E. A. Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant

Aerial View of E.A Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant located next to California State University, Sacramento.

E.A Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant is a water treatment plant located next to California State University, Sacramento campus. This water treatment plant, along with Sacramento River Water Treatment Plant on Sacramento River, provide approximately eighty five percent of Sacramento's drinking water.[1]

History

The City of Sacramento has two water intake structures, Sacramento River Water Treatment on Sacramento River and E.A Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant on American River. As mentioned previously mentioned, both of these water intakes provide more than half of Sacramento drinking water making thee two water structures valuable to Sacramento.[2] The water treatment plant was originally built in 1964 with the plant being expanded further in 2005. The water structure was expanded because several issues had arisen with the original structure.[3]

Structural issues and further improvement

Many of the early 1960's concrete hydraulic structures have developed several, concerning water leaks. The Sacramento Utilities of Sacramento did a condition assessment study that was completed in 2009 which identified that the infrastructure at the treatment plant needed either placement or rehabilitation. These leaks caused concerns for the existing concrete structures and equipment. The structures and out-dated equipment are concerning but there is also concern regarding personnel safety. Many construction companies are coming in and will be involved in several parts of the construction, this construction group is one of many companies that are being brought in by the City of Sacramento to work on the treatment plant.[4]

Overaa Construction

A major company working on the site is Overaa Construction.[5]

Challenges

Overaa Construction is working with a team of qualified local and national engineers, consultants and contractors to make sure they are dealing with challenges that arise while working on the facilities. While the improvements are going on, the treatment plant will remain fully operational. Challenges include installing the filter complex, where water has to be filtered to meet potable standards. Another challenge is timing, the structure will ultimately require 60,000 work hours to complete. The facility can be closed for two months a year during periods of lower demand which shifts the treatment capacity.[5]

Improvements

Improvements include installing five centrifuges that are manufactured by German manufacturers Andritz, which is used to turn muddy water into sludge. Additionally, a sludge-collection system and yard piping is installed.[5] The renovations increased plant reliability, production, and sludge processing. Improvements to the site increased capacity to 100 mpd. All of these improvements contribute to a more cost effective dewatering process.[6]

Ecology

The Sacramento River and Fairbairn water treatment plants are both situated on a level floodplain south of the American River. The Fairbairn WTP lies near a significant bend in the river. Soils of the Americanos-Urban land complex are mapped at the surface in the southwest part of the Fairbairn WTP area, and the Rossmoor-Urban land complex are mapped to the north and east. Both soils are associated with alluvial deposits seen in the area. The two soils are quite different in their soil development, the Americanos soils are well-developed, while the Rossmoor soils have no subsurface horizons evident. Studies based on radiocarbon evidence have shown that the Americanos soils in the southwest area are estimated to be between 25,000 and 11,500 years old.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Water Quality - City of Sacramento". www.cityofsacramento.org. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  2. ↑ "E.A. Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant". 2011-05-02. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  3. ↑ "Cunningham Engineering Corporation". www.cecwest.com. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  4. ↑ "Ea Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant Project Information | Historical Municipal Water and Wastewater Facility Project in California". www.cmdgroup.com. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  5. 1 2 3 "Overaa Construction – Sacramento Water Treatment Plants Rehabilitation". Construction Today. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  6. ↑ Overaa, Construction. "Sacramento Water Treatment Plants".
  7. ↑ Leach-Palm, Laura (January 2012). "Archaeological Survey Report for the Sacramento River and E.A. Fairbairn Water Treatment Plants Rehabilitation Project, Sacramento County, California". Far Western Anthropological Research Group.

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