The City of Grosse Pointe Woods decided to explore major water system improvements in an effort to reduce their Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) water rates and make their system more efficient. The City requested that AEW develop a water system model to adequately size and determine the effect a water storage tank would have on their system. The City’s water network had not previously been modeled, so AEW developed the entire hydraulic model and performed the analysis on the existing system.
The City decided to move forward with the new water storage tank, and pursue Drinking Water Revolving Funds (DWRF) to help fund the project, as well as any other improvements that would benefit the efficiency and reliability of the system. AEW expanded on their initial modeling work to provide a complete reliability study for the water distribution system, including a 20 year capital improvement program. To meet the strict DWRF deadlines, the additional modeling and reliability study/master plan report was completed with utmost efficiency.
AEW then took this project through the DWRF application process, design, construction engineering, and construction administration of what ultimately became a $4.35 million DWRF loan to finance construction of the 500,000 gallon reservoir and pump station, including 1,500 linear feet of new 16 inch water main. An additional 17,850 linear feet of 6-8 inch mains with 8 inch ductile iron and PVC were installed with open cut and directional drill replacement. Finally, an automated meter reading system, including approximately 6,900 automated meters, to help the City monitor and efficiently maintain the improved system was installed.