Chicago O’Hare International Airport Satellite 1 Wastewater Pumping Station
Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the nation’s third-busiest airport, is undergoing a transformative $6.1 billion expansion through the O’Hare 21 Terminal Area Plan. Satellite Concourse 1 represents the first major component of this once-in-a-generation modernization, adding flexible gate capacity designed to accommodate varying aircraft sizes while increasing operational efficiency for carriers and reducing passenger transfer times. Construction on the satellite concourse is currently underway, with completion anticipated in 2028, creating more than 3,800 construction jobs.
The enabling infrastructure supporting Satellite 1 includes a factory-built triplex wastewater pumping station designed to handle raw sanitary sewage for the new concourse. Excel Fluid Group engaged HEAPY to conduct independent peer review of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design, providing Illinois PE-stamped validation required for submittal to airport authorities and ensuring compliance with the rigorous performance standards governing O’Hare operations.
Technical Validation for Aviation Infrastructure
Our team performed a comprehensive evaluation of the submitted calculations, drawings, and specifications for a submersible pump system designed to deliver 870 gallons per minute at 123 feet of total dynamic head. The review verified engineering soundness across all MEP disciplines, confirmed compliance with HNTB’s project specifications and industry standards for airport wastewater systems, and validated the design approach for continuous submerged operation in mission-critical infrastructure. Working closely with Excel Fluid Group’s project team, we identified technical recommendations for resolution with the designer of record before final approval.
Our independent stamped review provided Excel Fluid Group with professional third-party validation that strengthened their package submittal to the Chicago Department of Aviation. The consolidated review report synthesized findings across mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, addressing pump performance characteristics, motor branch circuits, liquid level controls, HDPE wetwell and valve vault construction, and integration with the site’s sanitary force main infrastructure. Structural calculations and anti-buoyancy analysis required Illinois PE certification, which HEAPY provided as part of the validation process.
HEAPY partnered with the project team through collaborative review meetings to discuss findings and recommendations, ensuring clear technical guidance within the accelerated two-week timeline required to maintain the airport construction schedule. Our responsiveness supported Excel Fluid Group’s ability to meet critical installation milestones for the enabling utilities that must be operational before Satellite 1’s vertical construction can proceed.
This peer review engagement reflects HEAPY’s capabilities in mission-critical aviation infrastructure, where independent validation helps equipment suppliers and contractors navigate complex regulatory approval processes at major airports. Our Illinois licensure and understanding of airport operational requirements position us to verify compliance with both technical performance standards and the approval processes specific to O’Hare’s demanding environment, where utility system reliability directly impacts passenger operations at one of the world’s busiest airports.
