Humber Wastewater Treatment Plant Odour Control Plant Process Upgrades
Client
City of Toronto
Location
Toronto, Ontario
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Humber Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is Toronto’s second largest facility of its kind. It is located along the Queensway in Toronto’s west end, near the mouth of the Humber River. The Humber WWTP works to treat used water that residents and businesses deposit down drains every day. Flushing toilets, taking showers and running washing machines, for example, produces wastewater. This water travels through the sanitary sewer system, a network of underground pipes, to treatment facilities.
Black & McDonald (B&M) was the building odour control contractor during the construction of two new biofilters (central and south biofilter) to treat air from the plant. The work comprised of replacing two raw sewage screens, new screening conveying systems, odour control ductwork, the automated grit removal process, supply of exhaust fans, air handling units, and improvements to grit vortex separators, to be performed while the plant remained fully operational.
B&M SCOPE OF WORK
The scope of work included:
- Removal of existing air handling units, ductwork and supports, temporary odour control ducting, dampers, fans, and louvres
- Off-loading and installing an odour control unit, media, plenum and fans
- Installing odour control fans, flexible connections and sound enclosures
- Installing custom-made air handling units
- Upgrading AC units and insulated refrigerant piping
- Installing stainless steel ductwork for supply and exhaust, acoustic lining, dampers, supports, test ports, vents, access, etc.
Installing duct-mounted reheat coils
- Creative use of temporary odour control exhaust ventilation
- FRP ductwork and accessories
- Supply and installation of fans
- Automatic controls
The Humber WWTP Odour Control Plant & Process Upgrades involved significant refurbishment of complex mechanical systems. An example of this is the removal of building general exhaust, odour control exhaust, existing AHUs complete with ducting, and vestibule pressurization fans. B&M introduced new AHUs and odour control ducting complete with coordinated interference layout of existing and new services.
BENEFITS TO CLIENT OR PROBLEM(S) SOLVED
As the Humber WWTP is an active operating facility, the new equipment and odour control systems being installed were installed in phases. B&M maintained air changes within the buildings while phasing out an old ventilation system and introducing new supply and odour control exhaust systems.
We successfully managed complex schedules involving multiple sub-trades including controls, air conditioning and refrigeration piping. Due to the ongoing operations of the plant, we produced a phasing schedule to coordinate with general contractor’s three staged phasing plan. This created a smooth and seamless integration.
This project had multiple complex work sequencings. For example, the loading bay installations required extensive coordination with other stakeholders including the city and the general contractor. The plant had to be fully operational and functioning under the City of Toronto’s requirements during the installation of the new design.
INNOVATIVE PROCESS OR TECHNOLOGY USED
This project was a process retrofit within the existing grit building, loading bay and head house. Our use of CAD anticipated that there would be problems. We were able to flag any issues and coordinate with the stakeholders to maintain plant operations, such as the coordination, design and installation of all new ventilation systems with interference/installation drawings. We also installed the system in such a way so as to not interfere with existing service cranes and serviceable equipment. All installations of ducting and air handling equipment were to be tested and commissioned for city training and final operation.
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