Springwells Water Treatment Plant

The Springwells Water Treatment Plant (WTP) is one of the largest plants in the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department’s (DWSD) system. After more than 50 years of service, the plant’s filters had reached the end of their functional life and needed to be replaced. Consisting of two separate plants – the 1930 plant with a capacity of 340 MGD and the 1958 plant with a capacity of 200 MGD – the Springwells WTP is considered to be a critical workhorse within the DWSD system. Therefore, it was critical to maintain continuous plant operation during the project’s construction.

The focus of this project was filter rehabilitation and auxiliary facilities improvements at the 1958 plant. Benesch was responsible for the following:

• Redesign of the Phosphoric acid (H3P04) chemical feed system, which included the replacement of chemical metering pumps, chemical flow meters and chemical pump controls, as well as new flow pacing strategies
• Design of new sampling pumps
• Structural rehabilitation design for the filter building and auxiliary facilities, including the complete structural detailed design of a new electric room for housing the unit substation located on the roof of the existing rapid mix and flocculator gallery, and structural support for a new HVAC system

Throughout the project, Benesch worked closely with mechanical engineers to ensure proper integration of process equipment and piping. As part of the new chemical feed system, a detailed construction sequencing was completed in order to maintain system operations during replacement. This included temporary relocation of the feed pumps and piping outside the existing containment area as well as a temporary containment system.