Constantine Engineering, Inc. was contracted by Decatur Utilities, Alabama, to design and manage construction of the Decatur Beltline Sewer Project, which recently completed startup of operations for all new facilities.  This project was the culmination of a partnership between The City of Decatur and Decatur Utilities to boost economic development in northwest Decatur along the north end of Beltline Road.  Constantine Engineering provided engineering design services and construction management services for the entire project, which included multiple phases of improvements. 

Beginning in 2011, the previously non-sewered and undeveloped region of the City was the target of planning to provide sewer for commercial and industrial development.  The first phases included more than 35,000 feet of gravity sewer in sizes up to 21 inches in diameter.  The last phases consisted of a new sewer pumping station capable of initially pumping 3 million gallons per day of sewage to the Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant through 11,500 feet of 30-inch diameter ductile iron pressure piping.  The project buildout capacity includes up to 9.5 million gallons per day of sewage, serving more than 1,100 acres of property in the City limits of Decatur. 

The Beltline Lift Station features innovative design components, including variable speed dry-pit submersible non-clog pumps, hydraulic power-pack grinders with rails and crane for removal, submersible mixers, pump monorail crane, conditioned electrical and controls room, emergency generator, supplies storage, bathroom, security fencing and cameras, and site irrigation (utilizing onsite groundwater).  Constantine also provided SCADA integration services during construction to save costs and maintain Decatur Utilities SCADA standards.

The complete project cost $9.56 million to construct.  The City of Decatur said the sewer extension has already attracted new businesses that include hotels, gas stations, and commercial business in the northwest part of the City. “Development typically follows sewer,” explained Wally Terry, Decatur Director of Development.  “The sewer will open up potential new retail, commercial and industrial sites. We have a railroad track that this will feed into and there are opportunities there.  There was a time when we were not prepared, and we lost an industry because of it. So, when industries want to come, the sewer and infrastructure needs to be in place. Now we’ll be prepared should they come knocking.”