With an eye toward emergency preparedness, the Coral Springs Improvement District (CSID) and its neighbor to the east, the City of Margate, agreed to construct a potable water interconnect. If an unforeseen event were to cut off drinking water to CSID customers, the interconnect would provide them with temporary access to Margate’s drinking water—and vice-versa.

As part of a continuing design-build services contract with CSID, Globaltech was hired to provide engineering design, permitting, and construction of the interconnect.

The project required directional drilling under the Sunshine Water Control District (SWCD) East Outfall Canal to connect an 8-inch water main on the CSID side of the canal with a 12-inch water main on the Margate side. On the CSID side, Globaltech installed 60 feet of ductile iron pipe to connect the canal crossing pipe to a hot tapping valve off the CSID water main. On the Margate side, two vaults were installed, each with a strainer, turbine flow meter, check valve and isolation valves to allow sending water to either utility.

Project Achievements / Benefits

• During the design phase, the Owners approved Globaltech’s recommendation to replace an existing 45-degree elbow in the Margate water main with a Tee, eliminating the need for a hot tap. This change made the interconnect more durable and easier to maintain.
• On the CSID side, new interconnect piping crossed through residential property. Globaltech kept homeowners informed about construction activities, repaired private irrigation lines that were impacted, and installed new sod to return yards to their original shape.
• Globaltech delivered a successful project with only one water shutdown affecting four homes for a total of six hours.