AKM provided construction management and inspection services for the project, which took place within an existing water treatment plant. The AKM team was stationed on-site in a construction trailer to provide direct project support. The work involved sequestering and neutralizing the clean-in-place (CIP) solution waste from the existing reverse osmosis (RO) system, allowing it to be safely discharged into the local sewer system rather than the treatment facility’s brine line.
Key project elements included the demolition of an existing solids contact clarifier and the construction of two cast-in-place reinforced concrete neutralization tanks for RO CIP waste, which were lined with a corrosion-resistant coating. The project also included the installation of discharge and recirculation pumps, associated valves and piping, as well as the construction of a new RO CIP waste sump to collect discharge from the RO trains, complete with new pumps, piping, and instrumentation. Additionally, the existing RO waste sumps (1, 2, and 3) were rehabilitated with a new coating system, pumps, instrumentation, and controls. The project also involved the installation of a new sodium hydroxide transfer feed pump, including new piping and instrumentation, as well as a new sodium hydroxide day tank and modifications to the existing sulfuric acid tank farm, which included the installation of two new metering pumps.

The project required over 23 system shutdowns within the plant, all of which had to be carefully planned and coordinated with West Basin and their contracted plant operator, Suez. Completing the work within the predetermined shutdown durations was critical, as any delay would have resulted in significant financial penalties for the District due to service interruptions for its large recycled water customers. AKM played a key role in coordinating all necessary parties, facilitating discussions and field walk-throughs to ensure that all shutdowns were properly planned and executed.

Several unforeseen conditions were encountered on-site, including subsurface facility conflicts. As a result, AKM’s field team worked collaboratively with the contractor, West Basin, and the design engineer of record to identify alternative routes for the installation of large electrical duct banks and other underground utilities.