Miami-Dade Co, FL

South District Wastewater Treatment Plant Injection Well

Client: Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department
Our Role: Construction Management

An aerial view of the South District Wastewater Treatment Plant facility.

Florida Statutes (F.S. 403.086) contain the Ocean Outfall Legislation (OOL) affecting the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD). This law requires southeast Florida utilities to eliminate the normal use of ocean outfalls by the end of 2025, except under the condition of managing peak sewage flows, not to exceed 5% of the annual baseline flows. The law also mandates 60% of reclaimed water reuse and nutrient reductions prior to 2025. Part of the law requires specific reports be delivered to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), including a Compliance Plan that was submitted in 2013 and updated in 2016 and 2017. FDEP imposes conditions related to the OOL through the use of administrative orders linked to the FDEP facilities permits for the wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). WASD hired CH2M HILL, Inc. (CH2M), now part of Jacobs, to manage the OOL Program and coordinate work with the other ongoing WASD projects. Task teams were formed and implementation of the OOL Program began in October 2014.

GFT is a subconsultant to Jacobs embedded in the program team providing qualified project managers, construction managers, and technical staff during the implementation of the OOL program.

As part of the South District Injection Well Project, the GFT team participated in the procurement process and evaluation of the drilling contractors. The team collaborated with the program team and client to develop front end documents, manage the bidding process addenda and request for information, and supported review of the responsive bids.

During the construction phase, GFT is leading the construction management for the South District WWTP injection wells. These consist of drilling three 24-inch diameter steel casing injection wells, each with capacities of 18.6 million gallons per day. The construction involves a series of telescoping casing, including 64-inch pit casing, 54-inch surface casing, 44-inch and 34-inch intermediate casings, and the 24-inch final casing. The final injection well casing is anticipated to be set approximately 3,200 feet below, once the boulder zone is reached. The construction manager (CM) is responsible for managing the construction contract with Youngquist Brothers, Inc., and coordination with the designer and team of hydrogeologists in the field. The CM also is responsible for ensuring contract terms and schedule, performance of required testing during construction, appropriate documentation, and the following of health and safety protocols. This project is partially funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, thus requiring a higher level of reporting for maintaining compliance requirements.

Key Features

Use of e-Builder platform for document control.
Collaboration and cooperation with team members from multiple organizations, ongoing projects, programs, and WWTP stakeholders to ensure success of the project.
Management of expedited contractor schedule.

Outcomes

Increase effluent disposal capacity to meet projected peak flows and improve hardening and resiliency for the South District Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Meet established milestones for the Ocean Outfall Legislation Compliance Plan.
Manage and document construction of the project in compliance with federally funded requirements under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.