The $9 million Cove Bay Water Treatment Plant could finally be coming fully online this year, if everything goes to plan in the next few months.
The plant was initially scheduled to be commissioned in May 2021, however several failures occurred at both the design and mechanical levels, particularly with filters and an immersion heater.
The main problem then, and what continues to be the main problem now, revolves around how filter discharging should take place.
Bowen’s (BIM) engineering director Patrick Graham says during the design process the filtration equipment supplier, Purifics, agreed with a plan to have the filters discharge into the reservoir as a way to save money. Later, Purifics said this was not actually the case, and the discharge would have to run to an atmospheric pressure line.
“There was actually an email exchange between WFP (design consultants) and Purifics that suggested this, that we discharge directly to the reservoir to simplify the process and eliminate some costs. So everybody agreed with that at the time,” said Graham while speaking to council on Monday.
“In this case Purifics is essentially saying that no they never agreed to that because there was no formal change order. Well, there was no cost change item with Purifics’ contract, so that’s typically when we would do a change order,” explained Graham.
“So they’re not flat out saying they never said that, they just said ‘oh we responded to some emails and there was no change order, so we don’t accept any responsibility for that.’”
The need for an atmospheric pressure line meant a break head tank and pump retrofit were necessary. More disagreement ensued when Purifics indicated a tank and pump the municipality already had could work, but later said they would not.
Graham wrote in his report this is part of a pattern with Purifics, “who continue to be extremely uncooperative, and difficult to work with.”
But, Graham acknowledged the work needs to be done in order to operate the Purifics system and get the plant running. “So do you pursue it legally, or pay them to fix it? Those are our two choices,” he says, adding it was unclear how the legal option would play out.
Contractor who built water plant to complete fixes
The plan forward now involves working with construction company Industra, who built the plant in the first place, to install the break head tank and pumps necessary to operate the filters. Graham says they’re a good choice for many reasons, including their familiarity with the water plant and the fact their workers are already residing on the island this summer while building the Tunstall Bay reservoir tank, which means they can offer better pricing.
“Working with them has been very positive. The issues we’re encountering is not the result of their work,” notes Graham of Industra.
Contracting Industra to complete the work is estimated to cost about $194,000 plus GST for both design and construction. Since the plant is a capital project and this would mean changing the budget, Graham was seeking council support before their recess in August, so that work could be done throughout the summer.
Council agreed the plant needs to get running, but wanted to make sure they’d be protected if further disagreements with Purifics ensue. Chief administrative officer Liam Edwards said a third-party engineering consultant, HDR, has been brought on to work on communication between BIM, Purifics, Industra and WSP, and make sure everybody is on the same page going forward.
Once everybody agrees to one plan and construction is completed, the plant should work. “And if not that gives us a fall back position to say, well we’ve done exactly what you (Purifics) requested and it was vetted by a third party (HDR),” says Edwards.
Coun. David Hocking voiced his confusion that Purifics was not more concerned about their reputation, which Graham agreed with.
“It’s hard for me to understand... I would think you want success stories and clients that speak highly of you. And they don’t, for whatever reason, seem to care,” says Graham.
The construction costs will be funded through surplus money found in the Cove Bay Water System Local Service Area reserves, and through deferring fixing a water main in the area until next year.
Council voted unanimously to approve Graham’s request, meaning the work with Industra can now go ahead. The earliest estimate for the plant going online is October.
