Wastewater Treatment

Vancouver to upgrade trickling filter solids contact wastewater facility

June 30, 2022

Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, the world’s largest trickling filter solids contact facility, will upgrade capacity and enhance resilience with the help of engineering firm Brown and Caldwell.

Img 0255 Web E1655112908505 980x551 62bda2d00f2c7

Metro Vancouver is undertaking major upgrades at the world’s largest trickling filter solids contact facility.

The facility, known as the Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, will see upgrades to increase capacity, meet the needs of a growing population, and protect essential utility operations against seismic events. Engineering firm Brown and Caldwell will provide detailed design and construction engineering services for the project.

Locaed in Delta, British Columbia, and Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant treats about 196 billion liters of wastewater annually (141 million gallons daily) serving approximately 1.25 million residents in 14 municipalities across the Lower Mainland. It uses primary and secondary treatment technologies to remove organic matter from wastewater before safe release to the Fraser River — the world’s largest salmon-bearing river.

Part of a multi-year program of over 20 projects to expand the capacity of the plant, the newly-initiated project involves the design and construction of two new trickling filters and an associated pump station. The plant’s four existing centrifuges will be replaced with new, larger capacity units to improve dewatering output and avoid a costly and invasive dewatering building expansion. Additionally, a modern maintenance workshop will be built so that staff can maintain the expanded facility.

Once complete, the suite of upgrades will increase capacity to serve approximately 1.6 million people. The new facilities will be designed with future expansions and seismic resiliency in mind.

As prime consultant, Brown and Caldwell will lead program, project, and quality management; detailed design; and construction management. Major sub-consultants EIC Solutions, Klohn Crippen Berger, and J.L. Richards and Associates will provide electrical/instrumentation and controls; geotechnical and hydrogeological; and architectural design services, respectively.

A critical early component of constructing the new assets entails extensive ground improvements to improve seismic performance. The complex groundwork includes risk mitigation, geotechnical, and resiliency considerations to protect existing structures and utilities during installation. Paramount to the project’s success is carefully sequencing of construction activities to maintain plant integrity and minimize operational disruptions during site works.

“We commend Metro Vancouver’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship while continuing to serve its communities through innovative and sustainable practices,” said Mike Thorstenson, Brown and Caldwell program manager. “Our team relishes the opportunity to help write the next chapter of this monumental expansion and maintain the Annacis plant as a premier North American treatment facility.”