The Charlie 2 Pump Station is a major stormwater infrastructure project designed to strengthen flood protection for downtown Dallas as part of the broader Dallas Floodway system. The new facility replaces the aging Charlie Pump Station and provides robust 324‑MGD (225,000 gpm) pumping capacity to efficiently convey stormwater over the west levee and into the Trinity River.
The project, delivered in partnership with Dallas Water Utilities and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, features groundbreaking engineering approaches, including advanced geotechnical analyses, physical hydraulic modeling and the integration of large-scale Concrete Volute Pumps. Together, these measures will facilitate long‑term reliability and resilience against severe storm events.
What challenges is STV addressing?
Dallas’ Trinity River floodway faces significant risk during extreme storm events, requiring high‑capacity, fully coordinated stormwater pumping infrastructure. The challenges included designing a facility capable of operating reliably within a constrained levee system, integrating major pumping components within tight geotechnical conditions and ensuring structures could withstand forces associated with 500‑year storm protection. Additional complexity arose from the need for hydraulic modeling, surge protection evaluations and levee integrity analysis to support safe pipe crossings over a 35‑foot levee structure.
What solutions is STV delivering?
STV is providing full-service design and construction-phase support, including structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, surveying and engineering management services. This work encompasses deep foundation design, reinforced concrete wet‑well structures, levee-crossing pipelines and integration of three 75,000 gpm pumps and a low‑flow pump system.
STV is also leading BIM coordination, PLAXIS 3D geotechnical modeling, hydraulic model review, shop drawing and RFI management, construction schedule coordination and the delivery of field‑driven design refinements. Surveying services include establishing vertical control and validating existing LiDAR and topographic datasets for accurate design development. [
How will this project benefit the region?
The Charlie 2 Pump Station will strengthen the Dallas Floodway’s resilience, significantly reducing the risk of interior flooding during severe storms. By replacing outdated infrastructure with a modern, high‑capacity facility, the project will enhance safety for surrounding neighborhoods, protect critical infrastructure and support regional economic stability. Its advanced surge control, large-scale pumping capacity and durable structural integration are designed to safeguard the city against extreme weather conditions, ensuring long‑term community protection.
Key Stats and Accolades
- 324 MGD total pumping capacity
- Three 75,000 gpm pumps with 60‑inch discharge pipes and 6,000‑gpm low‑flow pump with 18‑inch discharge pipe
- Features Concrete Volute Pumps (CVPs) for integrated structural durability
- Physical hydraulic modeling
- Advanced geotechnical modeling
- Part of the Dallas Floodway improvements program replacing/rehabilitating multiple pump stations
