17290_Authority_February_2024

42 The Authority | FEBRUARY 2024 With the addition of two more pumps, space became a premium in the existing block building. There was not enough space to install the new VFDs and meet the NEC code requirements. This required an addition to the rear of the building to house the new Yaskawa VFDs and air handling system to dissipate the added heat load to the building. The VFD room received three large air conditioning units while the pump room received upgrade intake fans and exhaust louvers. This addition, while only 13 feet by 31 feet, required an extensive permitting review by the Westmoreland County Conservation District and PA DEP. The pump station was originally constructed at the toe of the dam with no stormwater controls. This addition required Gibson-Thomas Engineering to design and permit the stormwater controls for the entire toe area, not just the actual construction site. Construction for the facility was bid in Spring of 2021 with contracts awarded in June 2021 and Notice to Proceed was issued in August MAWC article continued from page 10. 2021. As with many projects during the post Covid era, supply chain issues greatly impacted the project schedule. Delivery times for the pumps were quoted at 24 weeks and many large electrical components in excess of 40 weeks. This posed a unique coordination effort between the general mechanical contractor, electrical contractor, SCADA integrator, and plant staff. The construction plan called for the installation of the two pumps on the existing empty pads. This would be one 12 mgd pump with a VFD and the new 10 mgd pump with a rebuilt pump control ball valve. The general contractor was able to install the pumps while the electrical contractor installed conduit and wiring to the new pumps. Upon arrival of the VFDs, the 12 mgd pump installation was completed and tested. The PA DEP’s Southwest Regional office then required an inspection of the new pumps prior to giving an operating permit so that it could be placed into service. Once the first pairs of pumps were installed and permitted the contractors were able to remove the existing pumps and send them out for refurbishment. This was completed one at a time so that the treatment plant always had a minimum of four pumps in service. The PA DEP also required an inspection for each new pump installed. During the construction, the SCADA integrator included the new and existing pumps in the plants SCADA system. This now gave the operations staff better control and the ability to fine tune the flow from the raw water pump station to the treatment plant. The project was completed in early fall of 2023 and would not have been possible without the support of Ray Bair, Production Supervisor G. R. Sweeney WTP and Don Peperak, Production Superintendent MAWC. S