As part of the redevelopment of a property located in the City of Richmond, the existing combined sewer segment running through the development was abandoned in place by the developer. This resulted in abandonment of the granite box sewer upstream on the developer’s property. The City of Richmond requested that a diversion of the upstream flow be created by installing a new 24-inch pipe using jack and bore along an alley, connection of the new alignment into an existing 12-inch pipe by installing a new manhole, and replacement of the existing 12-inch pipe with a new 24-inch pipe using open cut. The project also included installation of a temporary bypass pumping system to divert upstream flows until the construction was complete. 

ECE's tasks included--

In the Design Phase:     

• Preparing bid plans, specifications, and engineer’s estimate for the project

• Performing hydraulic evaluation for the new pipes and preparing a memo which included bases of design for the new pipes

• Conducting utility survey to include topographic, sub-utility, drainage and sanitary, and right-of-way survey

• Conducting geotechnical investigations along the proposed new pipe alignment

• Conducting dye-testing to verify lateral connections to the granite box sewer and upstream sewers

• Providing bid assistance to the city, which included attending pre-bid meeting with the city and procurement, and contractor’s bid review and evaluation

In the Construction Phase:

• Contractor’s submittal review for compliance with contract documents

• Review and evaluation of contractor’s request for clarifications (RFCs) and providing written responses in accordance with contract requirements

• Attending construction progress meetings and perform part-time inspections

• Preparing record drawings

Unicorn Lake, a tributary to the Chester River, is a 43-acre impoundment that has a maximum depth of 8 feet, with a mean depth of 4 feet. The lake is managed as a largemouth bass and bluegill fishery. Existing mechanism to access the lake is either by using launching ramp or pier behind the main office of the hatchery. The scope of the project includes designing new ADA compliant VAN accessible parking space, concrete access ramp and installation of gangway and new floating fishing dock. In addition to this the scope includes, designing a 6’ x 6’ concrete pad for a future ADA compliant restroom as well as relocating the 4’ x 4’ concrete pad for the trash can and relocating the fishing line recycler.

• Civil Site Design
• Erosion and Sediment Control
• ADA Comliant Design Modifications
• Product Research
• Cost Estimates
• CAD Drawings and Specifications
• Bidding and Construction Phase Services

Richmond's wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) serves approximately 58,000 customers in the city and is the largest of its kind in Virginia.  Located along the south bank of the James River, the plant can treat up to 70 million gallons a day of sanitary sewage and stormwater before returning it to the river.  The wastewater utility also operates and maintains 1,500 miles of sanitary sewer, pumping stations, 38 miles of intersecting sewer lines, and the Shockoe Retention Basin, a 44-million gallon stormwater reservoir used during heavy rains.  The WWTP treats wastewater flows arriving from both the north and south sides of the James River, traveling beneath the river in some instances.  The Twin 66s are a pair of 66-inch diameter concrete interceptors, traveling from Chapel Island on the north bank of the James River to the south bank of the James River at the WWTP.  The Twin 66s have a large concrete Inlet Chamber, which collects flow before discharging into the Twin 66’s, and a large concrete Junction Chamber, which received flow from the Twin 66’s.  The City Lock Project is for the structural additions to the existing Inlet and Junction Chambers.   It also includes a new buried concrete gate structure and 72-inch sluice gate on the Lower Goodes Creek Interceptor along Brander Street.

The structural addition will provide access from grade to the Twin 66-inch siphons and the 96-inch Shockoe Interceptor for cleaning and maintenance. The project also includes design for a permanent all-weather access road from the Shockoe Retention Basin on Chapel Island to the location of the Inlet Structure near Richmond City Lock. The City of Richmond has requested that bid documents be compiled for the structure modifications and the new gate structure, including plans, specifications, and a project book for bidding general contractors. ECE was sub-contracted on as a sub-consultant whose tasks included design, drafting layout, sub consultant coordination, survey, geotechnical exploration and recommendations, field research, client meetings, and general project administration.

As a subcontractor, ECE conducted visual inspections and condition assessments of the City of Virginia Beach DPU’s 54 active water, sewer, and sewage force mains that cross over water bodies (aerial crossings). ECE completed digital forms presenting both the general characteristics of the crossings and the observed facility conditions along with recommendations. ECE’s project manager assisted with field efforts and co-authored the assessment report which documented the condition assessment criteria and results. This report included a summary of the field and desktop assessment methodologies, findings, remediation prioritization, recommendations, and feasibility level cost estimates for the recommended follow-up actions and capital improvements.

Field inspections involved visual inspections on foot where crossings are visible from land, and from boats where crossings are hung under roadway bridges spanning the waterways. Condition observations were recorded for piping, support structure, and general location-specific issues potentially affecting the crossing itself or access for remediation. Based on observations, field conditions, and/or record information, some crossings were identified for follow-up actions to further evaluate condition or criticality. Examples include non-destructive testing to assess wall thickness on older pipelines and desktop reviews of piping network to further assess risks by determining service bypass options if crossings were not available. Physical condition for each of the major components was rated based on a scale of 1 (excellent condition) to 5 (very poor condition). Desktop service-level criticality and risk assessments were also applied to address both service-specific and location-specific conditions for each crossing to develop a relative prioritization for crossing remediation. Criticality rating of 1 (low) to 3 (high) was assessed for each crossing based in part on proximity to critical users such as hospitals, schools, and resort/tourism areas. Other factors for criticality included pipe size and relative traffic ratings for the associated roadway. Relative risk was assessed by multiplying the physical condition rating by the criticality rating to provide a weighted risk value for each crossing and establish the prioritization. ECE’s efforts on this project were successfully completed within budget and schedule constraints. Added value was provided by applying forethought regarding endues of the final report documentation and preparing the final report as a living document for city operations personnel.

Environ-Civil Engineering, (ECE) was contracted by the Maryland Department of General Services (MDGS) to provide engineering design and construction management services to stop water from infiltrating into the Hubner building during storm events.  The services were provided in 5 phases: Phase I - Schematic/Conceptual Design; Phase II – Design Development; Phase III – Construction Document; Phase IV – Bidding Phase;  and Phase V – Construction Phase.  The description of the work performed is as follows:

Phase I - Schematic/Conceptual Design: Site visits were conducted to evaluate site conditions and obtain background information for input in the conceptual design process.  All the existing as-built drawings for the site were reviewed and evaluated. Data gaps were identified and filled prior to the start of the conceptual design.  Additional field tests were performed to identify infiltration routes to the inside of the building.

Phase II – Design Development: ECE prepared drawings and documents that comprised of Schematic Design Phase, including elevations and cross sections. A site development plan that showed the existing project structures, utilities, roads, sidewalks, grades, parking facility and pertinent structures in the vicinity of the project site was prepared by ECE. All calculations, proposed alterations and/or work were shown on the drawings.

Phase III – Construction Document: ECE prepared the design and construction documents which were produced and submitted at 50%, 90% and the 100% final phase to MDGS for review and approval.  ECE attended two meetings during the design and construction phases of the project to discuss progress and schedule.  An estimate of probable construction costs of the project and construction schedule were prepared and submitted to MDGS.

Phase IV – Bidding Phase: ECE attended a pre-bid meeting to provide clarifications on questions submitted that the general contractor asked on the construction document. ECE looked at the bid submitted to MDGS to analyze and compare with probable construction costs prepared by ECE.

Phase V – Construction Phase: The construction phase services provided by ECE included conducting pre-construction meetings, review of contractor submittals, review of construction schedules, review of design scope changes, responding to RFI’s and RFP’s, scheduling and attending progress meetings and site visits to discuss and resolve problems, preparation of construction progress reports and meeting minutes, review of construction contract change orders, review cost proposals and assisting the agency in negotiations, review of contractor payment requests, resolution of on-site issues and conflicts that were identified during construction and preparing a list of defects and omissions related to the work performed for the contractor. ECE prepared the punch list and performed the final work through to close out project.

The project involves review of Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) videos of approximately 14,300 linear feet (LF) of sanitary sewers in Sewershed Area 6-5. The objective is to identify  replacement/rehabilitation work needed in Sewershed Area 6-5.  Observe defects in the sewer reaches are documented in an Excel spreadsheet using defect coding. Tasks include recommendation of City approved rehabilitation methods such as Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP), Point Repair, Open Cut Replacement, Chemical Seal and manhole rehabilitation to address the sanitary sewer line and manhole problems identified during the video review. The recommendations included open cut repair of approximately 3,000 LF of the total length of existing sewers (eleven sewer reaches), two new manhole installations, rehabilitation of nine existing manholes, uncovering of one manhole and resetting a manhole cone/riser for another manhole.  Additional tasks include replacement of some sewers in existing alignment, installation of a new manhole and rehabilitation of existing manholes using services of a general contractor through competitive bids. The replacement of the existing sewers includes 50% replacement in kind (same size) and 50% up-sizing from 6 to 8 inches. Perform field surveys to show the horizontal utility locations on plans based on design utility markings by Miss Utilities. Compare the field data to the utilities in the City’s GIS files. Show vertical utility locations on profiles based on data provided by City’s test hole Contractor. Assist in the preparation of bid plans and specifications and assist in the bidding process. ECE also provides construction phase services such as reviewing construction specific submittals and contractor’s requests for information (RFI’S).

The City of Richmond’s Water Treatment Plant (WTP) utilizes finished, potable water for many uses within the WTP itself.  The existing plant water system continues to have numerous potential cross-connections.  Plant water schematics identified many areas where potable (e.g. restrooms, emergency showers and eye washes) and non-potable (e.g. chemical dilution) uses are interconnected in the same piping system for both Plants 1 and 2.  This project separated the potable and non-potable uses into two separate water supply systems. The work involved the design of upgrades to the PWS to separate potable uses from non-potable, eliminating cross-connections, and the work also involved the design of installation of water meters and backflow devices on PWS feeds to Plant buildings. The tasks included evaluation of the size/capacity of PWS needs, developed preliminary plan to separate the potable and non-potable PWS, preparation of sizing calculations, review of capacity and condition of existing piping to remain in service where appropriate and sizing new PWS piping. ECE designed the repair and removal of the 6-inch main to Loch Lomand Lane. Contract documents were provided in bid packages to allow the city to issue construction documents to Annual Services Contractors to complete the work in phases. Services during construction include inspection, answering contractor questions, and providing record drawings. ECE prepared record drawings based on mark-ups from each Annual Contractor.