Increasing Pump Station and Force Main Capacity for the Short Term While Providing Efficiency for Future Needs 

Recognizing the need for a long-term plan for the Piper Creek drainage basin, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, contracted with HDR to provide fast-track planning, study, design and subsequent construction administration of the first phase of Piper Creek Regional Improvements, which included a new pump station, force main and gravity sewers. The improvements service the new Piper Creek Elementary School, which opened in fall 2020, and rapid surrounding community development.  

Our designers worked with Unified Government staff to quickly develop facility layout and locations, as well as establish design requirements. Property owners were contacted for approval to obtain survey data and discuss potential project impacts. We held public meetings to obtain feedback and address comments. At final design approval in May 2019, the project consisted of 19 easement documents and two construction contracts — one for the pump station and one for the sewer mains. 

Before regional growth, the Piper Creek area was served by Pump Stations 63 and 67, both operating near their maximum design capacity. Design and construction of a new regional pump station allows for consolidation of these smaller facilities, with design capacity to handle 2.4 MGD initially and 7.2 MGD in final build-out by adding pumps and a future parallel force main. 

Similarly, to serve the new pump station and accommodate growth, 11,800 linear feet of 8-inch to 30-inch gravity sewer pipe were installed along 12,400 linear feet of 12-inch force main. Construction cost estimates were within 2% of the bid amounts. 

The construction was completed in fall 2020. Some unique construction components included trenchless installation methods of horizontal directional drill and auger bore, rock blasting for the pump station site and some sections of the pipe alignment, and restoration of creek crossings after pipeline installation.