145 Million Gallons Daily

Watkins Avenue and Lower Buckeye Sewer Bypass Projects during Pipeline Rehabilitation

The City of Phoenix experienced a pipeline failure that required an emergency bypass approximately three years ago. This incident prompted a re-inspection of its unlined concrete sewers.

Based on the results of the inspection and a prioritized condition assessment, the City embarked upon an impressive rehabilitation program to repair their large-diameter unlined piping system.  The work commenced with the most critical areas. These projects have involved some of the largest Cured in Place Pipelining (CIPP) and bypass pumping systems in the United States.

The Sub-Regional Operating Group (SROG), consisting of a number of municipalities, including the Cities of Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Scottsdale, owns the Salt River Outfall (SRO) that carries the effluent water to the SROG 91st Avenue WWTP.  This interceptor sewer ranges in size from 54-inches up to 90-inches in diameter.  The City of Phoenix is responsible for operating and maintaining the Salt River Outfall.

Supported by the engineering firm of Brown & Caldwell, the General Contractor Sundt Construction awarded the Watkins Street and Lower Buckeye bypass projects to Kenny Construction.  These pipeline rehabilitation projects required complex temporary bypass systems.

Because of their unique experience, equipment and professional expertise, Rain for Rent was chosen to provide the design, temporary pump stations, and personnel to operate and oversee these bypass systems.  B&F Contractors assisted in the excavation and bypass line installation services.

Project 1: The Watkins Street Bypass required an 80 MGD design flow and 120 MGD pumping capacity.  Rain for Rent provided five DV-400 16-inch diesel pumps, nine DV-300i 12-inch Power Prime™ diesel pumps, eight HDPE discharge lines consisting of five runs of 20-inch lines and three runs of 24-inch lines (44,800 feet).  This project presented many logistical challenges with very little open area in which to assemble the equipment.

Project 2:  The Lower Buckeye Road Bypass from 51st Avenue to59th Avenue required a 120 MGD design flow and 180 MGD pumping capacity and presented many challenges due to traffic, road crossings and environmental concerns.  Rain for Rent provided and installed six DV-400, nine DV-300i and eight DV-300 Power Prime™ pumps and eleven HDPE discharge lines consisting of six runs of 20-inch line and five runs of 24-inch line (61,600 feet).

Both bypasses have been completed with minimal public disruption.