A pipeline beneath the Grand River, installed in 1972, carried 3.5 million gallons per day (mgd) of wastewater from Ferrysburg, Spring Lake Township, and the Village of Spring Lake to the GHSLSA treatment plant. Buried just 3 to 5 feet below the riverbed, the ductile iron pipe had suffered two major failures due to anchor strikes and corrosion, resulting in significant spills.
In 2017, the Ottawa County Road Commission and GHSLSA launched a project to upgrade sewer lift stations, improve the treatment plant, and replace the aging force main. An evaluation of the situation led to the recommendation of installing a larger, corrosion-resistant pipeline, buried deeper to prevent future damage and accommodate the growing community’s increased wastewater demands.
The project was divided into two phases: land work and the river crossing. After evaluating various methods, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) was selected for the river crossing due to its minimal impact on the environment, protection of endangered species, and ability to install the pipeline deeper. The HDD process began in Spring Lake Village, utilizing sound barriers and vibration monitoring to reduce disturbances. The pilot hole was drilled, and the new pipeline was installed in a continuous 13-hour operation, with sections fused during installation.
Once the river crossing was completed, the land sections on both sides were connected to the new pipeline, allowing the early transfer of wastewater to the new system. The upgrade increased the pipeline’s capacity ensuring a safer, more resilient infrastructure capable of handling future growth.