SPR debuts successful pilot facility following several setbacks

South Platte Renew (SPR) is Colorado’s third largest water renewal facility. SPR is navigating wastewater treatment difficulties thanks in part to its Pilot and Research Center (PARC), which looks to bring innovation to the industry.

PARC is comprised of two components. The first is a utility-driven focus on strategic partnerships with industry innovators. The second component is the physical infrastructure that makes up the facility which allows access for the research, development and testing of new technologies.

The infrastructure houses a series of piped process flow connections where partners can easily hook up new technologies for testing. As such, PARC can facilitate pilot-level projects that allow for the experimentation and validation of cutting-edge methods and equipment before full-scale implementation.

The specific goals of the project are to revolutionize the resource renewal industry through the development and implementation of a pilot testing and research program recognized as a place where innovative and sustainable technologies are established.

This program also allows SPR the opportunity to achieve current, impending and future regulations with a reduced burden to ratepayers. The pilot program is aimed at attracting, developing and retaining an industry-leading workforce.

SPR hired Jacobs as the design engineer and PCL Constructors Inc. (PCL) as the contractor through a construction manager/general contractor delivery method.

During an extended evaluation phase, the project team designed four pilot testing bays equipped with access to various process flows, as well as electrical and internet hookups.

The primary goal was to maintain flexibility by providing popular process streams at various flows while complying with pilot regulations. The team also maximized process flow connections and space within a tight budget, ensuring ease of operation and hookups.

The project faced challenges early on, particularly with the budget and rising construction costs.

Discrepancies in the budget were pinpointed via a group effort from SPR, PCL and Jacobs. PCL provided real-time pricing for various design alternatives. This approach allowed SPR to make informed decisions, optimizing the project’s design and reducing overall costs.

Another challenge during the design phase was determining exactly what kind of pilots users and applications the building would house.

This was overcome by gaining insight from Jacobs piloting experience, companies with proof-of-concept level research experience, academic professors and water resource recovery facilities with onsite research facilities.

PCL’s project team provided valuable input throughout the design phase utilizing value engineering (VE) and constructability proposals. Challenges with meeting the $1.5 million budget were overcome using a VE effort where the project team brought ideas to the table and worked together. These contributions were integrated into the final project design.

The project team also overcame challenges during construction. The project was in an area with a high density of underground utilities and limited historical record drawings. Extensive field investigations and pot-holing was conducted and located buried pipe.

Incorrect assumptions were made during design, which caused issues with draining basins. PCL created the plan to isolate the area for installation of a temporary plate in order to core piping from the outside.

Having overcome budget, design and construction challenges, it now takes SPR on average 20 minutes for a technology to start up, have process water flowing and begin collecting data — a clear win.