Optimization and design of the Newark Reservoir Project, Newark, Delaware

The City of Newark, Delaware wanted to increase the reliability of their water supply during periods of drought. After a lengthy permitting process for a regional on-stream reseNoir resulted in the project being terminated, the City decided to site and construct their own reseNoir. After considering several alternatives, they decided to build an off­stream, pumped storage reservoir to minimize environmental impacts and streamline the permitting process. The facility will receive water pumped from nearby White Clay Creek during periods of high stream flow, and release water back to the treatment plant on White Clay Creek during periods of drought. The project has been identified as a critical state project by the Governor's Water Supply Task Force and will be the first facility of its kind built in Delaware in 70 years.
The City wished to design, build, and fill the reseNoir within a 34 month-period. The City retained URS Corporation (URS) to design and permit the new municipal water supply reservoir. Because of the aggressive schedule, the design team's approach was to balance the desired capacity, cost, and ease of permitting, _to achieve the City's objectives.