Case study: Expansion of the Water Pollution Control Centre

The focus of this project was to enhance Barrie's wastewater treatment to accommodate municipal growth and improve the quality of the water flowing out of the plant and into Kempenfelt Bay.

Barrie's waterfront along Lake Simcoe's Kempenfelt Bay is an important centrepiece for the community. It is lined with parks and beaches, and hosts festivals throughout the summer. Popular recreational activities include boating, fishing, fundraisers, walking trails, biking trails, scuba diving, etc.

The City of Barrie's wastewater treatment facility, called the Water Pollution Control Centre, receives domestic, commercial and industrial wastewater and treats it to meet the water quality standards of Lake Simcoe. This project upgraded the existing wastewater treatment capacity from 57 to 76 megalitres average day flow (MLD). It also improved treatment by minimizing raw sewage overflows, and controlling ammonia release and phosphorus loadings.

Results

Challenges

• Efforts were made during the design process to identify potential shut-downs. However, the contractor's schedules were not reliable as they did not reflect the reality of the time it takes for the biological processes to establish and/or respond. 
• Due to the length of the project, some equipment suppliers went through ownership changes, resulting in service level changes that were not always for the better.
• As the project progressed, several key people retired, transferred to another project or relocated to other companies.

Lessons learned

• An increased effort at the beginning of the project should be placed on the testing and commissioning processes, specifically when working on an expansion to an existing facility. 
• Where practical during design, physically confirm operability of the existing equipment that will be used for tie-ins and commissioning. Usually they have been sitting idle, since they were put in during previous expansions.   
• Conduct a quality-based selection of an engineering firm based on expertise and experience, not based on price, as any errors and omissions could cost in delay claims and/or extra work.

Resources

• Lake Simcoe Protection Plan
• City of Barrie's Wastewater Treatment
• Water Pollution Control Centre Pamphlet

Partners and Collaborators

• Ontario Ministry of the Environment

Project Contact

Graeme King, P. Eng. PMP
Senior Project Engineer
City of Barrie, ON
T. 705-739-4220 ext. 4532