The Challenge
San Francisco’s Southeast Treatment Plant (SEP) handles 80% of the city’s wastewater (sanitary sewage and storm runoff) and is tucked in amidst industrial, commercial, and residential areas. SF’s Public Utilities Commission is investing more than $3B to modernize the plant, including some $718M earmarked for upgrading the headworks, which is where the first step of the wastewater treatment occurs. W.C. Maloney, a division of Precizion Partners, worked with general contractor Sundt/Walsh, a Joint Venture, on the demolition of the two headworks.
There were a host of challenges on this project, the first of which was the compact footprint (with the new facility getting built in that same footprint) which drove several complexities as there were numerous contractors in a small space trying to accomplish their goal. This required intricate movement, communication, and planning to proceed successfully. One of the biggest challenges was that the Headworks needed to be demolished while the facility remained operational; talk about the need for operational excellence!
The Solution
The experience, skill set, and patience of the demo team and the oversight of Rob Kay, Precizion’s Project Manager and engineer, enabled the development of a precise project plan. The work spread out over three years as the labor was staged by the subcontractors to ensure steady, methodical progress was made. For example, our demo team had to remove portions of the headworks while the drilling of piles and piers was beginning behind them. As the project moved toward the wet well and dry well phases of the wastewater treatment process, we needed to conduct intricate saw cutting to surgically remove portions of the structures.
The success of the project came from constant communication, creative real-time problem-solving, and the patience to do exactly what was required due to the interdependence of all the moving parts. Our relationship with the SFPUC is strong and we’ve won another contract with Sundt/Walsh, a Joint Venture, this year to help remove the next headworks.
