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Design of Hydraulic Structures for a 350 MGD Water Supply System

Elizabeth R. Blackwelder
1
, EIT, Alan Hutson
2
, PE, David Marshall
3
, PE, Paul Tullis
4
,
PHD PE
1
Project Engineer, Freese and Nichols, Inc., 4055 International Plaza, Suite 200, Fort
Worth, TX 76109; phone 817-735-7300; fax 817-735-7491; erb@freese.com
2
Project Manager, Freese and Nichols, Inc., 4055 International Plaza, Suite 200, Fort
Worth, TX 76109; phone 817-735-7300; fax 817-735-7491; ach@freese.com
3
Engineering Division Manager, Tarrant Regional Water District, 800 E. Northside
Drive, Fort Worth, TX, 76102; phone 817-335-2491; fax 817-625-9112;
dmarshall@trwd.com
4
President, Tullis Engineering Consultants, and Professor of Civil Engineering
(Emeritus) Utah State University, 815 Stewart Hill Drive, Logan, UT 84321-5658,
phone 435-753-5348, paultullis@msn.com
Abstract
The design of hydraulic structures for large water supply systems is crucial to the
operations of large diameter pipeline projects. The hydraulic structures are used to
control flow rate and surge pressures and in some instances to create pressure drops.
The hydraulic design should consider operating conditions, valve flow control
capability, potential noise vibrations and cavitation, cost, and reliability. The Eagle
Mountain Connection Project for the Tarrant Regional Water District is a 350 MGD
water supply system that features several unique hydraulic applications which are
essential to the delivery of raw water to TRWDs larger customers. The hydraulic
applications to be discussed in this paper are listed below:
120 MGD River Outlet Structure with Flow Control Valve
118 Million Gallon Balancing Reservoir and Bypass Standpipe
280 MGD Lake Outlet with Flow Control Valves and Subaqueous Discharge
Pipe
The goal is to provide TRWD and their customers with the most flexible, reliable, and
cost effective design which will produce the desired objectives. As a result, each
structure in this project serves more than one of the following purposes: water
storage, outlet structure, surge protection, flow control, and maintenance bypass.
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This paper covers each application and hydraulic requirements, options evaluated,
advantages and disadvantages of each option, and final selection. Lessons learned
while investigating and designing each particular application are also discussed.
The Eagle Mountain Connection Project is scheduled to be in operation by the end of
January 2008. It is anticipated that approximately 18 months years will be needed to
mobilize, construct, start up and test the project. The design of the hydraulic
structures for the $130-million project is crucial to serving future infrastructure needs
of a rapidly growing community.