Railyard - Springfield, Missouri

Project Description
Prior to 2006, a major railway carrier’s rail yard discharged a combination of industrial water, storm water, and sanitary sewer water through a common conveyance system to a City system regulated by a City-issued permit.

In July 2005, the City reissued the permit (under consent decree from the EPA) requiring a schedule of compliance to “fully address both the removal of all stormwater and eliminate I&I from the collection system”.  The railway carrier immediately asked several national engineering service partners and EWI to present ideas, technical approaches, and approximate costs to address this new permit condition.

The railway carrier committee chose Environmental Works, Inc. (EWI) to work on the project due to their holistic approach offered.  This approach contended with the permit requirements, on-site operational drainage issues, remediation concerns, and aging infrastructure for a relatively low cost.

Aside from overall project management, EWI has been able to provide engineering design / support, construction oversight, and direct construction services for the project.  To date, the scope of services have included:

  • Culvert and sewer line cleaning and sewer line camera investigation
  • Re-routing service track roof drains
  • Construction of a 360,000 gallon storm water retention area
  • Installation of approximately 2,500 feet of new HDPE force main piping
  • Horizontal boring of approximately 200 feet beneath tracks
  • Installation of two new lift stations and sediment basins and new electrical transformers and connections
  • Installation of approximately 3,000 feet of cured in place pipe
  • Abandonment of approximately 3,000 feet of structurally compromised clay tile sewer line
  • Installation of an approximately 8,000 gallon underground oil/water separator with associated oil storage tank
  • Installation of various concrete and asphalt walkways and surface improvements

Project Accomplishments

  • To date, approximately 35% reduction in annual discharge to the City resulting in annual cost savings on utilities and reduction in annual maintenance of facility infrastructure
  • Compliance with City issued permit requirements
  • Implemented a stepwise schedule for facility improvements, allowing costs to be incurred over a course of time and basic facility changes to be incorporated into the improvements
  • Improved infrastructure for industrial and sanitary water use
  • Characterization and cleanup of former remediation concerns resulting in reduced financial and environmental liability
  • Eliminated drainage concerns near the main line tracks
  • Reused excavated soils to fill in former low areas within the facility