Fort Worth’s Twin 90-Inch Sewer Pipe Emergency Bank Stabilization

The city of Fort Worth faced a potential environmental crisis. Erosion along the Trinity River had exposed a 90-in. RCCP pipeline. Emergency repairs were needed to stabilize the bank of a meandering river to keep the wastewater flow from polluting the river and to protect an adjacent 90-in. RCCP pipeline. Combined, this twin 90-in. wastewater system conveys 150 MGD of wastewater to the city’s wastewater reclamation facility. This size of project typically would take a year or more to design, permit, advertise, bid, and award, but commitment from all parties allowed for fast-tracking so the design-to-construction time took just three months. A multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, construction managers, and city staff overcame a cascade of challenges to produce a long-term solution with multiple community benefits (avoidance of a wastewater disaster; uninterrupted service; lower construction cost using sustainable, natural design techniques; and improving conditions along the river over the long term). By addressing this emergency using natural channel design flow deflection structures, a launchable rock toe, and a concrete terrace wall to secure the bank and protect the pipelines, this project showed engineering excellence in action. The design team introduced a new technique to the USACE’s Fort Worth District, opening the possibility to serve as an example for future river stabilization projects within the region.