The Cedar Rapids Water Plants Disinfection Project’s primary purpose is to add Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection capability to both the J Avenue and North West potable water plants to supplement the standard chlorine/ammonia regimen. Besides the UV Treatment Buildings, this $40 million project also includes a new disinfectant contact tank and reservoir, high service and low lift pump stations, electrical and fiber optic distribution work, and a diesel power generation facility. The first seven months of work at the J Ave Plant has generally focused on preparation of the site for the new facilities. This has involved installation of new buried piping and electrical systems, as well as construction of excavation retention systems for the deep structures. At the NW Plant, existing piping has been relocated and construction of the new UV Building is underway. UV equipment and most of the high voltage electrical distribution equipment has been delivered. Project completion is scheduled for December 2009.

Looking west on J Ave with the plant in the background on the left.  The row of soldier beams are the top eight feet of 40 ft long reinforcing beams encased in 36” diameter caissons below grade.  They are part of the excavation retention system for the new Chlorine Contact Tank/Reservoir/Pump Station excavation.  The structure will be roughly 300 feet long, 90 feet wide and 34 feet deep.

Trailer loaded with six high voltage switches, which will allow for sectionalizing the new 12,470-volt electrical feed “loop” that will surround the J Ave Plant.  This will enable the operators to feed power from either direction to isolate an electrical fault at any point in the loop while maintaining power service to the rest of the system.

An underground high-voltage electrical vault just after it was set in place.  This is also an integral part of the electrical loop at the J Ave. Plant.  The circular openings in the walls are for conduits carrying the power conductors to various locations, some of which are shown in photo #16 before they were encased in reinforced concrete.

The final stages of making up a 42 inch diameter ductile iron pipe joint with a retaining gland to prevent the joint from separating under pressure.  This particular pipe line carries storm drainage to the Storm Water Detention Basin, for which the beginnings of foundation construction are shown in picture #10.  This Basin will provide on-site storage for excess storm water until it can be slowly pumped into storm sewers after surface flow has decreased, helping to reduce peak flow in storm drainage systems.

A rooftop view of the CCT/Reservoir/Pump Station construction area looking eastward

A 30” dia. gate valve and 36” dia. stainless steel “hot tap” sleeve, which were installed on the existing 36” Prairie Valley water supply main while it remained in service.  This was necessary to maintain plant delivery capacity due to ice damage to the Penn Ave supply main under the Cedar River last winter.