Major Miami-Dade Water and Sewer project completed on time and within budget

(MIAMI, September 17, 2013) – The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) announced today that a complex $77.5 million utility relocation project that increases both water and sewer capacity has been completed both on-time and within budget.

The project required relocation of an existing 20-inch water pipe and 54-inch sewer force main that ran under Government Cut to allow for the dredging of the PortMiami as part of the Port’s Deep Dredge and Expansion Project. This is necessary in order to accommodate the new, larger Post-Panamax cargo vessels that require a deeper depth at the channel.

“I’m proud of our team at the Water and Sewer Department for bringing this complex, high-stakes project in on time and within budget,” said Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “This is a great example of government getting the job done the right way, and it sets a high standard for the many projects that we will be embarking on as we overhaul our massive water and sewer system in the years ahead.”

While the project was originally supposed to increase the depth of the pipes only at Government Cut, the department discovered that the sewer pipe was seriously deteriorated near Miami Beach. As a result, WASD increased the scope of the project to include replacing that portion of the pipe, as well. The existing pipes were replaced with larger pipes that will increase capacity for Miami Beach and other northern municipalities. The water pipe is now 24-inches and the sewer pipe was replaced with a 60-inch force main. The life expectancy of these new pipes is 80 years. This project is the first to be completed under the federal and state Consent Decree to upgrade the County sewer system.

WASD Director John Renfrow, P.E. is extremely proud of the work the department has done with this project.

“This was a very challenging project and I am proud of what our team accomplished,” said Renfrow. “Consider the conditions staff had to account for to complete it: the work occurs underwater and we had to barge in equipment and build a steel platform as a base of operation in Biscayne Bay and also navigate with marine traffic such as cruise ships, cargo ships and recreational vehicles.”

This was also balanced without interrupting services to the residents in the coastal and northern County areas.

It is the priority of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department to provide safe, reliable service to its customers. For additional information about Department services and programs, visit www.miamidade.gov/water.