Bucklin Point Wastewater Treatment Facility

GeoEngineers’ Construction Design team partnered with Barletta Heavy Division and Keller North America to design SOE and dewatering systems for the Bucklin Point WWTF Final Clarifier, UV Disinfection, and Miscellaneous Improvements project in East Providence, Rhode Island. The project included construction of two new clarifiers, a new UV Disinfection building, and multiple utilities. GeoEngineers’ designs provided safe and efficient excavation and dewatering solutions. The project was led by the Narragansett Bay Commission.

Approach

• Designed SOE for two new clarifiers adjacent to the Seekonk River, reaching depths of up to 29 feet and spanning approximately 350×140 ft.
• Implemented sheet piles with one level of tieback anchors into rock; internal bracing used along the south side to avoid conflicts with micropile foundations for the UV Disinfection building.
• Addressed challenges including “rocket”-shaped excavation geometry, steeply angled tieback anchors with loads up to 300 kips, variable bedrock, high water/flood events, and equipment access ramps.
• Designed a dewatering system using deep wells along the excavation perimeter, addressing variable bedrock conditions, conducting large-scale pump tests, and reinstalling dewatering elements as needed during micropile installation.

Results

GeoEngineers delivered complete design calculations and detailed construction drawings for both the support of excavation and dewatering systems. The design package included plans, cross sections, tieback and bracing configurations, and material specifications. These deliverables guided the contractor in safely and efficiently constructing the clarifiers and UV Disinfection building, managing variable bedrock and high groundwater conditions, and maintaining site access, ensuring successful installation of critical wastewater treatment infrastructure along the Seekonk River.