Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility Electrical Projects

DOWL revamped an incomplete design, developed the specifications for bidding, and managed the construction, overseeing the demolition of the old motor control center (MCC) 6 and the installation of a new MCC 6 for this wastewater treatment plant.

The equipment in this wastewater treatment plant was identified as a significant safety risk because of the advanced age; these MCCs were originally installed in 1964. Replacement of the MCCs provided safer operation of the plant and gave the operators the confidence that the equipment will function as designed. This equipment provides the electrical power, control, communication, and protection needed for the multitude of pumps and motors that keep the plant in operation for Reno and Sparks and protects the health of the Truckee River.

The success of the MCC 6 project led to the replacement of MCCs 7, 8, and 9. This included the consolidation of three MCCs into two while maintaining a permanent second power source. Challenges with this project included a small working space that limited equipment access, a design that kept power outages to under two hours for each individual pump and motor fed from the MCCs, and meeting the operator’s demands for serviceability.