Fast-Track Design-Build of 93 km (58 mi) Water Transmission Pipeline in West Texas

The T-Bar Ranch Well Field Development and Delivery Project involved the design and construction of 44 water production wells and associated collection piping; a 75.7 ML/day (20 MGD) high-service pumping station; two ground storage tanks (one 7.6 ML [2 MG] and one 18.9 ML [5 MG]); a chlorination facility; and 93 km (58 mi) of 122 cm (48 in.) diameter transmission main, all in a time span of less than 15 months. The fast-track design-build delivery project commenced in March 2012. Many hurdles had to be overcome, including establishing a pipeline route that traversed around sand dunes and through a wind farm and crossed multiple oil/gas lines; performing property surveys and preparing easement documents and swiftly securing easements; performing an expedited yet thorough system hydraulic analysis; performing geotechnical investigation and topographic survey; implementing a phased pipeline design approach that involved the early procurement of pipe and valves; and mobilizing multiple pipeline construction teams and equipment, which included some of the largest trenching machines ever utilized. Due to the sustained drought in west Texas, and extremely low reservoir levels within the region, the project was required to be online by June 2013 to ensure the City of Midland would have adequate water supply during its peak summer demand. Design-build was selected as the project delivery method due to the aggressive schedule requirements.