during the City’s unidirectional flushing program. As part of the work, Tata & Howard recorded the flow from the hydrants, noted any changes in the plan, and noted any defective hydrants or valves. When completed, a summary report outlining the total usage of water and recommended improvements to the flushing program was provided.

Water Mains and Capital Efficiency Plan™

Tata & Howard also provided design and construction services for approximately 5,600 feet of new 8-inch water main and approximately 950 feet of new 12-inch water main throughout the City. Plans were created using available GIS data from the City and field verification. These water mains also included crossing two MWRA transmission mains and crossing the Lynn Fells Parkway. The Lynn Fells Parkway crossing required permitting with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and a traffic management plan.

This work was funded through the MWRA. As part of the project, Tata & Howard updated and verified the City’s existing hydraulic model, which has over 80 miles of water main. Work included two days of fire flow tests throughout the City and allocation of demands using up-to-date billing and parcel data. The locations of the new water mains were selected based on preliminary recommendations identified in the Capital Efficiency Plan™ that was prepared by Tata & Howard. The Capital Efficiency Plan™ identified and prioritized areas for improvement within the distribution system. Our services included evaluating the condition of the existing distribution system infrastructure to determine the adequacy of meeting present and future demands, assessing and prioritizing system improvements, reviewing and evaluating typical fire flows throughout the system, creating a pipe asset management rating system, and recommending improvements to the distribution system.

Download a whitepaper detailing a comprehensive summary of the UDF by clicking the link below:

Water Main and Drainage Pipe, Monson, MA

This project included installation of 850 linear feet of 8-inch diameter water main, installation of 450 linear feet of new drainage, sidewalks, and roadway reconstruction on Park Avenue. The work included temporary bypass piping for the duration of the project. The project was funded by a CDBG grant.

Tata & Howard also provided engineering services for the installation of new 8-inch diameter water mains on Green Street, Lincoln Street, and Squier Avenue. The project included the installation of drainage pipe and catch basins as well as roadway reconstruction and new sidewalks. The project was funded by a CDBG Grant.

Water Main Improvement and Design, Newton, MA

Newton, MA

Since 2009, Tata & Howard has worked with the City of Newton, Massachusetts on water main improvement projects throughout the water system. In total, the designs have included over seven miles of cleaning and lining and over eight miles of new 8-inch and 12-inch diameter water mains.

Our services have included design, completion of an Opinion of Probable Cost for construction, construction administration and resident observation. Plans were created using available GIS data from the City and field verification. The majority of the work has been funded through MWRA. A recent design included a new 12-inch diameter water main on Washington Street. Work includes cutting concrete panels, backfilling with Controlled Density Fill, and traffic management.

Pump Station Design and Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrades, Barre, MA

The Town of Barre retained Tata & Howard to evaluate their existing wastewater treatment facility. Tata & Howard recommended a three phase upgrade program in order to reduce the initial impact of the construction cost on the sewer use rates. Included in the upgrade program was the design and construction of a submersible pump station that lifts the raw wastewater from an equalization tank to the biological treatment process. The pump station has a capacity of 1.2 mgd and includes variable frequency drives. The pumping station is controlled by a new SCADA system at the wastewater treatment facility. Tata & Howard also designed 8,000 linear feet of collection system sewers in the Worcester Road area of town. The project also included 500 linear feet of force main and a wet well mounted pump station. The pump station has a capacity of 200 gpm.

Sewer Improvements and Wastewater Pump Stations, Bingham, ME

Tata & Howard provided engineering services associated with sewer improvements including evaluation, design, and construction of 3,500 linear feet of interceptor sewer, 2,500 linear feet of force mains, and three pump stations. In addition, Tata & Howard provided design and construction of 5,000 linear feet of interceptor sewer, 4,000 linear feet of gravity sewer including a river crossing, and a pump station. Tata & Howard also provided design and construction services for three new wastewater pump stations. The pump station scope included upgrading of one pump station and the design of two other pump stations. One of the pump stations is a suction lift station while the other two are submersible stations.

Water Main Replacement, Auburn, MA

Phase I services included engineering services for bid, award, construction administration and resident observation services for approximately 6,500 linear feet of 12-inch water main and 750 linear feet of 8-inch diameter water main for a water main replacement project on Packachoag Street.

Phase II services included engineering design, bid and award, and construction administration and resident observation services for approximately 5,000 linear feet of 8-inch water main. Both phases are funded by the USDA Rural Development program.

Water Storage Tank, Booster Pump Station, New Water Main, and Distribution System Upgrades, Spencer, MA

Town of Spencer, MA

Tata & Howard provided construction administration services for a new 0.5 million gallon cast-in-place concrete water storage tank, booster pump station, approximately 12,600 linear feet of new 12-inch diameter water main, and miscellaneous distribution system upgrades. Construction of in-line isolation valves, removal of existing pressure-reducing valve (PRV) vaults, a new system wide SCADA system and new high lift pumps at the water treatment facility and well site were also included in Tata & Howard’s design. The purpose of this project is to separate the current single zone system into two pressure zones as required by an Administrative Consent Order from the MassDEP.

The creation of a two pressure zone system requires the replacement of the existing 200 horsepower (hp) pump at the Meadow Road Water Treatment Facility and 150 hp pump at the Cranberry Brook Well with lower head, high efficiency pumps and motors. The Meadow Road facility is the Town’s primary water supply source; therefore, changing of this pump requires coordination with the Department of Utilities and Facilities and the overall two pressure zone project construction sequencing to minimize the time this source is off-line.

Tata & Howard also verified the Town’s hydraulic model, which was used to select the best location for the new tank and select water main size for transmission and fire protection. The model was also used to determine the boundary line between the two pressure zones. A Capital Efficiency Plan™ is currently being prepared. Assistance will be provided, as needed, for public education of the project and during Town meetings. This project is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Massachusetts State Revolving Fund (SRF). Due to an aggressive schedule required under the funding requirements, all design; permitting associated with planning, zoning, and wetlands; and project bidding were completed and approved within a six-month period.

Water Supply Upgrades, Canaan, VT

Water Supply Upgrades

Canaan Fire Districts (FD) #1 and #2, Canaan, VT

Tata & Howard provided engineering services associated with water supply upgrades for Canaan FD #1 & #2. These two districts are located about 1.5 miles apart, meet monthly, and have one operator. For FD#2, located in Beecher Falls, VT, Tata & Howard completed construction of a new concrete storage tank, well upgrades, and distribution system improvements including significant replacement of pipe. Tata & Howard was able to secure a 75% grant for the project which resulted in little impact to their water rates.

Fire District #2

FD#2 has 100 customers. The issues included inadequate system pressures, inadequate storage tank, inadequate disinfection system, and leaky pipes.

Tata & Howard developed solutions that included the following:

A new storage tank at an elevation that would eliminate all pressure issues
Distribution piping replacement and addition of hydrants of flushing and fire protection
Reduction in water losses allowing for reduced well pump size, resulting in lower annual power and chemical costs

Fire District #1

FD#1 has two sources of supply. One is a large spring system located in Canada which consists of ten springs connected together, all under the influence of surface water and the other is a high yielding well source in the town limits. The issues are inadequate spring source construction and ability to maintain, low system pressures across the State line (they provide water service to West Stewartstown, NH), inadequate flushing capabilities, inadequate distribution piping, high iron and manganese levels in well source, and inadequate storage tank.

The solutions include the following:

Elimination of the spring sources due to Canadian border issues and high cost for upgrading the springs and connection piping
Installation of filtration system to meet the standards for FE and MN
Construction of new larger water storage tank
Development of a second emergency supply
Improvements to distribution piping

In addition, we completed a feasibility study.

Condition Assessment of Cast Iron Water Main Samples

Advanced condition assessment of cast iron water main samples and water infrastructure provides insight into the quality and reliability of a water distribution system. The goal is to be able to efficiently and effectively run the water distribution system by allocating capital to areas of the system that are in need of rehabilitation or replacement. Tata & Howard is a leader in condition assessment methods for water distribution system pipe assets.

In 2007, Tata & Howard began extracting one foot long cast iron water main samples ranging in diameter from 6 to 12 inches as part of a cleaning and cement lining water main rehabilitation project. Since then, we have evaluated a significant number of cast iron water main samples for several water distribution systems throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut, typically during a rehabilitation project, water main failure, or water main replacement project.

Sections are evaluated using several criteria:

Pipe Class Estimation Based on Remaining Wall Thickness
Visual Inspection
Pipe Crushing ANSI A21.6-13 Yields Break Load of Sample
Samples are loaded, one at a time, onto a machine that monitors the application of load in pounds, and the load required to cause the main to break is then recorded. Additional visual inspections are also made and recorded.
Remaining Factor of Safety Estimation

In the past, cast iron pipe manufacturers incorporated a 2.5 minimum factor of safety (FOS) to the crushing load necessary to break a water main. The manufacturer’s FOS can be compared to the crushing load that was measured at the materials testing facility, which then yields the estimated remaining FOS of the water main sample.

Condition assessment is beneficial in assisting a utility in the decision to rehabilitate a water main or schedule it for replacement, and in identifying asset classes that are candidates for replacement. The visual inspection provides an assessment of the quality of the water main, which assists in properly allocating capital funds to mains that are on the verge of failure or in need of rehabilitation.

Whitepaper:

Pipe condition assessment combined with break data for New England communities allows for continued analysis of problem pipes in distribution systems. This whitepaper outlines the research completed and the data collected to help pinpoint the next problematic pipe cohort. Read the complete whitepaper here.

Services: Mains