IMS Annual Conference 2019

How do you design and construct a new finished water reservoir to enhance water quality for the largest water treatment plant in Utah, while still maintaining service to customers? Despite the fact that the Jordan Valley Water Treatment Plant capacity has more than quadrupled from 42 MGD to 180 MGD over the last four decades, the plant has always operated with a meager 8 MG of onsite storage capacity. The District identified a need for additional storage to solve these problems and retained Bowen, Collins & Associates to provide engineering services for the project. The project presented a number of challenges requiring innovative solutions, including:
1. CFD Modeling to Optimize Baffle Configuration: Development of computational fluid dynamics models in the design phase paid dividends by allowing us optimize hydraulic efficiency of the new reservoir. This efficiency is key in achieving the primary project goal to improve water quality by reducing the potential for formation of disinfection byproducts.
2. New Valve Technology: We leveraged new advances in butterfly valve technology to replace leaking and inoperable slide gates with more reliable double-offset butterfly valves that have much-improved sealing and operation characteristics.
3. Maintaining Service During Construction: In response to unanticipated changes in water demand during construction, the team worked together to modify construction sequencing and meet both supply and construction goals.
The new reservoir has been in service for more than a year now and the District is gratified with the improved flexibility and enhanced water quality that it provides.