The City of Wyoming operates the Donald K. Shine Water Treatment Plant in Holland, a vital facility providing water to over 235,000 residents across Ottawa and Kent Counties. Established in the 1960s with an initial capacity of 32 million gallons per day (mgd), the plant has grown to accommodate regional demands, currently boasting a treatment capacity of 120 mgd and managing an average daily discharge of 40 mgd. The plant services a wide range of communities, including Zeeland, Park, Olive, Blendon, Holland, Georgetown, Jamestown, Gaines, and Byron Townships, as well as the cities of Wyoming, Hudsonville, Grandville, and parts of Kentwood.
In July 2020, the facility faced a significant challenge when a 54-inch discharge pipe on New Holland Street failed. The failure required immediate emergency repair, but the urgency meant that a thorough investigation into the cause was not possible at that time. To address this vulnerability and enhance long-term reliability, the city initiated a comprehensive upgrade project.
The primary goal was to design and install a third transmission main—a robust, long-lasting pipeline intended to support the plant’s reliability and provide redundancy. The project included the installation of a new 54-inch steel pipe within the plant’s yard and the addition of six metal-seated AWWA ball valves—five 54-inch and one 42-inch. These valves were strategically placed to allow for the isolation of different segments of the transmission main, facilitating easier maintenance and repairs. Additionally, a section of the existing 54-inch transmission main on New Holland Street was replaced to ensure proper thrust restraint and to reinforce the system.
Installation of the third transmission main is expected to greatly enhance the plant’s operational flexibility, enabling it to maintain continuous service through at least two transmission mains in the event of future failures. This proactive approach not only improves system reliability but also safeguards the water supply for the region, ensuring that the plant can effectively manage its critical role in delivering potable water to a diverse and growing community.