Sand Key is a popular neighborhood in Clearwater, Florida that is located on a barrier island. Lift Station 45 moves wastewater from the beachfront homes and businesses on Sand Key to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The ductile iron force main was installed in the 1970s. Over the years, multiple failures of this wastewater line have required costly repairs and caused major inconveniences for Sand Key residents.
To put an end to these expenses and interruptions—and to improve wastewater service and reliability—the City replaced the 16-inch force main at Lift Station 45. McKim & Creed was commissioned by the City to evaluate, design and permit the 5,000-LF force main replacement; conduct topographical and right-of-way surveys; provide SUE studies for utility coordination; and furnish bid documentation, construction administration and onsite observation services.
To minimize impacts during construction, McKim & Creed used horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to install the pipe. The team drilled 50 feet deep to lay 4,200 feet of 20-inch HDPE force main. Construction began in January 2020 and was slated for completion on July 10, but the team completed the $2.3-million project a full month early and below budget. The final tie-in was conducted overnight to avoid disruption to island residents.