As residential development accelerated in Van Alstyne, Texas, located just an hour from Dallas, city officials identified the need for a supplemental 2,500-gallon-per-minute booster system to support the growing community. The project timeline required the system to be operational by May 2024. By incorporating Victaulic flexible couplings, Romtec Utilities streamlined installation and successfully brought the new booster system online in just a few months.
Booster stations are facilities that rely on pumps to ensure adequate water flow and pressure throughout large distribution systems. To meet the project’s tight schedule and confined space requirements, Romtec Utilities leveraged a modular strategy with three individual prefabricated skid packages, which enabled the team to use off-the-shelf control panels rather than waiting for a custom control panel and building a single, larger system on-site. In addition to schedule challenges, Romtec needed a flexible solution to accommodate movement between the three preassembled units as concrete foundations shift and settle naturally over time.
Romtec turned to Victaulic’s flexible coupling technology to solve both the system’s settlement needs and accommodate future expansion. Romtec engineers used Victaulic Style 31 Grooved Couplings, Style 77S Stainless Steel Type 316 Flexible Couplings and Style 75 Flexible Couplings in the booster station design. Unlike rigid connections, flexible couplings allow pipe ends to move and shift while maintaining a secure seal. The coupling design creates a fixed connection point that allows for controlled linear and angular movement without breaking the joint, accommodating foundation settlement, thermal expansion and other natural movements. Victaulic’s grooved connections ensured the individual preassembled units could work as a unified pumping system while accommodating differential settlement and thermal movement throughout the system’s life.
Romtec delivered the complete system in five months, and the three-unit configuration now pumps 2,500 GPM daily through three 74-PSI pumps operating at 834 GPM each. Their modular design paired with Victaulic flexible grooved couplings allows the city of Van Alstyne to add a fourth pre-assembled unit as demand evolves, even if the facility’s foundation has shifted. At Victaulic, we’re committed to supporting engineers, contractors, and system integrators with grooved solutions that don’t just meet today’s demands but adapt to tomorrow’s needs, ensuring communities like Van Alstyne have reliable water infrastructure that grows alongside them.
