Heavy Industrial

MSD Lower Meramec WWF Improvements

As part of Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District’s (MSD) Project Clear initiative, the Lower Meramec Wastewater Treatment Facility is undergoing a major $117 million expansion and upgrade. Located at 7849 Fine Road, the improvements are designed to eliminate the Fenton Wastewater Treatment Facility and significantly enhance water quality in the Meramec River, reinforcing MSD’s commitment to environmental and public health across the region.

Plocher Construction was responsible for critical upgrades at the facility’s Influent Pump Station, including the isolation and partial demolition of Pump 5 and associated systems.

Scope of work included coordination with Gross Mechanical to safely lower personnel into a 200-foot-deep influent chamber utilizing a carry-deck crane and man-basket. Temporary steel plate stop logs were installed within the incoming flow channel to isolate the process flow from the Pump 5 suction header, enabling demolition activities to proceed.

Demolition operations involved the removal of major components:

30-inch hydraulic-electric check valve (18,500 lbs)
2,000 HP motor (25,500 lbs)
6,000 lbs of structural steel supporting the motor over the pump volute
Selected sections of discharge piping

All heavy lifts and demolition activities were executed under detailed lift plans to ensure worker safety and maintain structural stability within the deep chamber. These efforts prepared the site for installation of new pumping equipment and further facility upgrades critical to the Lower Meramec Plant’s long-term operational performance.

Safety First. Always.

At Plocher Construction, safety isn’t just a policy—it’s a core value. Our safety manager works closely with our highly trained and empowered field teams to maintain an industry-leading safety record. We believe that every worker deserves to go home safe, and our commitment to providing an uncompromisingly safe work environment is rooted in our responsibility to our employees and their families. Our exceptional safety performance is reflected in our consistently low Experience Modification Rate (EMR).

Proactive Risk Management

We identify potential hazards before they become problems. Site inspections, hazard analyses, and safety meetings help protect our people and projects.

Ongoing Training & Certification

From OSHA standards to specialized equipment operation, our teams undergo continual safety training to stay sharp, compliant, and confident in every work zone.

Data-Driven Safety Performance

We track key safety metrics—including our top-tier EMR—to reduce incidents, lower risk, and ensure peace of mind on every job.

A Look at Our Evolving Project Capabilities

Plocher Construction has expanded its services since the launch of the company in the early 1990s. Creating a more diverse range of available services, these current projects exhibit the different skills and capabilities of our team members.

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