Pierce Burch Water Plant Upgrades Halfway Done – $112.5M Project

Published on August 19, 2024

By Traci Peterson, Arlington Water Utilities

The $112.5 million project at the Pierce Burch Water Treatment Plant in West Arlington is more than halfway complete with some new components already operational.

Arlington Water Utilities, which provides tap water to residents throughout the city, began construction on the project 2021. The upgrades include new chemical facilities, new clear wells for storing water, a new high service pump station, power distribution facilities, and emergency generators.

• Construction and testing of the clear wells, which store a total of 8 million gallons of treated water before it is sent out for distribution. The wells underwent a “hydrostatic test,” which involves filling the structures with water for 30 days and checking for water loss ensure no leaks are present.
• A one-story building that serves as a power distribution center for facilities at the north end of the plant, including the administration building. It is essential for consolidation electrical service and providing redundancy to power plant facilities.
• Wash water recycle basins with two cells each holding up to 1.2 million gallons of recycled water. The recycle basin is used to collect water using in the treatment process and recycle it back to the head of the treatment plant for treatment. The dual cell design allows one cell to be taken out of service for maintenance.

The project is expected to finish by fall 2025. Some of the work still in progress includes:

• The construction of the new Charles F. Anderson High Service Pump Station (CFAPS), which will replace the existing pump station in Southwest Arlington.
• Installation of three new emergency generators.
• Construction of a one-story building that serves as the main power distribution center, distributing power to the entire plant and its processes. The technological upgrades to the power distribution facility allow for greater efficiency.

The $112.5 million project is being funded by a combination of Texas Water Development Board drinking water state revolving fund and City of Arlington Water Revenue Bonds.