In an ever-changing world of the water industry, infrastructural and system-wide upgrades are an integral part of maintaining one of the top five water systems in the country. The Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB) is the largest water utility in the state serving more than 600,000 people in Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, St. Clair and Walker Counties. In order to fulfill its commitment to providing the highest-quality water at the lowest possible price, the BWWB must implement various capital improvement projects across its system. That is why the BWWB has initiated a vital and comprehensive Capital Improvement Project Program.
Regulatory Compliance – complying with current and pending state and federal government regulations on water quality
Risk Management – increasing the safety of BWWB facilities for employees, the surrounding community and the environment
Growth/Capacity – supporting the continued growth throughout the BWWB’s service area and demand within its existing service area
Performance/Cost Efficiency – maintaining/improving current practices of utility operation
Infrastructure Maintenance and Repair – maintaining infrastructure and equipment such as facilities, water meters, fire hydrants, water mains and tanks, thus ensuring the integrity of the water system
Government Regulations
One of the primary drivers for the BWWB’s Capital Program is regulatory compliance. The BWWB, as well as other water systems across the country, must meet state and federal government regulations on water quality. These regulations include all Safe Drinking Water Act Regulations and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management Administrative Code for water supplies. Since 1975, the number of contaminants regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency has increased from 18 to 111.
Completed Capital Improvement Projects
The following major capital improvement projects have recently been completed:
Shades Mountain Filter Plant Bulk Liquid Sodium Hypochlorite Facility Project
Project Description: The BWWB has completed its Shades Mountain Filter Plant Bulk Liquid Sodium Hypochlorite Facility Project, a vital project that will increase the safety of facilities for BWWB staff, surrounding communities and the environment. This capital improvement project consisted of phasing out the use of chlorine gas in favor of liquid sodium hypochlorite, which is safer to handle than chlorine gas. The primary elements of this capital project included a bulk liquid sodium hypochlorite storage building; tanks; new facilities; chemical feed lines and trenches; and pumps at Shades Mountain Filter Plant. Over the next few years, the BWWB plans to complete the change from chlorine gas to liquid sodium hypochlorite at its Carson, Putnam and Western Filter Plants as well.
Project Benefits: Eliminating risks associated with the use of chlorine gas; providing an optimal level of primary disinfection; increasing safety at Shades Mountain Filter Plant for BWWB employees and the entire community; and ensuring a safe environment for everyone.
Carson Loop Phase 6A
Project Description: The BWWB has completed its Carson Loop Phase 6A capital improvement project that will deliver up to 8 million-gallons of additional water per day from Carson Filter Plant to the southern portion of the BWWB system. Phase 6A consisted of installing pipeline along Sicard Hollow Road and Rex Lake Road in Jefferson County. The original plan called for the installation of 5.3 miles of pipeline; however, due to roadway improvements, the BWWB only installed approximately 4.9 miles of pipeline.All seven phases of the Carson Loop Project will total 30 miles of pipeline and will deliver approximately 16 million-gallons of additional water supply per day when the pipeline is fully completed and the Carson Filter Plant has been expanded.
Project Benefits: The BWWB implemented this capital project to continue to meet the needs of a growing community and provide customers with a continuous supply of the highest-quality water during periods of drought and high demand.
Carson Loop Phase 7A
Project Description: The BWWB has completed its Carson Loop Phase 7A capital improvement project that will deliver up to 8 million-gallons of additional water per day from Carson Filter Plant to the southern portion of the BWWB system. Phase 7A involved the installation of 5,808 feet of 36-inch pipeline, pipefittings and related appurtenances along Sicard Hollow Road between Liberty Parkway and Vestlake Ridge Drive in Jefferson County. The BWWB installed a total of 1.1 miles of pipeline.All seven phases of the Carson Loop Project will total 30 miles of pipeline and will deliver approximately 16 million-gallons of additional water supply per day when the pipeline is fully completed and the Carson Filter Plant has been expanded.
Project Benefits: The BWWB implemented this capital project to continue to meet the needs of a growing community and provide customers with a continuous supply of the highest-quality water during periods of drought and high demand.
Putnam Filter Plant Stand-by Emergency Power Generator
Project Description: This capital project involves the installation of a 2,000-KW emergency power generator and associated electrical upgrades. This project is being implemented to comply with a regulation set by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) in December 2005 that requires surface water treatment facilities to have "sufficient auxiliary power to operate essential equipment." This will ensure reliable operations and consistent delivery of treated water. This project will also ensure safe water facilities for BWWB employees, the surrounding community and the environment.
Project Benefits: Ensuring customers are provided with a continuous supply of high-quality water in the event of a power outage at the plant; ensuring reliable operations and consistent delivery of treated water; and complying with ADEM requirements regarding continuous power supply.
Carson Filter Plant Stand-by Emergency Power Generator
Project Description: This capital project will involve the purchase and installment of a 2,500-KW emergency power generator at Carson Filter Plant. This generator will be incorporated into the generator system planned for installation during BWWB’s Carson Filter Plant Expansion Project (mentioned above) in the future. This project is being implemented to comply with a regulation set by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) in December 2005 that requires surface water treatment facilities to have "sufficient auxiliary power to operate essential equipment." This will ensure reliable operations and consistent delivery of treated water. This project will also ensure safe water facilities for BWWB employees, the surrounding community and the environment.
Project Benefits: Ensuring customers are provided with a continuous supply of high-quality water in the event of a power outage at the plant; ensuring reliable operations and consistent delivery of treated water; and complying with ADEM requirements regarding continuous power supply.
In-Progress Capital Improvement Projects
The following major capital improvement projects are currently in-progress:
Shades Mountain Filter Plant (SMFP) Phase Two
Project Description: This capital project involves constructing two 6 million-gallon clearwells and replacing pumps that currently pump water from SMFP to BWWB customers. New piping, electrical upgrades and a new transfer pump station are a part of this project as well. This is a major capital improvement project that will be very visible to those traveling along U.S. Highway 280.The SMFP Phase Two Project is being implemented to comply with Alabama Department of Environmental Management regulations as well as the Safe Drinking Water Act. This project will also preserve and improve BWWB’s current plant operations.
Project Benefits: Complying with the Safe Drinking Water Act by providing additional space for water storage to meet peak water demands; increasing reliability and flexibility of treatment; providing an optimal level of primary disinfection; increasing the safety of this facility; and ensuring customers receive a continuous supply of the highest-quality water.
Shades Mountain Filter Plant Granular Activated Carbon Demonstration Pilot Project
Project Description: This capital project involves reducing the amount of disinfectant by-products (DBP) in finished water with the use of granular activated carbon (GAC). The BWWB is implementing this project to meet a new government regulation requiring public water utilities to reduce DBPs in finished water by 2012. During the water treatment process, chlorine is added as a disinfectant to kill bacteria and other materials that may be present. In the process, undesirable by-products called haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes may form. The new regulation calls for reducing these by-products. GAC will be used in the filtration process to reduce the amount of DBPs that form.
Project Benefits: Ensuring customers continue to receive the highest-quality water; complying with the Stage Two DBP government regulation; and saving millions of dollars in capital expenditures.
Future Capital Improvement Projects
The following major capital improvement projects will be starting soon:
Western Filter Plant Filter Rehabilitation
Project Description: This capital project will involve the replacement and upgrade of filters at the Plant. During filtration, any remaining particles left in the water are removed before the water is disinfected. The upgraded filters will contain a new filter bottom and an air scour system that will improve cleaning of the filters and increase operational efficiency.
Project Benefits: Increasing filtration process efficiency and maintaining more efficient operations with the use of new technology.
Carson Filter Plant Expansion Phase Two
Project Description: The BWWB has already completed Phase One of this project, which involved sedimentation basin improvements to increase water capacity for the entire plant. Phase Two will involve a new parallel treatment line, including a new chemical storage facility; rapid mix; dissolved air flotation; filters; increased storage capacity; an emergency stand-by power generator (see below); a new residuals handling facility; and a new pump station. When the entire expansion project is complete, the combination of Phases One and Two will provide approximately 15 million-gallons of additional water capacity per day.
Project Benefits: Allowing the BWWB to continue to meet the needs of a growing community and deal with emergencies and extreme circumstances; increasing water capacity; and enhancing water quality reliability.
The BWWB operates more than 4,000 miles of pipeline across difficult topography, and the utility works day and night to maintain this pipeline and other vital system infrastructure. Capital improvements are necessary to provide top quality water at the lowest possible price.
