Conveyance Systems & Tunneling Services
Systems planning involves geotechnical engineering, feasibility studies, detailed
design, construction drawings and specifications, and construction support services
associated with tunnels, shafts and caverns.
Services include geologic mapping; subsurface investigations; evaluation of excavation
methods and procedures; groundwater considerations and their impact on design and
construction; evaluation of surge pressures due to transients in water conveyance
systems; evaluation of anchoring systems for subsurface stability; and feasibility
studies and design of lining systems.
Black & Veatch has an excellent understanding of the likely challenges that
a tunneling project may face and of the technologies and methodologies available
to minimize their impact.
Services include independent design and constructability review boards; prequalification
of potential bidders; preparation of Geotechnical Baseline Reports; forming and
guidance documents for Disputes Review Board; instructions for escrow bid documents;
tunneling work plan and tunnel boring machine submittal review; and risk registration
and evaluation.
Black & Veatch's tunneling specialists provide design and engineering consulting
exclusively for water conveyance and storage projects, our water-specific experience
and resources are unmatched by any one competitor.
Services include: permitting & regulatory approvals; public input support; geotechnical
design; geotechnical data reports; hydraulic control; instrumentation and monitoring;
shaft structures; surge control facilities; odor control/cleaning facilities; lining
systems design; plans and specifications; detailed cost estimates and schedules;
procurement and bid reviews; startup, operation and maintenance manuals.
Black & Veatch’s pump and storage services include pump and lift station designs
for raw water, treated water, wastewater and stormwater with a wide range of capacities.
Our designs include intakes and booster pump stations that resemble and are compatible
with local aesthetics, each tailored to the particular capacity and head conditions
of the project, with pumping equipment that ranges from horizontal centrifugal or
split-case pumps to vertical turbine high-lift pumps.
Black & Veatch is not limited to the design of new facilities; we have provided
rehabilitation/upgrading design services to numerous operating systems.
Our rehabilitation experience includes the modification, replacement and addition
of equipment such as vertical turbine pumps, diesel engine and electric motor-operated
pumps, horizontal centrifugal and split-case pumps, flowmetering equipment, and
control and instrumentation facilities.
Black & Veatch has designed water storage structures ranging from small standpipes
to major cast-in-place concrete storage reservoirs.
We have designed all types of water storage reservoirs, including elevated storage
tanks; composite steel and concrete tanks; prestressed, precast, and cast-in-place
ground storage reservoirs; and prestressed and cast-in-place concrete underground
(or partially underground) water storage reservoirs.
Regardless of the contents being transported - raw water supplies, drinking water,
treated wastewater, combined sewer overflows, stormwater, hydroelectric generating
flows or other fluids - our experts have the knowledge and experience to properly
plan and design your system.
Our tunnel practice staff of experienced civil engineers, geotechnical engineers,
geologists, mining engineers and construction managers are supported by engineers
who have expertise in areas such as coordination with water supply, chilled water,
potable water, wastewater, combined sewer overflow, irrigation and hydropower applications.
With tunneling, civil/environmental and water resources engineers readily available,
Black & Veatch offers what no other major global corporation can provide: dedicated
tunnel expertise supplemented by proven water sector engineering capabilities.
Combined sewer overflow (CSO) can occur during large storm events in older cities
that have both sewage and storm water flowing into one pipe.
During wet weather events, the sewer system can be overwhelmed by the large volume
of sewage and stormwater, allowing the untreated or partially treated wastewater
to be discharged into receiving waters.
Underground tunnels are a common and accepted technology for storage and/or conveyance
of wastewater and CSO relief.
The combined system can either be separated to have dedicated sewage and stormwater
tunnels, or a storage tunnel system can be employed to capture and hold the excess
water until after the wet weather event has ended.
The water is then conveyed to a treatment system for the removal of pollutants and
disinfection before being discharged to receiving waters.
Rehabilitating water conveyance tunnels and pipelines requires structural, hydrologic,
hydraulic, geologic, process, permitting/regulatory and safety expertise.
B&V provides structural inspections and condition assessments through a variety
of methods, including intra-tunnel videotaping.
Specializing solely in water-conveying underground infrastructure, we can provide
knowledgeable recommendations for capacity, carrier pipe alternatives and technique
options to pinpoint the most cost-effective, “best fit” solution.
Black & Veatch has almost a century of experience in the planning, design and
construction of tunnels, shafts, and other underground structures and has an in-depth
understanding of tunnel-related issues and technologies.
The technologies used in trenchless technology and tunneling include cured-in-place
pipe (CIPP), pipe jacking, sliplining, fold and form, epoxy coating, pipe bursting,
directional drilling and microtunneling.
Microtunneling, particularly at relatively small diameters, is significantly different
from conventional or large diameter tunneling.
Each of these types of tunneling has its own special equipment and techniques that
typically require different contracting outfits and construction management experience.
Microtunneling tends to be much more intrusive on the surface than conventional
tunneling because of the shorter drive lengths and consequent frequent shaft construction.
Services include construction management, resident engineers and project representatives;
site visits and observation; safety engineering; inspections and testing; progress
and shop drawing reviews; cost control and trend analysis; resident engineer support;
technical support and reviews; geological mapping and record drawings; inspections
and startup assistance.