Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) required the replacement of the existing obsolete variable controllers for the pumps and upgrades to the electrical distribution system at the Schoolcraft Pump Station. METCO addressed these needs by performing a comprehensive study with recommendation to replace the entire electrical distribution system supported with a redundant emergency generator system and new pulse width modulated variable frequency drives for the pumps.

METCO in association with Greeley & Hansen had developed detailed design and construction documents to implement the GLWA approved improvements. The major project elements include (a) Primary (15KV) and secondary electrical distribution system along with two (2) DTE primary feeders (b) New line-up of 5KV switchgear (c) New air-cooled, 1500 HP, 4160V VFD system for three pumps (d) New electrical building to accommodate these drives (e) New HVAC System to support the VFD units (f) 2×2 MW – New diesel emergency generator system with associated fuel supply system.

The space constraints and the limitations to the interruption to the pump station operations were some of the significant challenges during the design and construction of these improvements. METCO addressed these by conducting intensive field investigations and developing comprehensive staging and sequencing of the construction activities.