Joseph A. Willhelm Industrial Pump Station – Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA)

Texas City Texas

The Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA) retained LAN to perform two evaluations of the Joseph A. Willhelm Industrial Pump Station (IPS), which was initially constructed in 1949 with three pumps. These evaluations resulted in feasible rehabilitation project alternatives and determined the risks associated with rehabilitation far outweighed the risks associated with constructing a new pump station on the existing site. Based on this risk analysis and the inability of GCWA’s customers to tolerate a shutdown of any reasonable duration to effect repairs, it was decided to proceed with the design and construction of a new pump station on the existing IPS site (PER Alternative 1), with the IPS in operation throughout construction.

LAN provided professional design and construction engineering services for the new pump station. This work included: performing a transient analysis of existing transmission mains and design of surge relief facilities; site civil design of drainage and utility improvements; truck access and other miscellaneous site improvements; design of a new intake structure to accommodate three existing 5-foot wide traveling screens and three new 8-foot wide traveling screens; relocation of the nine existing vertical turbine pumps; new steel pump discharge and header piping, including pump control valves, isolation valves and other appurtenances; cathodic protection for buried metal piping and appurtenances; a new pump building; demolition of the existing pump building and above grade pump discharge piping; and electrical instrumentation and controls.

At a glance

2022 ACEC Texas Gold Medal Winner

2022  Yearbook of Engineering Achievement Award (Civil + Structural Engineer Magazine)

96-MGD installed capacity

New canal intake with traveling water screens

Above grade structure designed for 140-mph hurricane wind

Hot tap and line stops on existing pipelines to mitigate service down time

Construct new intake approach structure while keeping canal in service

New low-voltage VFDs and isolation transformer installed on three pumps

Features

Performed preliminary engineering report and construction risk analysis

Construction sequencing critical to maintaining continuous water supply

Simultaneous operation of both existing and new facilities

Services

Construction Mgmt & Inspection

Design

MEP

Pipeline Design, Assessment & Rehab

Structural Engineering

Client

Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA)

Related Work

Construction Management

Structural Engineering

MEP Engineering

trenchless method identification, tunnel shaft design

Water Supply & Transmission

LAN City of San Antonio Soledad Main Street

Transportation Services