CLEARWATER, FL, June 20, 2011 -- Tampa Bay Water has selected design-builder Kiewit Infrastructure Group to renovate the regional reservoir and increase the facility's storage by 3 billion gallons. Contract negotiations are expected to be complete by August 1.

The main driver for the reservoir project is to repair cracks in the in the facility's soil-cement erosion control lining, which began appearing in 2006.

"We believe the Kiewit proposal will address the underlying causes of the reservoir's soil cement cracking and restore full functionality," said Tampa Bay Water General Manager Jerry Seeber.

Kiewit's $162.4 million solution removes and reclaims the reservoir's existing flat-plate soil cement and soil wedge; removes the geomembrane; and adds embankment fill, a drainage system, a new geomembrane and stair-step soil cement around the entire interior face.

About $42 million of the proposal is devoted to increasing the reservoir's capacity.

Seeber said the increased storage "puts the regional utility in a better position to meet demand when the economy recovers and when the next drought occurs." Adding capacity during construction is more affordable than building a second reservoir or expanding this reservoir later, he said.

To add storage to the 15.5-billion gallon facility, Kiewit will increase the height of the embankment by using a stair-step soil-cement structure on both the sides of the embankment. Stair-step soil cement is a robust facing that can withstand frequent drain and fill cycles, wave action and storms.

A concrete wave-wall will be anchored on the interior side of the crest.

Tampa Bay Water estimates that project could mean a water cost increase of $1.20 per household, per month.

Tampa Bay Water expects to offset the cost of the renovations with recovery in the lawsuit against reservoir designer HDR Engineering. In December 2008, the utility filed a complaint against HDR; Barnard Construction, the contractor; and CDG, which provided construction management. Tampa Bay Water has reached settlements with both CDG and Barnard Construction. The legal case against HDR Engineering is scheduled for trial in July 2011.

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