Electrical Improvements Optimize Performance, Reliability, and Safety
When the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (SCCRWA) embarked on the process of completing a series of phased electrical equipment replacement projects at the Lake Gaillard Pump Station, the goal was to upgrade aging equipment that was nearing the end of its life expectancy. In addition to providing power for the pump station equipment, the pump station electrical equipment feeds power to the treatment plant.
No Power, No Pumps, No Water
The Lake Gaillard Pump Station supplies an average of 32 million gallons of water daily, representing approximately 60% of the average number of gallons that SCCRWA pumps daily. It distributes water from the Lake Gaillard Water Treatment Plant (WTP), which has a total capacity of 80 million gallons daily. The pump station provides water directly to parts of New Haven, West Haven, North Haven, North Branford, and Branford. It also provides water indirectly to many more service areas through other pump and pressure reducing stations. Our overall goal was to ensure system reliability, since the inability to pump water would be catastrophic.
A Three-Phased Approach
Tighe & Bond managed the conditions assessment, design, permitting, and construction observation for the three phases of this $9 million electrical improvements project. This included replacing all power generation and distribution equipment (the 13,800 volt utility and distribution switchgear, two 2,000 kVA 13,800 V to 4,160 V transformers, 4,160 V tie breaker, two 4,160 V circuit breakers and switchgear, two 2,250 kW generators, and motor starter lineups and control centers). We customized the new equipment to meet the reliability and performance needs of the pump station, as well as to achieve the equipment safety goals. Key safety features for staff included arc flash improvements, and a remote racking device so operators can stand outside of the arc flash boundary.
Award Recognition
2017 Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Connecticut (ACEC/CT)
Services Snapshot
Our services included environmental, electrical, and structural engineering. We also provided permitting and construction administration services.
