Owensville Water System Improvements Phase I
Archer Engineers was hired to provide City Engineering Services to the City of Owensville in 1999.
One of Archer's first tasks was to complete the design and implementation of a water line looping project previously submitted and approved for Community Development Block Grant funding. Inadequate cost estimation by previous planners coupled with record-high petroleum prices made providing the full scope of proposed improvements within the allocated budget very difficult. Strategic planning and project phasing which incorporated the project with concurrent street improvements allowed the project to be constructed under budget.
A structural inspection request from MDNR resulted in recommendations from certified consultants, to remove from service the only water tower serving the southern portion of the city. With these recommendations, Archer was asked to investigate the adequacy of the water supply, distribution and storage system. The entire City utility system was mapped using computer-modeling software, and evaluated for existing and future demands. Due to differences in tower elevations, the City operates two separate systems. It was found that along with low residual pressures created by the tower removal, the system supplying the majority of the commercial district was greatly deficient in fire flow capabilities, and was unable to provide flows needed for existing sprinkler systems.
Mapping upgrades incorporated with computer software allows the City to continually update maps as improvements are made. The software also provides a tool for keeping MDNR-required valve maintenance and backflow prevention records.
Archer established a capital improvement plan that incorporates design, construction and finance phasing that allows for full and continuous operation within MDNR guidelines. The proposed plan ultimately allows for the unification and modernization of the separate systems currently in operation with minimal rate increases.