The effective collection, treatment, and disposal of sanitary sewage is one of the distinguishing characteristics of first-world countries. In the United States, the delivery of raw sewage directly to rivers, lakes, and streams prior to the adoption of the Clean Water Act in 1972 rendered numerous water bodies and aquifers across the country unfit for human consumption. Implementation of the Clean Water Act has enabled the country to reverse this appalling state of affairs in a generation.
Since its inception in 1964, Nelson Engineering has provided sewer system evaluation, design, construction survey and inspection, and contract administration services, as well as assisted with facility planning, right-of-way negotiation, funding applications, and easement acquisitions for municipalities across Wyoming and Idaho. During that time, the firm has led the way in the use of new technology, pioneering, among other things, the use of “slip-lining” and “pipe-bursting” techniques to extend communities’ maintenance and replacement dollars. Here are a few recent projects:
The Wilson Sewer Project
Design and construction contract administration for 17 miles of sewer collection mains, 5 lift stations, a pump station on the west bank of the Snake River, and a force main under the river connecting the system to the Town’s regional wastewater treatment plant. The new system removed 480 septic systems in an area unsuitable for on-site disposal due to seasonally high groundwater.
The Rock Springs Main Lift Station and Force Main Project
Design and construction contract administration for a new sewer lift station (serving 80% of the Rock Springs service area) and force main (under Sweetwater Creek), including structural vault design and variable speed pump selection, with a design flow rate of up to 6,000 gallons per minute.
Town of Dubois Sewer Mains Rehabilitation Project
This project began as an evaluation of the existing sewer collection system, then assigned priorities to mains to be rehabilitated (or replaced), and concluded with the design and construction oversight (including inspection) of new or rehabilitated mains. Nelson Engineering prepared a successful USDA Rural Development block grant for project funding.
Town of Granger Sewer Rehabilitation and Extension Projects
Design and construction contract administration for replacement of virtually all of the existing collection mains within the Town core and the extension of service (via a 20” diameter bore under tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad) to existing and future light industrial uses. Included were over 2.5 miles of new 8” diameter sanitary sewer main and 46 manholes.