Project Overview

The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) is pleased to recognize the City of Sarasota’s Lift Station 87 Project with an Envision Silver Award. By replacing Lift Station 7, which had served beyond its useful life, the project delivered a sustainable and resilient facility designed to last well beyond the life cycle of a typical lift station for this vulnerable coastal community. Managing one third of Sarasota’s wastewater flow, Lift Station 87 protects critical infrastructure within the service area and a sensitive ecosystem from the impacts of sanitary sewer overflows, which has measurably helped restore the water quality of the environmentally sensitive Hudson Bayou and Sarasota Bay.

Lift Station 87 has an average daily flow of 2.4 MGD and firm capacity of 9.92 MGD. Within the new lift station’s service area are three hurricane shelters protected to at least a Category (CAT) 4 storm surge, and the Sarasota Memorial Hospital, a regional care and shelter facility protected to a CAT 4 storm surge. With decommissioned Lift Station 7 susceptible to mechanical failure and flooding with a CAT 2 storm surge, sustainability and resiliency were top priorities and the project team worked with the city to engage the community to reach consensus on the level of storm surge protection for the new lift station, and to design a facility that was aesthetically pleasing to the community.

Relocating Lift Station 7 from a densely populated residential area into city-owned Luke Wood Park also removed the lift station from a FEMA Special Hazard Area and out of the flood plain. The project brought multiple other benefits such as rehabilitating the historic Osprey Avenue Bridge, providing roadway and drainage improvements throughout the project area, extending reclaimed water service, improving water pressure for fire protection, transforming the site of the decommissioned Lift Station 7 into new green space for the community, and protecting the Hudson Bayou’s water quality.

Quotes

“The project team we assembled for Lift Station 87 was uniquely qualified to deliver this innovative wastewater facility using cutting edge engineering technology and risk-based construction techniques. The new lift station structure in Luke Wood Park is a source of pride for the community, as it mirrors the first Sarasota City Hall, and will protect the community and the environment for decades to come.”
— Robert Garland, P.E., ENV SP, Project Manager for Lift Station 87

“Congratulations to the City of Sarasota, McKim & Creed, and the entire project team on the success of the Lift Station 87 Project. This project shines as an example of outstanding collaboration and leadership that provides a much-needed renewal of a critical infrastructure asset even as it delivers multiple long-term natural world and community benefits.”
— Anthony Kane, President & CEO of ISI

Project Details

Lift Station 87 consisted of three phases. Phase 1 included the installation of 1,239 feet of 60-inch steel casing at an average depth of 30 feet where new 36-inch gravity mains were positioned. Approximately 670 feet of gravity mains were installed under the Hudson Bayou and underneath the historic Osprey Avenue Bridge, built in 1916 and featuring a Neoclassical Revival style balustrade. Another 570 feet of gravity mains were installed beneath Luke Wood Park to the new lift station. Micro-tunneling construction techniques were used to minimize construction impacts to the community, protect the Hudson Bayou’s water quality, preserve the integrity of the historic bridge, and protect the Grand Oak trees in Luke Wood Park.

Phase 2 included the design and construction of the new LS 87 in Luke Wood Park. The new lift station was redesigned to be completely redundant and to withstand the impact of at least a CAT 3 storm surge, which required critical electrical and mechanical equipment to be installed at a minimum elevation of 26 feet. Two wet wells with two sets of submersible variable frequency drive (VFD) pumps were constructed in an area of 60 by 60 feet and excavated to a depth of about 50 feet, equalling a four-story building underground. The two-story above-ground building was designed to depict the Hover Arcade, serving as Sarasota’s first city hall in 1917. The red brick and glazed terracotta façade resemble the historic Sarasota High School built in 1926. The lift station features a state-of-the-art bio trickling filter odor control system, a back-up generator with hospital-grade mufflers, heavy-duty BILCO doors to access pumps, valves and piping, and completely pervious surroundings to control stormwater runoff. City staff operate and maintain the lift station while enclosed within the facility so as not to disturb visitors in Luke Wood Park. Phase 2 also included significant roadway improvements.

Phase 3 was the installation of a 24-inch gravity-fed wastewater pipeline and replacement of aging potable water mains. Reclaimed water was extended into the project area for irrigation and to decrease demand for potable water. Roadway improvements included new curbs, sidewalks, stormwater features, and intersection enhancements. Work followed to remove decommissioned Lift Station 7 and to transform the parcel on Pomelo Avenue into a new passive park for the community.

Verified Sustainability Achievements

Stakeholder Involvement and Innovation in Leadership – Lift Station 7 had a long history of odor complaints, mechanical failures, and sanitary sewer overflows, and the City of Sarasota was under an order of consent with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to address the issues. After a previous attempt to replace the lift station failed, the City of Sarasota retained McKim & Creed in August 2013 to redesign the project. Public trust had eroded and with an immediate need to change the scales of public perception, the new project team employed an aggressive public outreach campaign. Activities included identifying stakeholders and community organizations, developing a dedicated website, and creating a 24-hour communications line. Frequent public meetings provided opportunities to share information and gather public input. Project team members were also provided with media training, and a field communications manual was developed and distributed.

Having members of the project team co-located in office space adjacent to the project site was another key decision. Members of the community were encouraged to stop by and ask questions. The community was encouraged to join regular project meetings.

The additional community outreach efforts ensured that transparent design decisions were made, enhanced stakeholder input and engagement and facilitated consensus-based decisions.  These   efforts were recognized as key factors of success in re-building and maintaining the public trust and were integral to the success of the Lift Station 87 Project.

Quality of Life – The project eliminated odors, provided increased potable water pressure, introduced reclaimed water for irrigation, improved streets and intersections, and provided new green space for the community. The project team worked with various city departments to help protect and revitalize Luke Wood Park, and to create the new Pomelo Park.

Rehabilitation work was performed on the historic Osprey Avenue Bridge. Utility lines that had been anchored on the side of the bridge were removed and new lines were placed beneath the Hudson Bayou. The scope of bridge rehabilitation work included restoration of the bridge abutments and substructure, sandblasting/painting the Neoclassical Revival style balustrade, and resurfacing.

Natural World – The project contributes to the environment through various methods, such as incorporating native plants into the landscaping to support natural habitats of flora and fauna and manage invasive species. Permeable pavers were used to manage stormwater and protect soil health. Another significant contribution the project provides is helping to restore the water quality in the Hudson Bayou and the Sarasota Bay to support the marine life and the variety of plants, reptiles, and exotic bird species.

Climate and Resilience – Ensuring resilience against catastrophic storm events and other climate change impacts were priorities during the planning, design and construction, as well as recognizing that without a functioning lift station, other critical buildings within the service area would be in danger of going off-line and subsequently closing. Lift Station 87 was built for redundancy and is essentially a lift station inside of another. There are two wet wells, each with a complete set of submersible pumps, either of which can support the average daily flow of wastewater.