Associated Engineering hosts Water Resources Conference

As part of our training and technology transfer program, Associated Engineering regularly hosts in-house conferences. The conferences provide an opportunity for our staff to present their recent work, exchange ideas, and discuss issues related to their common areas of interest.

In June, almost 50 staff specializing in water resources engineering met in Edmonton to discuss advances in software, modelling techniques, and best management practices. Seventeen presentations were made covering topics such as Basin Stormwater Management Planning, Stormwater Management Ponds, Modelling and Design Issues, and Combined Sewer Overflow and Sanitary Sewer Overflow Facilities. As part of the conference, we also organized tours of the Fulton Creek Stormwater Management Pond, Mill Creek Roper Stormwater Management Pond, and Anthony Henday Drive Project site.

Herb Kuehne, MBA, P.Eng., Vice President of Civil Infrastructure and the facilitator for the two-day, in-house seminar advises, "The conference was a unique opportunity for our water resources staff to get together to share their knowledge, experience, and expertise from across Canada. Sharing our combined skills, abilities, and proven applications within Associated Engineering will enable us to respond quickly and more effectively to our clients’ needs.”

Value Engineering team identifies major cost savings for new Burloak Water Purification Plant

Located in southwestern Ontario, the Region of Halton is a growing community, which includes the City of Burlington and the Towns of Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville. Less than one hour’s drive from Toronto and with areas fronting Lake Ontario, the Region expects its current population of approximately 400,000 could exceed 592,000 by 2021.

In 2003, the Region completed a Water and Wastewater Master Plan Review to assess its infrastructure needs to accommodate expected growth. One of the main outcomes of the review was the need for a third water treatment plant to augment the Region’s Burlington and Oakville Water Purification Plants.

The new Burloak Water Purification Plant in Oakville would provide 220 million litres of drinking water per day. The plant would be built in four stages. The first stage, with a capacity of 55 million litres per day, needs to be operational by December 2007. The Region decided to implement the Burloak Water Purification Plant using a Design-Bid-Build project delivery approach. The Region retained CH2M Hill to complete conceptual design in 2004, and subsequently, commissioned MacViro Consultants with Earth Tech Canada to provide design and construction and contract administration services.

During the design process, the Region retained Associated Engineering to provide Value Engineering services for the treatment plant design. Our assignment includes facilitation of two, five-day Value Engineering Workshops, the first after completion of the Draft Pre-Design Report and the second after completion of the 50% Detailed Design.

In May, Associated Engineering completed the Value Engineering review of the Draft Pre-Design Report. The objectives of the Value Engineering review were to confirm that the preliminary design met the project objectives, identify improvements to plant design and operations that could result in cost savings, confirm the capital and operation and maintenance costs, and develop a risk register for the project.

The Value Engineering team evaluated architecture, structures, site works and landscaping, plant layout, process, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and controls systems, operations and maintenance, materials, schedule, risks, plant expandability, and construction management for the new facility. Key treatment processes for the plant include screening, low lift pump station, coagulation and rapid mix, flocculation, membranes, ultraviolet disinfection, ozonation, provisional biological activated carbon contactors, chlorination, treated water clearwell, high lift pump station, residuals treatment, chemical treatment, and standby power.

The Value Engineering team, in close collaborative effort with the Region and Design Consultant, identified many ideas and developed 32 alternative proposals and 20 design suggestions, which would reduce project costs, improve the performance of the facility, and reduce project risk. Value Engineering proposals and suggestions included modifications to building structures, plant layout, landscaping, process equipment, chemical systems, mechanical systems, electrical and instrumentation systems, construction, and proposed operation of the plant.

“At the outset of the Value Engineering Workshop, we worked closely with the Region’s staff and the Design Consultant to create a positive atmosphere of respect and trust,” advised Project Manager Ian Wright. “This helped to open the dialogue between all parties and create an environment conducive to brainstorming and creative thinking. As a result, we were able to identify many cost saving alternatives, design improvements, and strategies that would reduce risk.”

Other members of Associated Engineering’s Value Engineering team included Bill De Angelis, Caroline Korn, Barrie Addison, Les Pederson, and Dave Winter from Associated Engineering, Lindsey Gardner, Wade Martin, and Howard Campbell of US Cost, Marc LeChevallier from American Water Services, Brian Luey from Brian Luey Architect, Jeff Marsh from Secant Engineers, Bob Bee of Land Tech Associates, and David Kellendonk of the Region of Niagara.