A 16-year strong commitment to clean water & sustainable progress

The East Side Water Treatment Plant located in Sunnyvale, Texas has undergone significant transformation over the last 16 years to enhance facilities and increase the capacity for clean drinking water for the City of Dallas residents.

The total contract value sums up to $274 million, which includes four large-scale construction projects:

• Clear Wells and Flumes

• Headworks and Chemical Improvements

• Flocculation and Sedimentation Basin Improvements

• Biological Filtration Optimization Improvements

The earliest project began in December 2008, and the latest was completed in November 2024, marking a 16-year commitment to ensuring the plant’s readiness for future demands.

PROJECT SUMMARIES

Clear Wells and Flumes
This major phase included new clear wells, deep concrete flumes, and multiple chemical feed system upgrades. Over 1 million cubic yards of dirt were excavated and 80,000 cubic yards of concrete placed. Demolition of outdated facilities and construction of new lime and chemical buildings modernized operations. Improvements included new discharge pipes, forebay, storm drain piping, rapid mix basins, and expanded SCADA systems for enhanced monitoring.

Headworks and Chemical Improvements
Upgrades included two 15,000-gallon liquid oxygen tanks, a 16,646-square-foot west chemical building with ferric and coagulant aid polymer storage tanks, and an 8,699-square-foot east chemical building with fluoride storage. These robust structures support heavy-duty industrial chemical processes essential to plant operation.

Flocculation and Sedimentation Basin Improvements
Perhaps the most critical upgrade, this overhaul involved 260,000 vertical linear feet of drilled piers and 211,000 cubic yards of concrete. It included 18 new clarifiers and 36 horizontal flocculation assemblies. The project also brought updated handrails, piping, and electrical systems. Start-up and testing were self-performed, with additional site restoration rounding out this extensive scope.

Biological Filtration Optimization Improvements
To enhance filtration, the team built a new pump station with eight vertical turbine pumps, plus supporting infrastructure like a flume, hydrogen peroxide building, and liquid ammonium sulfate building. SCADA upgrades, chemical building modifications, yard piping, and landscaping improved performance and reliability.

A LEGACY OF INNOVATION

Spanning nearly two decades, the improvements at East Side WTP have brought in over 50,000 cubic yards of concrete and 5,500 tons of rebar, requiring hundreds of workers at peak construction. Completion in 2024 cemented the plant’s position as a model of engineering innovation, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

With vastly improved flocculation, sedimentation, and biological filtration systems, the facility is prepared to meet the region’s growing water treatment needs for years to come.