Rehabilitation of Topeka’s primary high-service pump station.
Key Services
Construction
Strategic Partnerships
Delivery Method
Progressive Design-Build (PDB)Capacity
35 MGDThe challenge
The City of Topeka, Kansas, needed to modernize the aging Layne High Service Pump Station and water treatment plant to ensure reliable water service for the community. Built in 1953, the pump station had a firm capacity of 35 MGD but required significant upgrades to pumps, valves, and pipes to maintain efficiency and address decades of wear. Limited information on existing field conditions and the need to minimize service disruptions added complexity to the project.

Key Facts
Zero service outages during construction
Award of Merit, Civil-Infrastructure, Design-Build Institute of America, Mid-America Region
City Public Improvement Award, American Council of Engineering Companies of Kansas
Challenge met
CAS Constructors, as part of a design-build team, completed critical upgrades to the Layne High Service Pump Station while maintaining efficient operations. Initial improvements included replacing flow meters at the plant’s east intake and flow meters and valves in vaults east and west of the pump station. Construction was carefully sequenced to ensure service outages were limited to just four hours during low-demand periods for pump replacement.
The design-build approach provided flexibility to adapt to unforeseen field conditions. By eliminating the need for three temporary line stops and straddle blocks, the team reduced costs, enabling the City to expand the project scope. Additional upgrades included rehabilitating the HVAC system to mitigate corrosion, replacing the roof, and performing other critical maintenance at the pump station and plant.
The result was a modernized facility capable of meeting Topeka’s water needs efficiently while extending the life of its infrastructure.