Structural Engineering for Existing Wastewater Facilities
Upgrading, reinforcing, and optimizing operational tanks, clarifiers, and biosolid equipment
Expert Structural Engineering for Wastewater Facilities
BE Structural helps municipalities and private operators upgrade and maintain existing wastewater and biosolid processing systems. Our practical, reliable solutions ensure every structure is safe, stable, and built to handle real-world conditions – keeping your facility efficient, compliant, and long-lasting. Our experience covers a wide range of wastewater projects, from ongoing developments to successfully completed projects.
BE Structural’ s home office sits 80 feet from the Susquehanna River which is one of many waterways plagued by this practice. More than eight million gallons of raw sewage flowed into the Susquehanna River between 2007 and 2013(1), which violated the EPA’s Clean Water Act. The 82 million dollar settlement that resulted from a recent lawsuit will support better options for storm water management and waste water treatment. We are committed to supporting this local endeavor and other communities across the country.
BE Structural and its affiliates (Bruce Ensor, Structural Engineer) offer wastewater/ biosolid equipment design, engineered product certification, structural engineering and stamped construction documents in 44 states nationwide.
What We Do
We design structural systems that are built to perform, last, and handle real-world conditions with confidence. We work closely with client-provided drawings and specifications to deliver accurate and dependable solutions.
Project Experience
We recently completed the design of a Modu tank system for wastewater storage, which can also be used for fire protection, process water, and other liquid storage needs. The system was selected for its versatility, quick installation, and long-lasting, corrosion-resistant construction. It can also be expanded in the future or relocated easily if site needs change.
Our engineering work focused on ensuring the tank is safe, strong, and durable under all conditions. We carried out:
- Wall Stress Analysis: Assessed tank wall strength under varying hydrostatic pressures to validate structural integrity during full and partial fill scenarios.
- Wind Load Evaluation: Analysed wind-induced uplift, overturning, and lateral forces to verify stability under site-specific wind conditions.
- Global Stability Assessment: Conducted integrated checks for overturning, sliding, and lateral displacement under combined hydrostatic, seismic, and wind loads.
- Foundation & Soil Interaction: Evaluated load transfer mechanisms and soil bearing capacity to prevent differential settlement and maintain structural equilibrium.
- Connection Detailing: Engineered bolted panel joints to achieve watertight performance and maintain mechanical continuity across the tank structure.
- Anchorage System Design: Developed anchorage solutions to resist uplift and horizontal movement, ensuring secure fixation to the foundation.
- Seismic Analysis: Modelled earthquake-induced forces to ensure compliance with applicable seismic design codes and confirm structural resilience.
- Hydrostatic Containment & Leakage Control: Designed for safe liquid retention without deformation or leakage, incorporating redundancy in sealing systems.
Scope of Work
Each project includes a set of engineering deliverables that meets the client’s and jurisdictional authorities’ requirements
- Structural calculation package
- Anchor design calculations
- Connection design details
- Supporting design documentation
Clarifier Structural Design
We provide complete structural design calculations for:
- Truss Drive Cage
- Pier Assembly
- Base Anchor Design
- Triangular Truss Arm
- Connection Design
All designs are based on client-provided load criteria and account for all applicable forces.
Equipment Anchor Design (Centrifuge Systems)
We design anchor systems for equipment mounted on concrete structures.
- Designed for gravity loads
- Engineered to resist lateral forces
- Built to handle operational loads
This ensures equipment remains stable, secure, and reliable under all working conditions.
Connection Design & Calculations
- Perform detailed anchor strength calculations
- Work from client-provided drawings and specifications
- Ensure all connections meet safety and performance standards
Clarification & Treatment Systems
- Thickeners and Clarifiers
- Gravity Thickening Equipment (Sludge Concentration)
- Flocculating Clarifiers
- Solids Contact Clarification Systems
Screening & Processing Equipment
- Multi-Rake Bar Screens
- Sub-Vertical Bar Screens
- Screening & Grit Removal Systems
- Grit Treatment Equipment
- Skimmers
- Decanter Centrifuge Systems
Overview
We provide complete structural design support for wastewater treatment systems, from understanding project requirements to delivering detailed calculation packages. Our work covers clarifiers, screening systems, and equipment anchor designs, ensuring all components are safe, stable, and designed for real operating conditions.
By working closely with client drawings and load data, we deliver accurate and practical solutions that meet project needs. Whether supporting ongoing work or new developments, our focus remains on clear design, reliable performance, and long-term structural stability.
Slurry Tanks for Waste Water Treatment, Industrial Applications and Storage
Our team has performed structural analysis on existing wastewater equipment along with conceptual design and engineering for new products that have not yet hit the market. In 2013, BE Structural partnered with a PA based firm to analyze an existing slurry aging tank.
The tank holds lime slurry which is used in the regulation of PH in water. The tank components were designed to generate heat during the reaction process. However, our client had found that if they pre-heat the water in the inner tank, a better reaction was produced. They were seeking our recommendations on the tank’s material, thickness and structural stability to accomplish this new function.
Our engineers started by creating a 3d finite element computer model of the tank including the system’s internal and external components. A 40 psi area load was applied to the outer tank jacket walls to simulate the jacket being pressurized with water. A 63.6 pcf load was applied to the inner tank walls and the bottom to simulate the tank being filled with the slurry and water mixture. Our goal was to identify engineering considerations required to process water at a higher temperature and pressure. Our team provided structural calculations and revised equipment details necessary for the tank to operate at this new capacity.
Horizontal & Live Bottom Bins for Biosolids
BE Structural offers structural design and engineering services for biosolid recycling of waste/sludge. Our company is passionate about sustainable engineering and we are proud to work with the biosolid community to improve their systems for turning waste into viable, organic materials. Reuse of this un-avoidable by-product is now becoming more mainstream however we feel there is much more to be contributed to improving the process.
Our team is excited to be working with biosolid equipment manufacturers and distributors to engineer safer products capable of breaking down and recycling waste/sludge into nutrient rich, organic material suitable for harvesting. Our clients are on the forefront of this movement and depend on sound engineering practice to improve their equipment design and capabilities.
Water Infrastructure Group PCL Construction Inc. Denver, CO
BE Structural designed and engineered the rigging to lift the tank and cone into place for the hopper. The video below is a time-lapse of a 70-ton hopper cone placement. Videos taken and provided by Ryan Welu of Water Infrastructure Group PCL Construction Inc. Photos taken and provided by Benny Simmons Superintendent, Water Infrastructure Group PCL Construction Inc.