Norman WRF Dewatering

Norman, OK

At the Norman Water Reclamation Facility, the City of Norman needed a full dewatering system overhaul to modernize aging infrastructure and improve plant performance. Through a Design-Bid-Build contract, we replaced sludge piping, two GEA centrifuges, Spirac conveyor sections, a polymer system and storage, and the monorail system. We also added maintenance platforms and made updates to odor control, WAS piping, and electrical and controls to support the new equipment.

Our team brought real problem-solving to the job from the start. When the owner’s existing infrastructure couldn’t support full centrifuge testing, we worked directly with GEA to develop a plan that extrapolated the data needed to validate the equipment. That kind of collaborative, solutions-focused approach carried through the entire project.

Superintendent Mark Walters led the work with a small crew and delivered outstanding results. The team beat estimated hours significantly, completing the work in approximately 2,797 hours against an estimate of 3,763. Smart planning on equipment, including purchasing rather than renting lifting equipment and using plant equipment where available, along with a $10,000 savings on metal buyout, helped return over $20,000 in project contingency back to the owner.

While onsite, our team also repaired a broken sewer line, fixed a leak at the water plant, and recoated a floor, going beyond the original scope to help the City wherever we could.

The relationship with the City of Norman was a highlight of this project. Plant Manager Ryan’s collaboration was central to keeping things moving, and the partnership our team built with him helped resolve issues quickly and kept the project on track. The owner expressed their appreciation for our professionalism at multiple progress meetings and has since reached out to us for additional work at the plant.

This project also marked the beginning of a strong working relationship with Garver Engineers in the OKC market. Their team were ethical, quality partners, and we look forward to building on that relationship in future pursuits.

Project Facts

Industry Sector: Wastewater Treatment Plant
Cost: $3,320,000
Delivery Method: Design-Bid-Build / Hard Bid
Self-Perform: Cast-in-Place Concrete, Process Equipment Installation
Owner: City of Norman
Architect: Garver, LLC
Engineer: Garver, LLC