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Consultants propose booster pump station to fix southeast-side low pressure
Summary
Consultants from Fairgrounds told the mayor and council that a booster pump station on the city's southeast side could raise distribution pressure and support growth; they recommended a staged pressure increase to limit stress on older mains and outlined an expected contract decision timeline in late August.
Consultants from Fairgrounds presented a proposal during a council meeting to study and design a booster pump station to address low-pressure service on the city's southeast side. "I will be the client representative," Ryan said, explaining he will attend monthly meetings and keep the council updated on project progress.
Carrie Dixon, the firm's municipal market leader and the project manager for this engagement, said the work will focus on right-sizing the distribution system for future growth and called the process collaborative. "My job is to herd cats, make sure that we meet the schedule, that we stay on the budget, and that we give you the product, the scope that you want," Dixon said.
Consultants described how elevation differences create pressure zones and why a booster station is a common fix for localized low pressure. Lucas Hillsburn, the technical design lead, said the team expects the low-pressure zone to require increases that are significant but incremental: "When we 1st turn the system on, we are only gonna raise it maybe 5 PSI higher than it is today. Let it run that way for a few weeks, see if there's any leaks... and then bump it up again," he said.
Engineers flagged operational risks: raising pressure can uncover leaks in old cast-iron mains and requires a staged implementation with monitoring and repairs. The team said design work would include site assessments, hydraulic modeling and public engagement on siting and appearance.
Next steps: consultants asked the council to consider contract approval at the end of August; if approved, they proposed beginning work in September with a 60% design milestone targeted for March and bidding documents aimed for the following summer. The council approved the meeting agenda earlier in the evening but did not take a final vote on the consulting contract at this session.
