] PEC repairs main line to Wichita treatment plant - PEC - Professional Engineering Consultants
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PEC repairs main line to Wichita treatment plant

PEC staff worked with City of Wichita Public Works crews and to help fix a leak repair at the City’s main water treatment facility.

The leak was found late January in the main pipe connecting the Equus Beds Aquifer and Cheney Lake. Both deliver water into the treatment plant, and are primary water sources for the City. If the leak had led to failure, it could have significantly affected water service to Wichita customers.

Mike Kelsey, PEC Principal and Samantha Dillion, Civil Design Engineer met a survey crew, headed by Charles Brooksher, Survey Division Manager on-site at 10:30 pm to start the topographic surveys. When construction crews exposed the underground 66” leaking water main, water seeped to the surface. The leak is believed to be the result of age.

The bypass was designed to deliver up to 50.0 MGD of raw water for treatment to the water treatment plant. Key elements including structural support systems were designed to accommodate the loading and forces from the bypass water mains. The design of the outlet system came with adjustment capabilities that would not disrupt water treatment plant processes. The PEC team provided solutions to make the materials work and how to obtain them in a timely manner.

PEC reviewed fabricator drawings quickly and helped facilitate ordering material and fabricating the outlets. At one point during a 24-hour time span, City staff sent their crews to Dallas to haul 36” steel pipe to a fabricator who welded on the outlets. The crew waited while this work was completed to haul the pipe back to Wichita for Wildcat Construction to put in place.

Throughout the design and build process, PEC worked diligently with City of Wichita staff, Wildcat Construction and Wichita Winwater Company on material availability for the new bypass.

Other PEC staff involvement included Cathy Link, Ted Scripter, Brice Schmits, Wes Britson, Brian Martin and Chuck Eads.