L-8 Reservoir

Phillips was the prime contractor on the L-8 Reservoir. Phillips utilized machine-controlled grading during the project and was responsible for coordinating utility relocations, as well as coordinating with various federal, state, and county agencies related to permitting for and construction of the reservoir. The contract for the project also included site preparation for three adjoining land parcels, which was accomplished by placing dredge material in various areas of the parcels to create a more usable property for future development. 

While Phillips' final contract amount for this project was approximately $41M, this included our Construction Manager at Risk fee and self-performance costs that generally included work associated with the embankment, dredge spoil management, and RCC mixing and placement for both the emergency spillway and flat plate along with the installation of a toe drain around the interior perimeter of the reservoir embankment. Phillips was also responsible for deploying and coordinating the owner-provided mining resources and the dredging operations. When these activities are considered, the total construction cost exceeded $125 million, and the transfer price to the local water district was in excess of $20 million. In association with our work performance, Phillips extended contractor financing of approximately $29 million. 

As the project progressed, several areas of the property were identified as conflicting with the typical design parameters. Phillips collaborated with the design engineer, BCI Engineers & Scientists (BCI), to develop cost-effective solutions to address the newly identified issues. 

For example, the berm at the west end of the reservoir along Cells 4 & 5 did not have the required width to construct a typical earthen embankment. Phillips and BCI developed a plan to utilize an RCC typical on a 2:1 slope to meet the overall design requirement, which would fit within the available footprint. This alternative design actually provided an emergency spillway for the project, which proved very advantageous to the reservoir's operations. 

To ensure the reservoir met the seepage requirements established by the South Florida Water Management District, the owner decided to construct a slurry wall around the east, south, and west sides of Cell 6. This proved to be a challenge since the wall was 75’ deep and had to penetrate the existing rock layer. Phillips suggested “mining” the -200 sieve materials from the old process pit to minimize the project's cost. This material would significantly reduce the amount of bentonite required to achieve the 1 x 10^-5 permeability necessary for the slurry wall. Phillips successfully mined and delivered the -200 sieve material to the slurry wall subcontractor, ultimately saving the owner $250,000 in material costs.