$1.7 Billion Northeast Water Purification Plant Facility to be Installed

The Northeast Water Purification Plant facility project is a $1.7B progressive Design Build project in the city of Houston. The project seeks to supply water to more than 500 municipalities in the Houston area. It is the largest contract of its kind in the world. It will allow Houston to treat up to 320 MGD of water by 2025. The Northeast Water Purification Plant (NEWPP) expansion project will be constructed in phases. The first 80 MGD will be ready by the first quarter of 2024 leaving the remaining 240MGD by 2025. The project will ensure the 320 MGD sufficient water supply will reach a population of 4 million people. This is an extra 55% of the current Greater Houston population in the area.

The scope of the Northeast Water Purification Plant Facility

The Northeast Water Purification Plant (NEWPP) Expansion Project includes the construction of various amenities in its scope. This includes new water treatment facilities sized to achieve 320 MGD of Treated Water production. It also includes the construction of a new raw water facility. It includes intake, pumping, and conveyance facilities. This will facilitate to withdrawal of Raw Water from Lake Houston and deliver it to the new water treatment facilities. The scope also entails new electrical supply facilities, including a new electrical substation. Lastly, it entails certain related buildings, structures, fixtures, systems, and equipment. These equipments will facilitate in the delivery of the project and ensure the project is completed.

The Significance of the NEWPP Project

The Northeast Water Purification Plant facility project will be beneficial to the residents of Houston as it will ensure that 4 million people receive clean water. It will also ensure that the water in Lake Houston is refined and can be used by its residents for domestic use. To facilitate this, the contracted company Ferrovial has been awarded two contracts, Yard Piping, and High Service Pump Stations, valued at $192M. The construction activities started in the fall of 2019 after more than a year of producing preconstruction services. The Yard Piping scope of the North East Water Purification Plant project entails the connection of twin influent Raw water 108-inch mains. These connection points aim to ensure that the facility is connected all through as shown in the contracted documents. PLW is contracted to ensure that the yard piping scope of work is implemented.

The Uniqueness of the Project

The major component of the expansion is the Northeast Water Purification Plant Facility. Expected to be the largest kind of contract in the world, it is unique in nature. Constructed on land owned by the City of Houston next to the current plant. It is designed to supply 320 million gallons per day of treated water capacity in addition to the current 80 million gallons per day of treated water capacity. The 400 million gallons per day plant will occupy approximately 150 acres of the city’s 252-acre site. Several buildings will be constructed on the site in addition to the administration/maintenance building, ground storage tanks, pump stations, and the water education center.