Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer Project | 2020 WWD Top Projects

Houston and the surrounding area are on a path to improving water supply resilience by reducing dependency on groundwater and improving surface water distribution and transfer. The Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer Project is a $318 million, multi-year project kicking off the first steps toward those resiliency plans by installing miles of pipe and canals, constructing a settling basin and maintenance facility and establishing an unprecedented-in-size for the state of Texas pigging station.

David Miller, Coastal Water Authority of Texas major projects manager, explains the size, scale and purpose of the project before discussing the challenges associated with different stages. Dorian French, BGE Inc. senior manager of major projects, discusses the difficulties involved in construction, and why the pigging station is such an unprecedented facility for Texas. Miller then outlines the next steps for water supply resiliency and how the Coastal Water Authority of Texas is prepared to take on the challenges with which it will be presented. Thalle Construction was the contractor for this project.

Intro: (0:00)
The reason behind reducing groundwater dependency: (0:43)
Challenges that project size and scale presented to design and construction: (2:47)
The purpose of the pigging station: (5:34)
How zebra mussels inhibit water transfer: (6:28)
Pigging station size and design sets Texas precedent: (8:17)
Why address ground water supply with surface water?: (10:14)
What’s next and expected difficulties: (12:05)
Outro: (13:26)

All Top Projects will be featured in the December 2020 issue of Water & Wastes Digest, so subscribe today to get access to their individual write-ups using the links below!

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