Springfield, Mo., completes 11-mile, 48-inch water main after decades of work

(UI) — After more than two decades of planning, design, and construction, Missouri’s City Utilities of Springfield has completed its 48-inch water main—an 11-mile pipeline that enhances both the reliability and transmission capacity of our community’s water supply. This critical infrastructure project began in 1999 and was constructed in phases to spread out costs and minimize customer impact.

Designed to deliver additional water to the Blackman Water Treatment Plant, the new main runs parallel to an existing 36-inch line from Fellows Lake, which currently brings water to the Blackman Water Treatment Plant. The new line creates critical redundancy between Fellows Lake and City Utilities’ largest water treatment plant, ensuring that if one line experiences a break, the other can continue to supply water without interruption.

Over the life of the project, more than 15 contractors and around 25 City Utilities employees contributed to its success. The phased approach allowed the utility to avoid borrowing while taking advantage of $3.5 million in congressionally directed spending which was administered through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Despite the extended timeline, this approach also allowed City Utilities to carefully coordinate each segment of construction around existing infrastructure and development. In total, the project includes:

• 11.25 miles of 48-inch water main
• Approximately 34 air release valves are placed at high points for pressure control
• Multiple blow-off valves to allow safe drainage during maintenance
• Strategic interconnections with the existing 36-inch line for flexibility and flow control

Each foot of the 48-inch pipe carries nearly 100 gallons of water, totaling an estimated 5.5 million gallons across the full pipeline. Special casings were installed at each crossing—66 inches wide—to allow for easier, lower-cost repairs in the future without disrupting roads or railways.

“This infrastructure project represents a major milestone for long-term water reliability in Springfield,” said Krista Shurtz, VP-Natural Gas and Water Operations. “We appreciate the many employees and contractors whose expertise and teamwork made this project possible. We’re also thankful to our customers—not only for their patience throughout the construction process, but for the trust they place in us every day to deliver safe drinking water.”

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