26 | Ashburton District Council: Methven/Springfield Water treatment plant T T Richard Loader Future proofed for population growth The total estimated cost for the Water Treatment Plant is $9.05 million. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT We have developed a reputation within the industry for cost effective and reliable automation of water and wastewater plants around New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. We have worked closely alongside many councils and industry mainstays to provide complete turnkey solutions for new plants as well as upgrades of existing plants. From chemical dosing, filtration, and reticulation to SBR treatment and more, Kinetic Electrical has the experience and knowledge to handle any water and wastewater installation including electrical design, installation, system integration and commissioning. Rance Winter rance.winter@kinetic-electric.co.nz 021 045 2966 Jandre Van Niekerk jandre.vanniekerk@kinetic-electric.co.nz 027 539 6600 • Zero harm health & safety standards • Project management • PLC & SCADA design and development • Electrical & lighting design and drawings • Switchboard design & build • Site establishment & installation The Ashburton District Council’s (ADC) major upgrade of its Methven and Methven / Springfield Water Treatment plants is on track to be commissioned in September this year, providing safe drinking water to end users, and future proofed for growth. The existing Methven water treatment plant services Methven township, while the Methven / Springfield plant services a rural community. The Methven / Springfield plant had a non-compliant UV system and chlorination, while the Methven water treatment plant had cartridge filtration and compliant UV but became non-compliant when source water was impacted by adverse weather events. The project effectively replaces the two existing treatment plants with a single treatment facility that includes membrane filtration, new compliant UV, chlorination and fluoridation equipment. The project is part of a larger water upgrade for the Methven and Springfield areas, which includes two new 500 cubic metre reservoirs to add capacity as well. Excluding the recent reservoir upgrade, which was managed and constructed under a separate project, the total estimated cost for the Water Treatment Plant is $9.05 million. The new water treatment plant is being constructed just west of Methven township, adjacent to the older water treatment plant, which along with the Methven / Springfield plant, will be decommissioned. The site was chosen because ADC already owned some land around the existing Methven facility and the new facility would easily dovetail into the existing trunk infrastructure. Neil McCann, ADC Group Manager Infrastructure and Open Space, says the key driver for the project was compliance with the current Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand, and to reduce the need for Boil Water notices. Consolidation of infrastructure was another key driver. “Compliance is reliant on treatment equipment working within certain turbidity limits. Whenever we have big rainfalls there is quite a high turbidity in the water, which the current treatment plant struggles with, and once outside the compliance limits, we have to issue ‘Boil Water’ notices, which has been very frustrating for the end users. So the project will deliver clean safe potable water, high resilience infrastructure, compliance with legislation and no more Boil Water notices. It will also enhance Methven’s reputation as a major tourist town, particularly during the ski season.” Project scope is the construction of a new standalone water treatment facility, which includes a new 400m2 building encompassing numerous chemical tanks; membrane plant; chlorine and fluoride dosing equipment; control systems; monitoring and telemetry. Site works including reconfiguration of pipelines in and around the new plant and construction of settling basins for backwash water. “The critical element for capacity was with the membrane plant itself,” Neil explains. “At preliminary design, this was originally sized at 4000m3/day with provision to add additional membrane modules at a future point to provide for growth. During evolution of the detailed design and in discussion with the supplier it became logical to install all membrane modules at the outset, providing a total treatment capacity of 5000m3/day. This compares favourably with a current design peak between 3000 – 3500m3/day.” Neil says there was a very strong desire to have the new plant operational prior to the 2023 winter, and that led to an accelerated construction programme, in an endeavour to avoid any further Boil Water notices on the schemes. While the civil, mechanical and building systems were designed by Beca Consultants, Mason Engineers New Zealand Ltd were contracted to procure the membrane, before the design work was completed to mitigate against any supply chain issues. “As time got closer to when we hoped to have the project completed, we looked at a rapid procurement process and engaged Mason Engineering to complete the balance of the plant alongside their subcontractors, McIntosh Construction and ADC’s own company, Ashburton Contracting Ltd. While Ashburton Contracting have been responsible for the earthworks, excavation, ponds, and outside pipework, McIntosh is responsible for construction of the main plant building.” Physical work began onsite in November 2022. Construction of the building is well advanced and on programme. The mounting tracks for the membrane plant is expected to be installed in May. “By being flexible with procurement and resequencing work, for example pre-assembling switchboards and membrane racks offsite and shipping them in assembled, we have made very good progress with the project. The contractors involved must be commended for the work they have done in progressing this project.”
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