To meet a Florida Department of Environmental Protection consent order and reduce the potential for wet weather overflows, the City of St. Petersburg turned to a collaborative solution: their first progressive design-build delivery model. Partnering with the Archer Western/Wade Trim team, the City completed the Lift Station 87 Wet Weather Flow Transfer Project in just 14 months, delivering on their commitment to provide reliable wastewater service and protect the environment.
The project included a new lift station, 3 miles of 16-inch force main, and modifications to an existing lift station. Together, these improvements allow the City to move wastewater more efficiently through its system and balance flows between the Northwest and Southwest Water Reclamation Facilities (WRF). Additional improvements needed in the project corridor were integrated such as repaving an alleyway for church and preschool access and replacing aging manholes and gravity sewer pipe while maintaining the budget and schedule requirements.
A defining feature of the project is its flexible pumping system. Portable diesel-driven pumps can handle up to 3.5 million gallons per day, transferring flow to the Pasadena Master Pump Station and then to the Northwest WRF. When not in use, the pumps can be stored, maintained, or deployed elsewhere in the City. The new system was also engineered for bi-directional flow, enabling the Northwest WRF to send flows to the Southwest WRF, giving the City greater flexibility to balance conditions across the two basins.
Collaboration was key from the start. By aligning project objectives with market conditions, the team successfully managed pipe availability and price volatility while staying on budget and schedule. During pre-construction, completed in less than 6 months, the team integrated public outreach, preliminary engineering, permitting, scheduling, and guaranteed maximum price development. Value engineering efforts, such as rerouting the force main and using horizontal directional drilling, saved time, reduced safety risks, and minimized disruption to local roads, bike lanes, and bus routes.
This pump station was put to the test during two major hurricanes in 2024, where it performed as intended, eliminating sanitary sewer overflows in the Childs Park neighborhood. The Lift Station 87 Wet Weather Flow Transfer Project showcases how collaborative delivery and innovative thinking can achieve community-focused, cost-effective, and sustainable results.
Awards
DBIA National Water/Wastewater Award of Merit, 2023
DBIA Florida Region Small Projects Honor Award, 2023
ENR Southeast Region Water/Environment Best Project Award of Merit, 2023
