The 2020 Waterworks Improvements Phase II project aimed to update the NRV Regional Water Authority's existing water treatment plant and expand its capacity to better serve the New River Valley region. Virtually all individual unit process systems were updated with modern equipment to increase the efficiency of the facility, enhance operability, and increase safety for operations and maintenance staff, ultimately supporting the Authority's goal of providing the highest quality drinking water.
Ulliman Schutte updated and renovated four pump stations in total, converted an existing unused building into a pretreatment building, and revamped all aspects of the main plant site. Leveraging the CMAR delivery method, the team was able to devise various value engineering ideas that resulted in substantial cost savings. We installed new raw water screens and pumps in each of the two existing pump stations, effectively rehabilitating the existing facilities and preserving redundancy. The team also re-engineered the intake water piping and valves between the river and the pump stations. At the main WTP, Ulliman Schutte suggested design modifications that led to the reconfiguration of the flocculation tanks, as well as installation of tube settlers in lieu of plate settlers in the sedimentation basins. Other design changes included switching the finished 1 MG water storage tank from a rectangular tank to a circular tank, separating the finished water chlorine contact and finished water storage facilities, and incorporating major modifications to the architectural details of the plant. These changes allowed the project team to meet all goals and complete the project under budget.
The plant now has more flexibility to treat the ever-changing water quality conditions of the New River. Not only that, but the water quality has been enhanced and the water treatment efficiency has been improved (i.e. less power and water consumption). The facility is better equipped to handle the demand of the growing population in the region for decades to come.
