Gwinnett County, GA

Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources (GCDWR) operates two drinking water treatment plants: the Lanier Filter Plant (LFP), with a permitted capacity of 150 mgd, and the Shoal Creek Filter Plant (SCFP), with a permitted capacity of 98 mgd. The LFP was constructed in 1977, and multiple expansions and upgrades have been constructed since the initial construction was completed. The SCFP was constructed in 2004. Since 2016, Ardurra has been providing onsite services to GCDWR for Water Production On-Call Projects, which typically consists of ongoing assistance to water production managers and operators for facility operations, maintenance, and improvements. In this role, Ardurra provides process support, engineering design, and facilities construction management.  Ardurra leads weekly staff meetings with management for all projects that affect water production scheduling and operations. Both facilities have advanced treatment processes that include raw water ozonation for DBP precursors and taste/odor control. Ardurra also recently completed the Water Production Facilities Master Plan for GCDWR to project future water demands and evaluate existing facilities and process systems for continued long-term reliable service. The Facilities Master Plan identified and prioritized facilities improvements needed to meet future requirements and was integrated and coordinated with other ongoing planning, design, and construction efforts associated with improvements for certain components and facilities of the water plants to avoid duplication of effort. The LFP has operated successfully over the years to produce consistently high-quality drinking water for its customers, although the plant has generally operated at rates well below its permitted capacity. Portions of the facility have been in service for up to 40 years, and concerns have been raised about the condition and remaining service life of various components and facilities. In addition, seasonal raw water quality variations and facility operating procedures have contributed to finished water quality meeting regulatory standards but not consistently meeting GCDWR’s performance goals. 

The project included the following goals for the Facilities Master Plan: 

• Develop a water production capital improvements plan for a planning period of 30 years 
• Develop projected demand requirements for the distribution system and water production for the planning period 
• Define future requirements for operation and performance of water production facilities 
• Evaluate the condition of buildings, building systems, and process facilities, and recommend improvements to or replacement of those systems and facilities 
• Evaluate the performance, capacity, and suitability of existing process facilities and systems, and recommend improvements to meet current and future requirements 
• Evaluate and recommend new process systems and facilities, if required, to meet current and future needs 
• Develop a master site plan to address improved traffic circulation and access for deliveries, enhancements to site aesthetics, and incorporation of improved perimeter site security