INNOVATION July-August 2012

AnnacisWastewater Centre The Annacis Wastewater Centre is a 1,700 m 2 building adjacent to the Annacis IslandWastewater Treatment Plant. Part of a network of academies to achieve a more sustainable Metro Vancouver, this building includes research and lab areas, classrooms and offices, and is poised to achieve a LEED Platinum or Gold Certification. MCW Consultants provided electrical and mechanical engineering for the building. Electrical systems include a building-wide wireless lighting control system, solar-powered site lighting, electric vehicle charging station, and provision for future photovoltaic panels. Mechanical systems include a water-to- water heat pump system that draws on effluent from the adjacent wastewater treatment plant as the primary heat source for the building. A rainwater catchment system provides the water for toilet and urinal flushing. Owner: Metro Vancouver. Mechanical/Electrical Consultant: MCW Consultants (Electrical: Dejan Curcin PEng, Graham Lovely EIT, Joseph Scott IALD LC, Andrew Burt RCDD. Mechanical: Matthew Yim PEng, Frank Lufkin PEng PE, Raymond Cho). Metro Vancouver recently constructed a full-scale co-digestion pilot plant at the Annacis IslandWastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Co-digestion is an innovative “waste to energy” process where digestible waste products—such as waste fats, oils and grease—are combined directly into anaerobic digesters with the process sludge. Co-digestion offers the potential to significantly increase biogas production, generating renewable energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) credits from the beneficial use of the waste by-products from food processing, restaurants and grocery businesses. Co ‐ digestion is a relatively new technology developed in Europe and has only recently been used in a few wastewater treatment plants in North America. Early operating results are very promising, indicating that a 15 to 20% increase in gas production is achievable from the pilot facility. Owner: Metro Vancouver. Design: Opus DaytonKnight Consultants, HDR, Levelton Consultants. Contractor: Kingston Construction. Annacis IslandWastewater Treatment Plant Co-Digestion Facility

No 4 RoadDrainage Pump Station

Fundamental to the City of Richmond’s ability to provide drainage, irrigation and flood prevention is a series of 39 drainage pump stations. The No 4 Road Drainage Pump Station required both a capacity and aesthetic upgrade. The original concrete block structure contained ageing long shaft pumps with a capacity of 3.3 m 3 /s—this was increased by installing four 127 HP, 1.5 m 3 /s variable speed pumps. The station underwent comprehensive aesthetic changes to complement the City’s vision to be the most appealing, liveable and well-managed community in Canada. The station was the recipient of the 2011 PWABC Project of the Year Award and a 2012 ACEC BC Award of Excellence. City of Richmond project management team: Mile Racic, Milton Chan PEng, Jim V Young PEng. Lead design consultant: Aplin & Martin (Robert Wridgway PEng, Terry Cheng PEng).

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