In 2019, West Yost provided predesign, design, and construction services for a new wet weather lift station and force main and for rehabilitating the Riverfront Interceptor for the City of Albany, Oregon. The Riverfront Interceptor is the primary pipeline that conveys wastewater from the City to the Water Reclamation Facility. It ranges from 30 to 54 inches, is a deep pipeline, and is very close to both the Willamette River and to an active railroad line. The forcemain and lift station are used to bypass the interceptor during peak wet weather flows. This bypass and rehabilitation resolved problems with sanitary sewer overflows into the Willamette River and was less costly than replacing the interceptor.
The lift station and force main trench were very close to the railroad, on which a train ran daily, and approximately 30 feet below ground. The centerline of the 1.5-mile-long force main came within seven feet of the tracks in places. The lift station excavation was near a private parking lot, city property, and the river. The site required significant and deep shoring. West Yost designed a cured-in-place pipe to rehabilitate the interceptor to alleviate structural defects and to prevent infiltration and inflow from leaking joints, root intrusion, and other conditions.
The project design and construction needed to accommodate challenging physical constraints. Residents were concerned about retaining the natural view of the river and the improvements were designed to reduce visual obstructions. The lift station easement was only 32 feet by 40 feet and between the Dave Clark pedestrian trail along the Willamette River and the railroad. The concrete diversion structure was built on top of the interceptor sewer and below grade. The electrical controls building had to be above ground and was oriented to reduce obstructions of the river and was designed to match the historical architecture of the neighborhood.
Team Spotlight
Brooke Barry, PE
Senior Engineer I
Brooke Barry, PE
Senior Engineer I
“I enjoy working in an industry where I am constantly learning and overcoming new challenges.
I am proud of the work I did for the City of San Bruno on the Avenues 1-3 Sewer & Water Replacement Project. This water and sewer replacement project is located in one the oldest areas of the City, with curved, narrow, residential streets that are congested with many large and high profile utilities, including an 8’ x 3’ storm drain culvert and 150kV electric line. It was rewarding to work through the challenges of the project with the City staff and to have the opportunity to manage a project while also acting as lead designer.”
Daphne Marcyan, PE
Principal Engineer I
Daphne Marcyan, PE
Principal Engineer I
“I am motivated by having a challenging project and conceptualizing creative solutions for the benefit of the community and clients. My career evolved into water engineering, and I enjoy it very much. I have a passion for water as an undervalued resource. My projects are mostly related to water infrastructure, primarily pipelines and pump stations for drinking water. It has been helpful to also have a broad background in stormwater design and general civil engineering.
One of my first projects at West Yost was as project manager for the JWC Pump Station Improvements. It pumps treated water from the JWC Treatment Plant to over 400,000 people in Washington County, OR. I enjoyed collaborating with our terrific team on the hydraulic modeling and transient analysis that was completed as part of the project.”
Noelle Drath, EIT
Engineer II
Noelle Drath, EIT
Engineer II
“I have always been naturally curious and enjoy learning how and why things work. Being in the STEM industry is a great fit for me because I am continually growing in knowledge and understanding and I get to use my personal talents to contribute to my community. Additionally, working in the water industry brings me a lot of purpose. I am grateful to be part of the network of people that help supply water, one of life’s most basic needs, to others in society.
Another favorite project of mine was working on Edgewood Waterline Improvements in Oregon City. I worked on this project during design and on site during construction. Getting to be part of the entire project was a big opportunity. The Contractor brought out multiple crews throughout the project, including a very experienced crew and a less experienced crew. I learned a few design lessons that can make the Contractor’s job more efficient and I learned the different ways the same job can be done and the associated impacts to the project. It was an awesome experience to see the project from beginning to end.”