San Antonio’s Transition to Polymer Concrete Sanitary Sewer Structures

The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) embarked on an ambitious plan in the early 2000s to address deficiencies in their wastewater collection system. The C_13 Broadway Corridor project addressed both condition and capacity in SAWS’ Central Sewershed, which collects wastewater from the central area of San Antonio (including downtown). The Broadway Corridor was the first full-scale application of polymer concrete hydraulic structures in the SAWS collection system. Two hydraulic structures were designed to convey wet weather flows to the parallel sewer system. In both applications, the pre-fabrication drawings ensured that the structures were manufactured to exact elevations and gradients for proper hydraulic operation once installed. This first application of polymer concrete hydraulic structures has been successful, providing multiple benefits, especially in a highly congested, restricted right-of-way and in complex hydraulic applications.