Industrial Pretreatment Lagoon Upgrades

Location: Vancouver, Washington

Cost: $5.2 million

Completion: March 2023

Owner/Developer: City of Vancouver

Architect: Not applicable

Engineer: Brown and Caldwell

General Contractor: Tapani

Submitting Company: Tapani

Subcontractors: Callies Welding and Fabrication, Columbia Allied Services, Mill Plain Electric, Petrochem Insulation

Sitting on a 22-acre property, Vancouver’s Industrial Pretreatment Lagoon serves as a crucial component in the treatment process for wastewater from three major food-processing plants, each contributing high-strength wastewater laden with sugar and potato starches.

Tasked with the monumental upgrade was Tapani Inc. Among the key innovations was the installation of a cutting-edge blower system designed to enhance energy efficiency and operational effectiveness.

Crews replaced 12 slide gates along the lagoon baffle walls, dividing cells A, B and C, and installed two slide gates on the influent structure to enable flow split. It also included construction of a floating dock along the baffle walls, equipped with instrumentation to monitor water quality. The project included the installation of a sampling pump for cells A/B and related piping, as well as a sampling station with a pump, analysis equipment housed in an FRP shelter and associated piping.

As the project unfolded, the team encountered the challenge of navigating the fully operational lagoon plant. Through collaboration, Tapani, the city of Vancouver and Brown and Caldwell, the project engineer, devised a strategy that ensured the upgrade proceeded seamlessly while maintaining the lagoon’s essential functions.

Electrical enhancements were extensive and involved the replacement of all existing electrical distribution equipment down to the panelboard level. This involved pad-mounted medium-voltage switchgear, transformers, a high-resistance ground system, automatic power factor correction capacitor system, medium-voltage MCC with RVSS soft starters, a low-voltage switchboard, panelboard, dry-type transformers and an outdoor NEMA 4X mini power center.

The team used small boats and barges to navigate the expansive 500-foot-wide lagoon. This method allowed crews to access critical areas without disrupting plant operations.

Safety was paramount, with crews receiving specialized training to ensure smooth operations across the water.

The impact of this project ripples far beyond the confines of the lagoon. For Vancouver residents, this project promises cleaner air and a more pleasant living environment, thanks to the mitigation of odors and enhanced water treatment. Property values in neighboring areas are set to benefit, contributing to the economic stability of the community. By reducing the release of pollutants into waterways, the upgraded lagoon safeguards local ecosystems and promotes biodiversity.

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