Pasco County, FL
Ardurra performed hydraulic modeling; route evaluation/selection/land acquisition; topo and boundary survey; ecological; geotechnical coordination; design; ROW, ERP, and FDEP water/wastewater permitting; and construction management/RPR services for 86,000 feet of 12-, 16-, 24-, and 36-inch potable mains, 57,900 feet of 12-, 16-, and 24-inch force mains and relocation of various reclaimed water mains. A total of about 144,000 lineal feet of pipeline was installed along a 10-mile long corridor that provided for expansion of the water, wastewater, and reclaimed water systems through the central area of the County. The route for the pipelines was along State Road 580, through the Wiregrass Ranch and other residential communities crossing State Road 54 and I-75.
Hydraulic modeling for pipe sizing and surge analysis was performed in conjunction with pipeline route evaluation and selection. Easements were obtained for 28 parcels along the route. Both topo and boundary surveying was provided, including sketch and legals; ecological services included wetland delineation and mitigation design, and threatened and endangered species identification.
The PVC and ductile iron pipelines were installed in public rights-of-way and private easements by a combination of open cut, directional drill, and jack and bore. A 920-foot long, 36-inch directional drill under Trout Creek was, at the time, the largest diameter ductile iron pipe successfully installed by directional drill. This drill method was used to avoid impacts to an existing waterway, and was completed through calcareous clay materials. The water mains interconnected the existing regional water supply system with existing local systems, which required a coordinated design to allow the mains to be placed in operation as they were constructed, pressure tested, and bacteriologically cleared by the FDEP.
Permits required for the project included a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Application to Construct Domestic Wastewater Collection/Transmission Systems, an FDEP Public Water System Components permit, an FDEP Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) for the plant site, pipeline construction and directional drill under Trout Creek, a Nationwide 12 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the pipeline work in wetlands, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) utility permits, and Pasco County right-of-way use permits. The project was co-funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.