Delivering Best Results

Project Description: The Greater Houston Wastewater Program (GHWP) was a six-year $1.2 billion project to control wet weather overflows in the City’s sanitary sewer system. Houston’s wastewater system is one of the largest in the nation, with 43 wastewater treatment plants, 5,600 miles of sewers, and 320 lift stations. Overflow control was accomplished through the planning, design, and construction of approximately 430 projects compromised of relief sewers, sewer rehabilitation, new or upgraded pump station, and wet weather treatment facilities. The City created this program to comply with a 1987 Administrative Order imposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( E P A ) and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) to control wet weather overflows.

Services Provided: BSCI was retained at the start of the Program as one of three of minority subconsultants to the program management consultant, Montgomery Watson. Personnel were provided to perform hydraulic modeling, costsavings analysis, design, construction management, and clerical support tasks. BSCI’s staff served as an extension of City staff and was housed with City personnel in a dedicated program office. This arrangement facilitated professional skill transfer and stimulated continuous exchange and dialogue between our staff and the client staff. These individuals assisted in the management of over 75 design consultants developing construction contract documents for approximately 430-sewer rehabilitation and overflow relief projects. This fast-track program used various strategies such as pre -qualified and pre-purchased but also took the time to include cost saving Technical Review and Value Engineering efforts.

BSCI personnel were involved in all aspects of the program including project management, design management, hydraulic modeling, environmental engineering and permitting support,
comprehensive program management, cost-savings analysis, detailed design and construction management. The sewer rehabilitation component of the program was the largest sewer rehabilitation
effort in the United States at the time. The work included conceptual design of relief and rehabilitation projects ranging from open cut to deep tunnels, slip lining, cured-in-place, deform/reform and pipe-bursting techniques. Over 150,000 feet of new sewer installed by micro tunneling was also completed in the course of the work. The development of design guidelines for underground construction to ensure standardization of designs being prepared by the design subconsultants was also accomplished. Construction Management on the program also required resource planning to optimize the capacity of available contractors (both prime, sub and minority sub) to successfully complete the work. At the peak the Program management team consisted of more than 300 staff from the City and consultants working in an integrated organization.