Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department, South District Wastewater Treatment Plant

Poole & Kent contracted Baker Construction to deliver a turnkey structural concrete package for the South District Wastewater Treatment Plant (SDWWTP) in South Miami-Dade, Florida.

Baker’s $11.7 million scope of work encompassed five separate structures: a clarifier, filter, transfer bypass pump station, junction box, and a return-activated sludge (RAS) pump station. We constructed concrete auger-cast pile caps, mat foundations, slabs on grade, shear and core walls, elevated slabs, columns, beams, topping slabs, tremie slabs, underground pipe encasements, and equipment support pads. Baker self-performed 85% of the work.

The clarifier and filter projects were extensions of existing systems, designed to increase capacity. These tanks required specialized building materials and expert engineering to withstand immense water pressures and perform optimally. The filter included six deep-bed sand mono-media wastewater filters, cast-in-place concrete basins, a filter underdrain system, and wash water troughs.

For waterproofing, Baker installed three types of water stops (hydrophilic, PVC, and retrofit) inside the cast-in-place walls, beams, and slabs. These installations met strict specifications, including American Concrete Institute 350 water tightness testing standards. We also incorporated irregular concrete mix designs, crack mitigation and injection procedures, protective coatings, expansion joints, and sealants.

Because the wastewater facility remained operational during construction, Baker’s full-time onsite team had to meticulously plan every concrete pour. Despite multiple design changes, the project was completed ahead of schedule and without a single recordable safety incident.

Baker’s attention to getting the job done right and on time earned the team a 2024 Eagle Award from ABC Florida East Coast.