Project Description

In April 1996, the City of Fort Smith’s P Street Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) took a direct hit from an F3 tornado. Most of the damage was concentrated on the Headworks Pump Station, Chlorine Building, Plant Operations Building, Wet Chemistry Laboratory, and Maintenance Buildings. First priority was providing consulting engineering services to the City in restoring operation of the P Street WWTP to meet its regulatory permit requirements. The subsequent design project involved the reconstruction of these facilities at the P Street WWTP and Kelley Highway sites. The most complicated of these reconstruction projects was the Headworks Pump Station since it included a below grade pump dry well and plant water system that had to remain in service throughout the project construction phase. It was also decided to relocate the chlorination equipment and incorporate it into this building footprint. Our development of cost estimates for the project assisted our client in negotiating an insurance claim, and also supported an application to FEMA for hazard mitigation funding to raise the structures above the 100-year base flood elevation. The design effort culminated in the project receiving an Engineering Excellence Award from the Arkansas Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC). Hawkins-Weir Engineers provided consulting services during the aftermath of the tornado followed by project design, bidding, and resident engineering during the construction phase. Subconsultants on the project included CDM and MAHG, Inc.