At 142 miles, the length of this mammoth water supply project is akin to the distance between Austin and East Houston – or one-fifth the length of Texas – and is the largest P3 design-build pipeline project in North American history.
Pape-Dawson managed the Vista Ridge Regional Water Supply (Vista Ridge) program, which included 142 miles of 54” and 60” pipeline moving 50,000 acre-feet per year from Burleson County to Bexar County. The project consisted of 18 wells pulling from two different aquifers and three pump station facilities. The pump station portion of this transmission project consisted of three booster stations, each with three VFD pumps capable of pumping 44MGD over a 700’ elevation difference. Design and construction for each pump facility incorporated one Type III prestressed concrete ground storage tank (4 MG) with space planning and piping configurations to support a second tank in the future as growth in flows occur. A single 10 MG Type III prestressed concrete ground storage tank was designed and constructed at the terminus point in San Antonio. Yard piping varied from 24” to 60”, with a site plan incorporating layouts to maximize efficiencies in pump station piping hydraulics, simplifying pump design, electrical design, service and maintenance, and traffic flow through the sites by anticipated equipment and personnel.
Pape-Dawson was also responsible for stakeholder coordination, land acquisition, environmental assessment, permitting, and construction administration. The entire program including development, engineering, and construction was completed in an amazing 5 years.
Vista Ridge has garnered international praise for industry excellence, including North America Water Deal of the Year by IJGlobal and Project Finance International, and Water Deal of the Year by Global Water Intelligence of Spain.
