Wright Avenue Water Plant Reconstruction

City of Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, Ca

HydroScience designed this project as part of the City’s ongoing Water Plant Upgrade and Equipment Replacement Program to ensure the protection and delivery of high quality water to its users. HydroScience prepared plans and specifications to replace the four existing and aged pumps with new VFD controlled pumps with a total production capacity of over 5 MGD. At the center of the design was a plan to replace the entire outdated electrical system in coordination with pump replacements in a phased manner while the facility continued to operate.

HydroScience’s unique design approach balanced construction cost with long term O&M reliability, flexibility, and simplicity. HydroScience proposed replacement of an existing natural gas powered backup pump with a fifth electric pump and a new portable generator located outside the building. This increased pumping flexibility, increased standby pumping capability, allowed for rotation between pumps, and eliminated the need to modify the existing building to meet NFPA code requirements. HydroScience’s design also allowed the many smaller City-initiated electrical upgrades to be re-routed and consolidated at the new plant-wide PLC system. HydroScience developed a balanced structural repair and upgrade approach to the building and determined that minor wall reinforcement banding and roof replacement would address structural needs without interrupting water service. 

Other HydroScience tasks on this project included: paving and erosion protection, CEQA Categorical Exemption documentation, Pacific Gas & Electric “Savings by Design and Existing Service -Relocate/Change Service” applications, Bay Area Air Quality Management District permit assistance, and City Building Department approvals.