Water Filtration Plant Clearwell #1 Reconstruction

The Town’s Walter E. Prentice Water Filtration Plant (WFP) was originally constructed in 1967 and expanded in both 2005 and 2011. In 2017, a condition assessment on Clearwell #1, which is an original component of the building, was undertaken due to the discovery of leaks. Targeted repairs were undertaken at the time to mitigate deterioration though some leaks have persisted.

There are 3 drinking water storage tanks in the Town’s network:

• Clearwell #1
• Clearwell #2
• Water Tower

After careful consideration of different approaches to this design, the Town decided to demolish the existing Clearwell #1 to reconstruct a similarly sized tank in the same location (Option B1). This solution is anticipated to be effective for 75 years and was seen as the best value option.

Consideration was given to expanding the Clearwell during the options analysis phase of the design. Data modelling estimates that additional storage may have to be added at the Water Filtration Plant as early as the year 2034. In its current location, the tank could be expanded by an additional 550 cubic meters. This proposed expansion would only satisfy the Town’s water storage requirements for an additional 2 years at an approximate additional cost of $950,000. Due to the relatively high cost associated with a minor postponement of expansion, this option was not considered to be practical. However, incorporated into this design project was direction to build in such a manner that the decision could be made at a future date to expand the tank.

This project will be a significant undertaking that will require taking Clearwell #1 to be out of service for up to 12 months. Though this is one third of the Town’s water storage, this situation is feasible with changes to the process within the plants and close monitoring of water consumption. Water consumption modelled data was consulted with the Town’s ongoing Water/Wastewater Master Plan consulting team.

Given the specialized nature and criticality of construction within a drinking water treatment plant, Town staff decided to progress through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to ensure that only competent and qualified vendors could bid on the project prior to requesting pricing. Eight vendors were prequalified for this scope of work.

The construction work is planned to commence in the Winter of 2026 and be complete early in 2027. This project is to be partially funded through grant contributions totaling $1,833,250 from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) Green Stream.