Sioux Falls Main Pump Station Increases Collection Capacity

The Sioux Falls Main Pump Station (MPS) project replaces the existing Brandon Road Pump Station, which was approximately 40 years old and would have required updates to increase flow and improve maintenance access, functionality, standby power, and safety. It is a critical infrastructure facility that increases the Sioux Falls wastewater collection system capacity in conjunction with improvements to the outfall sewer and Water Reclamation Facility.

The Main Pump Station project consisted of the design, bidding, and construction of the wastewater pump station that pumps 90% of Sioux Falls wastewater to the Water Reclamation Facility. The preliminary design included site evaluation of the existing City property and adjacent sites for relocation of the pump station, considering constructability, staging area, flood plain, property cost, traffic impacts, and existing utilities.

The MPS has a peak design capacity of 65 mgd, and the capability to add a pump to increase the flow to 90 mgd. Screening facilities include two mechanical screens, a bypass channel, and a channel for a future screen to be added to increase flow capacity.

Four dry-pit pumps are located in the pump room, sized for an individual peak flow of 15,000 gpm at 128’ TDH, and use 600 hp motors controlled by variable frequency drives. Space for a fifth pump is provided to increase flow in the future. The pump room includes maintenance provisions for servicing pumps, including a bridge crane and an open mezzanine to allow access to the piping header.

The final design included a surge analysis conducted to protect the piping system from high and low-pressure conditions and evaluate surge tanks and surge relief valves. The design also included structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation design. The construction of the Sioux Falls Main Pump Station took nearly 2.5 years and encountered multiple challenges, such as site flooding, pandemic-related labor delays, and supply chain issues.

The Sioux Falls Main Pump Station is the largest wastewater pump station in South Dakota and provides additional sewer capacity to accommodate future development in Sioux Falls. The capacity, ability for future expansion, and longevity of design choices will serve Sioux Falls for many years to come.