Arbutus Water Treatment Plant

Following this milestone, the Town required upgrades to their water treatment facility to replace the aging chlorination equipment and bring it into compliance with Island Health’s 4-3-2-1 Policy.

The upgrade to the water treatment facility proceeded in two phases. In Phase 1, two existing chlorine gas systems were replaced with a centralized chlorination facility located adjacent to the reservoir. The facility housed the pump room, chlorination room and electrical room under a single-story masonry structure. Phase 1 was designed to be upgraded in the future to accommodate additional treatment processes. Design for Phase 1 started in 2010 and construction for Phase 1 was completed in 2014.

In Phase 2, treatability studies were conducted and dissolved air flotation (DAF) and membrane technologies were selected as the preferred treatment processes. As part of the Phase 2 upgrades, the water treatment facility is expanded to house the DAF pre-treatment tank, membrane trains, control room, as well as the PACl and soda ash storage facilities. A pre-engineered steel structure is constructed adjacent to the existing chlorination facility with the appropriate seismic gaps and doorways to access the two phases of the facility. Phase 2 also consists of the construction of concrete tanks for residuals management.

Associated Engineering and Koers & Associates Engineering provided the engineering services and construction administration services. The architectural services were provided by Local Practice.

Construction commenced in Summer 2018 and the facility was commissioned in Summer 2020. The upgrades to the facility allow the Town to meet the BC Surface Water Treatment Objectives.