City of Austin water customers in the Northwest Hills neighborhood consistently experienced low water pressure. To address this, LAN performed hydraulic modeling to analyze this problem and recommend a cost-effective solution. LAN and Austin Water Systems Planning staff worked together to develop a simple alternative that only required new impellers for two pumps, as well as installation of a short 24-inch waterline to connect the Spicewood Springs Pump Station to a parallel main. This solution isolated areas with the pressure problems and boosted the pressure along those streets. A pressure sustaining valve was also recommended to release water back into the lower pressure main when not needed in the boosted area.

A second objective of this project included upgrades to the City’s pump station from 50-year-old, 2300-volt electrical gear to new and more reliable 4160-volt equipment to support the long-term operations of this vital pumping station. All six pumps in the pumping station required new motors that operated with 4160 volts. LAN’s team also prepared new load calculations to size the new motor control center equipment.