May 5 open house includes tours of underground pumps and energy efficient features
MADISON, WIS. – Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District’s new Pumping Station 15 has earned the first Envision Gold Award for sustainable infrastructure in the State of Wisconsin.
The award, presented by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, rates projects based on their environmental, social and economic impacts and benefits. The Pumping Station 15 project was completed with formal acceptance by the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Commission in March; the station serves Middleton including growing areas such as Bishops Bay and much of the Town of Westport.
“We’re pleased to win the Envision Gold Award, which recognizes that reliable infrastructure supports strong communities and a healthy environment,” said Michael Mucha, chief engineer and director of Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District. “The project was made possible thanks to tremendous collaboration involving the City of Madison, City of Middleton, private businesses and citizens. We invite community members to join us on Saturday, May 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for an open house and tours of this state-of-the art facility, including the new underground pumps and other energy efficient features.”
Interested community members are encouraged to sign up for tours at the free event. Mucha will be joined by Middleton Mayor Gurdip Brar and City of Madison Parks Superintendent Eric Knepp for an official “valve opening” ceremony and brief project overview shortly after 11 a.m. on May 5 at Marshall Park, 2115 Allen Boulevard.
The Marshall Park location has served as a pumping station since 1974. The area was originally served by Pumping Station 5 and was among the early connections to Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District after it was formed in 1930 to protect public health and the environment. At the time, area residents used a combination of septic systems and private sewers that flowed into area surface waters.
Construction of the original pumping station at the site provided a means to push wastewater up the hill on Allen Boulevard to University Avenue where it could connect with an interceptor line and make its way to Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant.
“The District’s early leaders recognized the improved affordability and watershed level benefits that a regional wastewater system would provide,” Mucha said. “Given the high visibility and public use of this location in our system today, it was important to work with neighbors and community stakeholders through a public engagement process to identify additional needs that could be served. The result is a pumping station with increased capacity to serve the growing community, accessible restrooms, energy efficient equipment, landscape features that divert stormwater away from Lake Mendota, support for bicycle commuters and an aquatic invasive species removal station at the heavily used boat launch.”
The $4.3 million Pumping Station 15 project earned the Envision Gold Award for:
- Efficient use of resources. Reducing energy waste and consumption was a key objective of upgrades to the 1970’s-era pumps and mechanical equipment. By installing energy-efficient variable speed pumps and other advanced equipment, Pumping Station 15’s energy consumption has been cut by about 20 percent. In addition, solar panels are now providing close to 10 percent of the station’s power needs.
- Greater resilience. Given the pumping station’s location at the bottom of a hill and close to Lake Mendota, hydrologic modeling was used to mitigate the prospect of more severe and frequent flooding in the years ahead. The pumping station was designed in accordance with greater precipitation in mind and is situated more than 2 feet above the worst-case future flooding scenario.
- Enhancements to public space. Beyond reducing odors and improving the aesthetics of the site, collaboration between the project team and community resulted in much-needed facilities, including a drinking fountain and restrooms. The upgrades are welcome improvements for those who use the adjoining athletic field as well as the busy boat ramp. Bike racks, a bike repair stand and an aquatic invasive species boat wash station were also installed with the generous support of local businesses.
- Stormwater management. The project site contains two bioretention basins and a bioswale designed to reduce the amount of silt and other pollutants reaching Lake Mendota. The bioretention basins plus changes to the grading of the site resulted in a 31 percent improvement in the pumping station site’s water storage capacity.
“The District deserves credit for making the right investments and upgrades, at the right time with the right mix of technical know-how, forward vision and community engagement,” said John Stanton, president and CEO of the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure. “Pumping Station 15 demonstrates that it’s possible to balance environmental stewardship, financial constraints and the needs of multiple constituencies.”
With current average daily volume of 1.3 million gallons per day, the station’s increased capacity of 8.8 million gallons per day should provide capacity through 2045. Project partners include Baxter & Woodman Consulting Engineers, engineering; Potter Lawson, architectural design; Saiki Design, landscape architecture; Kabbes Engineering, environmental engineering; and Miron Construction, general contractor.
