Water and Sewer
City of Austin Clean Water Program, Austin, Texas
This major infrastructure project was required to comply with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrative Order to eliminate wastewater overflows in the City of Austin wastewater system. Klotz Associates was selected to provide engineering study and design services for wastewater system improvements required to comply with the Order. Assignments involved coordination of numerous subconsultants, including survey, geotechnical, environmental and tunneling. Work was within stream bank corridors and private property easements, and complicated by access and restoration issues.
The Old Manor and Manor Hills assignments involved design and construction of more than 700 linear feet of 24-inch wastewater main and 1,750 linear feet of 21-inch wastewater main to replace the existing line which was insufficient in size and/or condition. The work included development of plan and profile drawings and specifications for the open cut construction of the mains. Portions of the projects included the design of streambank stabilization improvements for the post construction condition of the creek to restore the creek to resemble a natural condition, repair existing problems along the project limits, and protect the final location of the newly constructed manholes and wastewater line. The design of the lines required public meetings to coordinate with various neighborhood associations and property owners along the route. The projects included extensive coordination with the City of Austin Watershed Department and the City of Austin Water and Wastewater Department. In addition, investigations of the environmental constraints on the projects were performed. This included review of the US Army Corps of Engineers 404 Permit issues, archeological investigations, Texas Parks and Wildlife coordination, and City of Austin Environmental coordination.
The West Rim Wastewater Line assignment included preliminary professional engineering services study possible construction of a maintenance access road, five creek crossings, and eight manholes and demolishing two lift stations for of an existing wastewater line that had been experiencing major overflowing problems. The Preliminary Engineering Report researched the replacement of eight iron bends in the pipe with eight manholes. There were also section of asbestos concrete line that had to be removed with special care. The Report also involved coordination between many governmental departments like the City of Austin, the Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Texas Historical Commission, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
City of San Antonio Ultraviolet Disinifection Process at the Zoo, San Antonio, Texas
The importance of the San Antonio River to the physical health and economic health of the City of San Antonio is almost immeasurable. Clean, attractive, and inviting water in the San Antonio River and the River Loop and its extensions must be maintained using sustainable and cost effective features and best management practices. To assist in protecting the quality of the water in the San Antonio River, Klotz Associates is assisting the City of San Antonio with planning, design, and construction of a water treatment plant to disinfect dry weather flows discharging into the San Antonio River from the San Antonio Zoo. The San Antonio Zoo discharges about 1,700 gallons per minute or about 2.5 million gallons per day of water to the San Antonio River during dry weather. The discharge from the Zoo contains high levels of bacteria which contribute to water quality degradation in the river. Environmental clearances and regulatory permits will be required to implement the project.
The Ultraviolet Disinfection process will be housed in a water treatment plant adjacent to the Zoo outfall. The peak plant capacity will be 3.88 mgd (for “dry weather” flows) with stormwater being by-passed around the plant.
Design was completed in 2011, and construction is expected to be completed in 2012.
City of Houston Sanitary Sewer Relief Tunnel, Houston, Texas
Klotz Associates was responsible for the preliminary and design phase services of sludge transfer facilities from White Oak, Northwest, Turkey Creek, and West District sewage treatment plants. The Team designed an extension of a deep tunnel that was needed. The design included 127,000 linear feet of force main construction with materials analysis and utility coordination. Klotz Associates managed the construction phase, traffic control, and odor control system as well.
City of Palestine Water Treatment Plant Improvements, Palestine, Texas
Klotz Associates was selected for making improvements to 9.5 mgd Water Treatment Plant which would increase the raw water pump capacity and provide a variable speed pump to stabilize flow through the plant. Klotz Associates added flow split facilities coming into the plant and replaced chemical feed systems at the river and plant while adding variable speed flocculator drives. The replacement of effluent weirs coming out of the sedimentation basins was evident as well as the replacement of filter media and the rework of backwash facilities. The improvements upgraded the plant safety while the rework to the operations and chemical feeds greatly improved the taste and odor of the water. Klotz Associates replaced plant controls to allow for more automated and uniform control. The overall plant capacity was increased to 13 mgd with additional sedimentation and filter facilities
North Harris County Regional Water Authority - SCADA Project, Houston, Texas
This project included planning, design and construction phase services for a supervisory contract and data requisition (SCADA) system for 53 separate locations within the Authority's 2010 Water Transmission System. The project was done on a fast-tracked basis using a High Technology Procurement process. This assignment under our On-Call Contract provided consulting services related to SCADA and organizational / operational issues in the Authority.
