Modernizing Infrastructure at the Carrollton Water Plant
Modernizing Infrastructure at the Carrollton Water Plant
The Carrollton Water Plant, a critical infrastructure asset for the east bank of Louisiana’s Orleans Parish, supplies around 135 million gallons of treated water daily to homes across New Orleans. Arcosa Lightweight stabilized the land for a new dedicated electrical substation, which now powers the modernized water and sewer systems. This project ensures long-term reliability and performance for one of the region’s most essential utilities.
Cycle Construction Company, LLC, a family-owned general construction firm in Kenner, LA, handled the geotechnical phase. Project Manager Ethan Oddo explains, “Our task was to provide a blank slate. The site previously housed two large holding tanks, which had been abandoned. We removed all structures, walls, and slabs, then filled the area to grade with compacted materials. We used sand at the bottom, followed by two to three feet of Arcosa’s lightweight aggregate, and capped it with a foot of #610 limestone.”
Lightweight Plays Its Part
Cycle Construction used up to 20,000 cubic yards of Arcosa’s 3/16” fine granular lightweight aggregate to elevate the site. The lightweight aggregate reduced the density of the compacted fill, minimizing the impact of weight and lateral forces on nearby water basins.
Cycle’s Civil Superintendent Dennis Grantham also praised the aggregate’s performance. “I had only seen lightweight aggregate used for landscaping, but its geotechnical performance exceeded my expectations. I thought compaction would be challenging, but we achieved great results,” says Grantham. “I expect to see more contractors using lightweight aggregate because of how well it works.”
Grantham also commended Three C’s Trucking: “They do an excellent job. When the material is close at hand, we can place 2,000 to 3,000 yards a day. They’re fantastic at making things happen.”
Arcosa Lightweight also helped solve water intrusion issues on the site. “We had a lot of water on-site,” says Oddo. “But where we used lightweight aggregate, especially combined with geotextiles, we haven’t seen any issues with water intrusion.”
Increased Reliability
The new substation is a key part of New Orleans’ Sewerage & Water Board modernization, transitioning away from outdated steam-powered turbines to modern energy sources. This upgrade enhances the system’s reliability, especially during severe weather events.
“It’s critical to keep the water plant operational,” says Oddo. “We get hit by hurricanes and floods, and we lose power several times a year. When that happens, the Sewage and Water Board loses power, leading to low water pressure and boil water notices. This project was essential to solving that problem.”
According to a report from Entergy New Orleans, the project aims to increase reliability by routing power directly from the transmission system, which is less prone to outages. The new substation also provides the increased capacity needed to serve drainage pumps previously powered by aging infrastructure.
Lunch and Learns: Sparking Innovation
The Carrollton substation project originated from one of Arcosa’s Lunch and Learn sessions. Sales Representative Terry Lejeune explains,
For information on upcoming programs or to schedule a session for your team, call 1-800-342-LITE.
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