Application of Auger Cast-in-Place (ACIP) Piles in Urban Infrastructure: A Case Study of Philadelphia’s Samuel S. Baxter Water Treatment Plant-Video

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Video Summary

The presentation describes the design and construction of Clearwell Basins 3 and 4 at Philadelphia’s Samuel S. Baxter Water Treatment Plant. The new basins will add 10 million gallons per day of capacity beside the Delaware River, amid existing facilities and highly variable subsurface conditions, including weak cohesive soils, shallow groundwater, and weathered rock. After evaluating alternatives, the team selected auger cast-in-place piles for their high capacity, low vibration, and suitability for groundwater and site constraints. Load testing confirmed the piles’ performance, while field logs and tailored termination criteria helped address inconsistent rock profiles. Construction challenges included identifying partially weathered rock, maintaining grout cover, and repairing bent reinforcement. Over about 10 months, crews installed 2,104 piles totaling approximately 112,500 linear feet. The speakers emphasized that careful quality control, load testing, and close collaboration among the owner, designers, and contractors were essential to the project’s success.

Keywords

Clearwell Basins

auger cast-in-place piles

Philadelphia water treatment plant

load testing

groundwater conditions

quality control