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Press
Release
CH2M HILL to Design World's Largest Ultrafiltration
Membrane
Installation for Drinking Water Treatment in Ontario, Canada
January 28, 2004, Toronto - The Region of Peel (Region), which provides
drinking water to one million consumers in Ontario, Canada has approved
the purchase of immersed, hollow-fibre membrane ultrafiltration
(UF)
equipment from ZENON Environmental, of Oakville, Ontario. The membrane
equipment will be incorporated into an upcoming plant expansion
designed
by CH2M HILL for the Region's Lakeview Water Treatment Plant, a
conventional treatment plant with an existing capacity of 560 ML/d
(148-mgd). The award represents the world's largest UF membrane
installation for drinking water treatment with a summer capacity
over 300 ML/d (80-mgd) and a cold water (2°C) firm capacity
of 262 ML/d (69-mgd).
The source water for the project is Lake Ontario, characterized
as
moderately hard and generally low in turbidity and organics; however,
the
lake's water quality can deteriorate, with increased turbidity for
periods up to a week and taste and odour episodes for as long as
several
weeks. The new capacity expansion will utilize ozone and biologically
active carbon (BAC) to pre-treat the lake water prior to membrane
ultrafiltration.
"The ozone/BAC is very effective for reducing turbidity and
taste and
odour, while improving membrane performance," says Commissioner
of
Public Works Mitch Zamojc. "This treatment train is anticipated
to
become a treatment benchmark for future drinking water facilities
on Lake
Ontario," he added.
The membrane vendor selection followed a comprehensive pilot program
conducted in 2003 that compared three world-class membrane filtration
products. Following the pilot testing, the three vendors were required
to
submit technical and cost proposals. Each vendor's technical proposal
was assigned a relative performance factor, which was used to adjust
the cost proposal. The cost proposal considered both capital and
20-year
operating costs. From this evaluation, ZENON Environmental was selected
as providing the best value system for the Region.
The value of the award by the Region is CDN $11.8 million (US $9.1
million), excluding GST, for the supply of the membrane equipment
and
services.
"This procurement represents a new global benchmark for the
cost
competitiveness of membranes for large municipal filtration
applications," says Ken Mains, CH2M HILL's Project Manager.
"This is
demonstrated by the unit capacity pricing of CDN$0.039/litre per
day
(US$0.114/gallon per day) for ZENON's scope of work."
The general contract for construction of the plant expansion is
to be
tendered in late 2004 following completion of facility design by
CH2M
HILL. The plant expansion will be commissioned in 2006.
CH2M HILL is a global firm providing leading engineering, construction,
operations, and related services to public and private clients
worldwide.
