Water Treatment Plant Renovation & Distribution System Study -
Michigan City, Indiana
Greeley and Hansen has provided comprehensive engineering services for a Water Filtration Plant Renovation and Distribution System Study. The project involved evaluation of the existing 20 mgd surface water treatment plant and the associated distribution system. All process related equipment including low lift pumps, flow metering and control devices, flocculators, sedimentation basin flights and chains, basin sluice gates and drain valves, filter flow control devices and valves, filter underdrains, and high service pumps were evaluated. Also evaluated were the alum, ammonia, fluoride, and chlorine chemical storage and feed facilities, as well as the electrical power, heating and ventilation, and instrumentation and control systems. A review of the current state and federal water regulations was also included to identify process and monitoring modification requirements.
Two special project considerations were addressed in the study report. Compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and related regulations, and recommendations for removing and controlling the zebra mussels that were beginning to build up in the raw water intakes.
Greeley and Hansen has subsequently provided design and construction services for three projects identified during the Water Treatment Plant Renovation and Distribution System Study:
- The Intake Maintenance and Modifications Project that included the removal of zebra mussels from the water utility's intake cribs and raw water lines, and the installation of a chlorine line and diffuser within the intake to keep the mussels from re-colonizing.
- The North Pumping Building Project that involved the complete reconstruction of one of the major structures on the water treatment plant site that houses all of the chemical storage and feed equipment and as well as one raw water and two high service pumps.
- The Water Main Extensions that included the installation of approximately three miles of water main ranging in size from 12-inch to 24-inch in diameter to improve the overall performance of the water distribution system.
The largest of the capital improvement projects, the North Pumping Building project included the replacement of the following equipment:
- One 9 mgd low lift pump
- One 6 mgd and one 8 mgd high service pumps
- Two raw water flow metering and control devices
- Two gas fired steam boilers for plant heating
- One 1,100 kw diesel standby generator
- Chlorine, aluminum sulfate and hydrofluosilicic acid storage and feed facilities
- Ammonia feed facilities
- New heating and ventilation systems
- New 480 and 2300 volt electrical distribution systems
- New 480 and 2300 volt motor control centers for the low lift and high service pumps
- Instrumentation and control equipment for all new equipment and a new SCADA system.
In addition to the equipment replacements, Greeley and Hansen recommended the installation of a chlorine gas scrubber capable of neutralizing 2,000 pounds of chlorine gas. The gas scrubber is the first such installation in the State of Indiana. In addition to advancing plant and community safety, the scrubber helped the Department of Water Works comply with the Accidental Release Prevention Program Requirements of the Clean Water Act.