Fishbeck has long supported the City of Mackinac Island with engineering services for its water and wastewater facilities. For this project, Fishbeck provided planning, funding assistance, design, and construction administration for the City’s largest wastewater pump station.
The Biddle Point pump station is vital to the island, serving resort areas, year-round residences, and the downtown district. The station was significantly deteriorated, prompting upgrades to electrical, mechanical, structural, and architectural systems, along with pump replacement. The improvements were designed to handle seasonal flow fluctuations and ensure operability when island access is limited.
The design transitioned the station from duplex to triplex pumps with a firm capacity of 1,650 gallons per minute. New valves, discharge piping, and a flow meter were installed. Wet wells received structural lining, and grinders were replaced to protect the pumps. Electrical upgrades included a standby generator, motor control center, and variable frequency drives. A new indoor fuel tank replaced an underground one
to meet safety standards in the tourist-heavy area.
To meet historic district requirements, Fishbeck worked with the City to modify the building’s exterior, including roofing, windows, and disguising a required exhaust stack as a chimney. Interior ventilation systems were also upgraded for safety and
code compliance. Fishbeck helped the City secure a low-interest loan through the State Revolving Fund program to finance the project.
