The North River Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility is a critical part of New York City’s wastewater system, treating combined sewage and stormwater from neighborhoods along Manhattan’s west side. To extend the life of this essential asset and improve primary treatment performance, the City is undertaking a major rehabilitation of the plant’s eight primary settling tanks and associated electrical and control systems.

ELECSYS is providing electrical engineering design services for this state-of-good-repair program, working as part of the prime consultant team to replace aging motors, drives, primary sludge pumps, gate operators, grit suspension equipment, and related power and control infrastructure. The scope includes modifications to existing motor control centers; new motor-starter and control schematics to meet current NYC DEP standards; redesigned conduit and cable routing; and upgrades to lighting, receptacles, and ancillary power in galleries and equipment spaces.

Because the facility must remain in operation throughout construction, staging and phasing are central to the design. ELECSYS is coordinating closely with process, structural, and mechanical engineers to sequence electrical cutovers, maintain redundancy, and integrate new equipment with the plant’s distributed control system. Detailed field investigations and three-dimensional modeling help verify clearances, constructability, and safe access for maintenance, while power system studies support reliable operation and compliance with National Electrical Code and agency requirements.

By modernizing the electrical backbone of the primary settling tanks, this project supports cleaner waterways, more resilient operations, and a longer service life for one of New York City’s most important waterfront treatment facilities—benefiting both the surrounding community and the broader environment.