Hoboken flooding – hope is in sight: Das Pump set to rock for middle October
Status of H1 Screening and Wet Weather Pump Station
TO: Richard Wolff/Chairman/North Hudson Sewerage Authority
COPIES: North Hudson Sewerage Authority Board of Commissioners
FROM: Michael Wilson, P.E., Project Manager, CH2M HILL
DATE: August 15, 2011
Chairman Wolff:
As requested, we are providing the monthly update regarding the progress of
construction of the H1 Screening and Wet Weather Pump Station project. This update
is for work that took place during the month of July 2011.
The contractor’s most recent progress schedule is dated August 10, 2011. The progress
schedule reflects continued completion of the few remaining elements of work
associated with the pump station and electric building, as well as continued startup of
new equipment and systems. Significant cleaning and inspection work on the western
pipeline was achieved during the month, and activation of the west pump and western
pipeline is still anticipated for the fall 2011. As noted previously, activation of the
western pump and pipeline is contingent upon timely completion of the pipeline
restoration work. Section C provides a comprehensive schedule narrative and
commentary. The following is a summary of important project issues, milestones
achieved, and the most recent estimate of the project schedule:
A. Important Project Issues
1. Outfall Rehabilitation and Extension: As noted in previous monthly
reports, completion of the permanent rehabilitation of the existing outfalls is
required for operation of the pump station. This is the most complex portion
of the project, and it continues to impact the schedule for placing the pump
station into operation. During this reporting period the contractor began full-
scale cleaning and inspection work in the western pipeline. Initially, the
cleaning and inspection work progressed well, with few impediments to the
progress of the work. As the contractor neared the middle reach of the
pipeline they encountered areas where the solid deposition material was
extremely difficult to remove, which considerably slowed the pace of work.
Following our request starting the week of August 15th the cleaning
contractor will mobilize a second cleaning crew to increase productivity and
progress the cleaning work on the western outfall pipeline at a faster rate.
- MilestonesAchieved
- In the Pump Station – the Contractor completed installing the stainless steel
access ladders. They also poured the structural concrete for the influent
channel slab and walls of the new chamber that completes the connection
between the H1 Regulator and the new pump station. They placed flowable
fill up to the springline of the exterior ductile iron CSO gravity piping and
they placed and compacted select fill around previously installed sections of
exterior ductile iron CSO piping. They also performed a successful
hydrostatic leakage test on the western interior and exterior storm piping. - At the Electrical Building – the Contractor completed installing the 4-inch
roof drain utility piping, and they installed the emergency generator fuel tank
vent pipe. The Contractor continued to complete the site restoration around
the building; they installed bollards on the east and west sides of the
building, poured the new concrete curbs, and re-installed NJ Transit’s fence.
The CSO bar screen manufacturer (PW Tech) performed functional testing for
the two new mechanical bar screens on July 6-7, and the emergency generator
manufacturer (Cummins Power Systems) conducted the performance test for
the emergency generator, automatic transfer switch, and the electrical load
bank on July 13-14. Verizon installed the telephone service wires to the
building on July 15. - No further work was performed at the CSO pipe extension location.
Completion of the restoration work in this area will begin upon completion of
the cleaning and lining activities on the CSO pipelines.
- In the Pump Station – the Contractor completed installing the stainless steel
- With regard to the cleaning and rehabilitation of the existing CSO pipelines; the
contractor re-mobilized to the project site on July 5, 2011 to resume cleaning and
inspection of the western outfall pipeline by means of direct worker entry and
hand cleaning to remove the hardened material from within the pipeline. From
their first day of cleaning work, July 6, through August 2, approximately 315 LF
of the cast iron section of the western pipeline was cleaned; this is approximately
50% of the pipeline. The cleaning contractor is adding an additional crew on the
pipeline to accelerate the work the week of August 15th, 2011 to increase the
manpower on the project and allow the work to progress faster.
D. Current Project Schedule
The contractor’s latest project schedule on hand is dated August 10, 2011. We
expect an update to the progress schedule during the first full week of
September, 2011.
Important observations from the most recent project schedule include the
following:
1. Work at the Pump Station was primarily focused on constructing the new
channel between the H1 Regulator and the pump station, completing
miscellaneous work items, and beginning the equipment testing phase. It is
anticipated that the contractor will complete construction of the H1 Regulator
channel, and continue with startup and testing activities.
- Work at the Electric Building was mostly related to startup and testing of new
equipment, completion of miscellaneous work items, and site restoration. As
anticipated, with electric power made available to the building in late June,
the Contractor was able to proceed with startup and testing activities; they
tested the emergency generator, automatic transfer switch and electric load
bank.
It is anticipated that the Contractor will continue with startup and testing
activities, including; the HVAC systems, Variable Frequency Drives for the
storm pumps, and the pump control system. Verizon was requested to
complete the telephone system installation; however, with the current strike
by Verizon we are unable to predict when that utility work will be finished.
Related to the phone line installation, startup and testing of the fire alarm and
sprinkler system cannot be completed until the phone lines are installed and
operational. The exterior copper façade rain screen, which is an architectural
element of the building, is in fabrication. Installation of the rain screen will be
coordinated with the completion of the site restoration work and a planned
utility power outage; this is required because installation of the rain screen is
within 10 feet of the power utility’s aerial high voltage conductors. The rain
screen installation is scheduled for September, 2011; however, is contingent
upon completing critical items of work prior to initiating a sustained utility
power outage to the Electric Building.
- As noted in prior month’s reports, the schedule continues to show the
pipeline cleaning, inspection and rehabilitation activities lie in the critical
path to activate the new pumps. The contractor performed full-scale cleaning
during July; they completed approximately 50% of the western pipeline
cleaning work. The most recent schedule predicts full-scale cleaning will take
place through August 23, 2011.
Cleaning will be followed by a comprehensive inspection of the pipeline, then
lining of the pipeline. CH2M HILL had a meeting with the contractor on
August 3rd, 2011 to expedite the procurement of the lining material for the
outfall. The meeting was productive and a lining system was selected. The
contractor was instructed to prepare formal shop drawings and calculations
for engineering review and approval.
Based on the addition of a second crew to expedite the cleaning of the
western outfall the lining work is scheduled to be completed by October 7th,
2011. This will allow the facility to be put into operation the week of October
15th, 2011.
- As noted in last month’s report, start-up of the H1 pump station and electric
building requires completion of the Electric Building and Pump Station, as
well as complete rehabilitation of at least one pipeline and connection of the
addition of the second cleaning crew to expedite the western outfall cleaning
is projected to allow the startup of the pump station by October 15th, 2011.
Maintaining this schedule requires the pipeline cleaning to progress
concurrently with procurement of the lining materials.
Based on currently available information, the startup and testing of the H1
Screening and Wet Weather Pump Station is anticipated for the month of
October 2011. The latest schedule is presented in Table 1.
Table 1
Contractor’s August 10, 2011 Project Schedule and Project Milestones
| | | | Rehabilitation of Twin Outfalls Complete and Extended to Long Slip Canal | Pump Station Substantial Completion | Pump Station Startup and Testing | Completion of Construction |
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| | Schedule | | October 7th, 2011 (Note 1) | June 30, 2011 | October 15th, 2011 (Note 2) | February 16, 2012 (Note 3) |
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- Based on the addition of a second pipeline cleaning crew, the scheduled date for
completion of the rehabilitation of the West pipeline is October 7th, 2011. In
order to accelerate the startup and testing of the pump station, the contractor’s is
adding a second pipeline cleaning crew and his schedule indicates startup
immediately following completion of work on only the West pipeline.
Constructing the project in this manner requires that cleaning, inspection and
rehabilitation of the East pipeline occur following startup of the west pump and
west pipeline. Completion of the restoration of the East pipeline is predicted for
January 4, 2012.
- During the month of August, 2011, it is anticipated that the contractor will
complete the variable frequency pump testing and complete startup activities on
all equipment and systems that do not require the pumping of CSO overflow
through the existing pipeline(s). Startup and activation of the west CSO pump
will take place upon completion of the rehabilitation of the western pipeline, and
connection of the rehabilitated pipeline to the installed pump station
underground discharge piping.
- Project Substantial Completion is predicted for February 16, 2012. Completion of
project construction punch-list work is predicted for March 15, 2012 and Final
Completion is predicted for May 11, 2012.
Electrical Building – West and South Building Elevations and Site Restoration
Pump Station – Connection to Existing H1 Regulator (Regulator in Foreground)
Outfall Rehabilitation – Cleaning Operation – Existing Western CSO Pipeline