Riverview Lift Station Replacement

As aging infrastructure reaches the end of its service life, municipalities must upgrade critical facilities to maintain continued reliability and regulatory compliance. For the City of Omaha, replacing its Riverview Lift Station from the 1960s was a necessary step in maintaining efficient wastewater conveyance. To meet modern environmental regulations, the City needed a replacement facility that could handle both everyday wastewater flow and the larger volumes the system realizes during wet weather events. The project involved constructing a new Riverview Lift Station that incorporates grit removal, screening, and pumping, along with a force main, a gravity sewer, and two diversion structures designed to improve flow management. As part of the improvements, the project included 1,400 feet of 42-inch combined sewer running between the new diversion structures to enhance system capacity.

Carollo worked closely with the City to design and implement these improvements while meeting strict environmental regulations. A key part of the design was developing new diversion structures to maximize flows to the new lift station while reducing combined sewer overflows into the Missouri River. This was accomplished by incorporating adjustable weirs. The new pump station is sized to capture 7 million gallons per day (mgd) in compliance with the City of Omaha’s Consent Decree. It includes four 60-horsepower dry pit submersible pumps that discharge dry weather flow to a force main, conveying it to the City’s Missouri River Water Resource Recovery Facility. Real-time monitoring and automation systems allow operators to track and manage flow conditions more efficiently, enhancing reliability and helping the City respond quickly to storm events.

Constructing a new lift station while keeping the existing one operational required careful planning to avoid service disruptions. The project was further complicated by its location within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ flood protection levee critical zone, requiring specialized construction techniques to prevent impacts to the levee. Additionally, supply chain challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic required flexibility and collaboration between the City, contractor, and project team to keep construction on schedule.

Overcoming these challenges, the Riverview Lift Station is now fully operational and ready to serve Omaha’s needs both today and in the future. By improving wastewater management and reducing overflow risks, it enhances environmental protection for the community and the Missouri River. Sustainable materials and energy-efficient features were incorporated into the design, making it a long-term investment in the City’s infrastructure and environmental stewardship.