Improvements to the City’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) were performed to repair/replace inoperable or outdated equipment and parts, as well as assess underperforming systems. The City wished to utilize any new technology available to streamline processes, upgrade outdated systems and increase the treatment efficiency, performance and reliability. The City was open to the recommendations of the contractor on how to return the plant to modern working order while retaining the 0.6 MGD permit capacity. As the work progressed, the BRW maintained compliance with all EPD requirements and treatment capacities per the active NPDES Permit.

The work consisted of the repair or replacement of equipment and systems within the existing facility. A brief description of the major work components is as follows:

• Headworks:
  • Comminutor – Assessed for proper maintenance and capacity; provided an action plan for the maintenance, repair or replacement.
  • Grit Removal Facilities – Assessed and repaired/reconfigured as necessary.
• Sludge Pumping:
  • Assessed sludge removal process, pumps, wall structures and repaired or replaced as necessary.
• Rotor Aerators:
  • Assessed aerator configuration, motors, foundations, enclosures and orbal discs.
  • Considered options of replacing the existing fixed rotor aerators with floating brushes and implemented best practices to rebuild, reconfigure and ultimately replace the rotor aerators.
• Clarifiers & Digesters:
  • Assessed the clarifier sweep mounts and repaired or replaced as necessary.
  • Assessed digester diffusers and equipment for repair or replacement as required.

This project required the coordination of multiple consulting professionals during the assessment phase as well as BRW manpower to complete the required repairs, replacements and enhancements. With a contract amount of $598,000, the project was completed on time and within the City’s budget bringing the plant back into peak operational efficiency.

In 2019, the Town’s Stormwater Utility initiated a series of structural and electrical assessments to identify potential improvements and upgrades necessary to continue proper operations. Due to the age of the station, it was determined that the entire electrical system would require complete replacement along with various structures within the facility as the did not comply with current flood zone requirements.

The major improvements included the following:

• Demolition and removal of the existing 1200 SF pump control building to include all electrical equipment and connections to the intake chamber at the channel.
• Removal and replacements of pump disconnects, grating and handrails at the structure.
• Construction of a new 500 SF pump control building located within the same footprint area of the demolished building. This structure houses a permanent generator system along with transfer gear and pump controllers for three (3) existing pumps. The building was constructed of 12″ reinforced concrete flood proof walls complete with hurricane door barricades during flooding events.

A project budget of $1.6M was required along with structural and electrical design professionals to complete this project. Currently in operation, the Lawton Canal pump station is back within code requirements and ready to protect the citizens of Hilton Head during the area’s next storm event.

Originally designed and constructed in 1999, the Jarvis Creek Pump Station is able to operate three (3) submersible stormwater pumps. Due to electrical operational defieciencies and a majority of the system’s components are at the end of thier expected operational lifespan, an overhaul and upgrade of the existing electrical system was required.

This project included modifications to the electrical system as described below:

• Removal and disposal of the existing electrical system.
• Installation of a new electrical system complete with a system control panel, Mission cellular RTU, instrumentation, RVSS starters, conduit, feeders, control cables, switch boards, transfer switch paralleling gear, disconnects and junction boxes.
• Modifications to the existing concrete as necessary for the upgraded electrical system.
• A complete coordination study to ensure all systems are operating at expected performance and reliability standards.

BRW contracted direct with an electrical engineer and contractor as well as provided self-performance on ancillary concrete and repair work. The total contract amount was $1.5M and complete on time and within the Town’s budget.