Wright‑Pierce’s calendar series highlights the projects featured in our yearly calendar. We continue the 2026 calendar series with the Pressure Zone Expansion and Water Storage Tank Project for the Bangor Water District.
Project Background
The Bangor Water District’s BIA Pressure Zone required system improvements to address operational limitations, aging infrastructure, and future water demand. Earlier planning anticipated a combined construction effort for water mains and a booster pump station; however, evolving design considerations, land acquisition timing, permitting requirements, and contractor availability led to a reevaluation of that approach.
Wright‑Pierce was hired to revise the project scope and advance a phased design that separated the work into multiple construction contracts. This approach allowed water main improvements within the public right‑of‑way to proceed while negotiations and permitting for the booster pump station and storage tank sites continued. Led by Senior Project Manager Darrin Lary, Wright-Pierce developed the revised scope collaboratively with Bangor Water District staff to maintain project momentum and support competitive bidding.
Project Team Services
Wright‑Pierce provided comprehensive engineering services across preliminary design, permitting, final design, bidding, and construction administration. The project team completed hydraulic modeling using the District’s updated system model to evaluate fire flow, pressure ranges, water age, and tank operating cycles under multiple demand scenarios. These analyses informed the design of new water storage, booster pumping, and distribution system improvements. Supporting investigations included topographic survey, geotechnical exploration for soil conditions and foundation design, utility coordination, and land procurement assistance for the pump station and tank sites.
The revised scope organized the work into three separate construction contracts: BIA Zone water mains, a booster pump station, and a 3.2-million-gallon (mg) storage tank with associated site work and utilities. Additionally, we prepared environmental documentation and coordinated reviews with state and local permitting agencies, including the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC), Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for tank height approval.
About the Photo
Senior Discipline Design Specialist Ryan Beisaw captured this month’s calendar photo. When asked about the photo’s significance, Senior Project Manager Darrin Lary said, “This photo highlights some of the structural challenges overcome to construct the tallest pre-stressed, pre-cast concrete water storage tank ever built. Erecting concrete panels over 100 feet tall required detailed project coordination, elaborate dedicated temporary support bracing, and proven construction techniques.”
Project Impact
The BIA Zone Pressure Zone Expansion and Water Storage Tank Project modernized critical components of the Bangor Water District’s distribution system. By separating the work into multiple contracts and advancing design in phases, the District was able to progress construction despite land acquisition and permitting constraints.
The completed improvements provide increased system reliability, accurate pressure management, and improved storage and pumping capacity. Updated water mains reduce maintenance demands and operational risk, while the new booster pump station and storage tank support long‑term service needs within the pressure zone. Collectively, the project delivers durable infrastructure designed to meet current regulatory requirements and support future system demands.
Contact us to learn more about this project and our water system planning and design services, or to request a copy of Wright‑Pierce’s 2026 wall calendar.