INNOVATION May-June 2017

Process reclaims minerals from Chicago-area sewage The Metropolitan Water Reclamation

causing the nutrients to crystallize. The reactor design enables the granules to grow to the size and purity used in standard fertilizer blends, and to be harvested directly from the reactor. They can then be dried and bagged for distribution and sale from the Stickney plant. The process has increased Stickney’s operational efficiency by preventing struvite build-up, reducing loads on other plant processes, and supporting MWRD’s clean-water mandate. APEGBC members: Ahren Britton, P.Eng., Derek Lycke, P.Eng., Lani (Mahilan) Somasunderam, P.Eng., David Alexander, P.Eng., Sam Leung, P.Eng.

Construction of a 1,100-megawatt hydroelectric power generation plant in remote British Columbia is the culmination of two decades of negotiations with land owners for approval. Experienced in remote projects, newterra was contracted by ATCO to engineer and manufacture a potable water treatment plant to support the 2,700 construction workers who will be working at the Site C construction site. District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) faced higher regulatory limits affecting effluent discharge permits. Its wastewater system was also experiencing struvite mineral build-up at their Stickney plant, the world’s largest wastewater treatment facility. Ostara’s Pearl process provided a solution. The Pearl’s fluidized bed reactor recovers phosphorus and nitrogen from nutrient-rich wastewater liquor, reclaiming more than 85 percent of phosphorus and up to 15 percent of nitrogen from wastewater streams before they accumulate as struvite in pipes and equipment. In the reactor, magnesium is added to wastewater under a controlled pH, Viterra is Canada’s premier grain handler. As part of the modernization of its Pacific Terminal in the Port of Vancouver, the company constructed a 2800-mtph ship loader through a series of design–build contracts. The project involved the installation of state-of-the-art fugitive dust control for handling pulse crops from Western Canada. Work included new shipping conveyors inside the terminal to support the overall shipping capacity. The ship loader commenced operations in September 2016. EMS-Tech Inc., Vancouver Pile Driving Ltd., and Dynamic Installations Inc. led

Potable water treatment plant serves large, remote construction site

The resulting plant employs flocculation, clarification, sand filtration, UV disinfection and chlorination to deliver 585 cubic metres of potable water per day. To address fire prevention requirements, the system also includes high-pressure pumping stations. APEGBC members, newterra: Brad Gaffney, P.Eng., Jeff Kempson, P.Eng.

New ship loader moves grain and pulse crops

the design–build contracts. Dredging support was provided by JJM Construction Ltd. provided dredging support. Hemmera Envirochem Inc. provided environmental support. APEGBC members: Rick Doxtator, P.Eng., Paul Dafoe, P.Eng., Jorgen Jensen, P.Eng., Steve Thackray, P.Eng., Reza Tabesh, P.Eng., Harald Kullmann, P.Eng., Chuck Jochems, P.Eng., Tobin Hwang, P.Eng., Peter Idema, P.Eng. Recently deceased member David Smith provided geotechnical support.

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