Meeting drinking water needs for the nation’s fourth largest city
Market
Water
Key Services
Construction
Steel Fabrication
Delivery Method
General Contracting (GC)Capacity
320 MGDThe challenge
Constructing the dewatering building and thickened sludge equalization basins for the City of Houston’s Northeast Water Purification Plant expansion posed significant challenges. The expansion aimed to increase the plant’s capacity by 320 million gallons per day, transitioning from groundwater to surface water to meet projected potable water needs. The intricate nature of the dewatering building’s systems and the complexity of the basin construction required careful coordination and precise execution.
Key Facts
725 tons of structural steel fabricated by Hillsdale Fabricators
Allowed the city to shift from historical groundwater usage to a predominant reliance on surface water
Challenge met
Construction of the three-story dewatering building and the sludge basins commenced while structural steel design was still in progress. This approach allowed no schedule float, ensuring critical structural work proceeded without delays.
To facilitate a tight schedule, Alberici leveraged its subsidiary, Hillsdale Fabricators, for the fabrication of 725 tons of structural steel. This collaboration allowed for the timely delivery of essential components. Alberici coordinated with structural engineers to finalize the design, allowing for adherence to the schedule.
Through skillful planning, Alberici managed to successfully construct the dewatering building, thickened sludge equalization basins, and associated systems. This expansion
marks a significant step in enhancing the water purification plant’s capacity and infrastructure to meet the City of Houston’s water demands, highlighting Alberici’s expertise in delivering complex and critical infrastructure projects.
Recent Projects
Wichita Northwest Water Treatment Facility
Mississippi River Floodwall & Pump Station Rehabilitation
