Project Summary

 The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) is the former Naval Air Station. The campus includes a variety of buildings housing both governmental offices and private businesses as well as an active airfield and related structures.  

MRRA purchases water from the Brunswick-Topsham Water District through two metered connections which is then distributed throughout the MRRA piping network for potable supply and fire protection. Under federal drinking water regulations, MRRA is a “consecutive” water system and must meet certain requirements for water quality. The MRRA water network also contains a separate “deluge” fire system designed to provide high flow rates to selected buildings including aircraft hangers. The deluge system consists of a 500,000-gallon, mostly buried concrete storage tank with a booster pumping facility feeding an independent network of water mains. 

As part of the airport master planning effort, Hoyle Tanner was tasked with evaluating the MRRA water distribution system. Flow testing was conducted at selected hydrants and testing was performed at the water connections to define the flow-pressure relationships at those points. A hydraulic distribution system model was developed to assess fire flow capability and service to proposed building changes-of-use. Hoyle Tanner also engineered a substantial renovation of the deluge fire protection pumping facility including mechanical, electrical, HVAC and building structure and access improvements. 

Finally, we helped MRRA negotiate more favorable water rates with the Water District.