In 2023, Water Treatment Engineers NZ Limited were involved in the Muriwai Water Treatment Plant Reinstatement Project. Watercare Services Limited reinstated the water treatment plant after significant damage during the floods.
The project went smoothly with project management by Thomas Lyne from RCP, site supervision by Cassidy Construction, mechanical works by H2O Engineering Ltd, electrical works by Northern Electrical Services Ltd and software by Horizon Technology Ltd.
Water Treatment Engineers NZ’s Benjamin Demmer-Knight acted as Commissioning Lead through the Pre, Cold and Hot Commissioning Phases with great support from Commissioning Engineer Guillem Gonzalez Ortiz and Operations Point of Contact Myrick Herrera.
Project Background
The Muriwai Water Treatment Plant sustained substantial damage due to landslips triggered by a severe rain event, causing it to become non-operational. Reinstatement of the plant was time critical and required extensive work to fully recommission the entire treatment plant after repairs were made.
Project Objectives
The primary objectives of the project were to:
- Reinstate the treatment plant without compromising water quality.
- Incorporate existing projects such as replacing the PLC and upgrading the chemical dose pumps.
- Maintain strict Health and Safety Controls throughout the works given an ongoing land slip risk.
- Deliver the project rapidly to minimize ongoing costs associated with a temporary supply.
Role of Water Treatment Engineers NZ
Ben, a key member of Water Treatment Engineers NZ, played a critical role in the project as Commissioning Lead, working alongside the internal Watercare Commissioning Team. His responsibilities included:
- Supervising and Co-ordinating Pre and Cold Commissioning with contractors.
- Leading the Hot Commissioning phase.
- Collaborating with the Watercare Commissioning Team to develop and execute a detailed site acceptance testing plan for the pump station.
- Identifying and assessing potential risks associated with the commissioning and developing appropriate mitigation measures.
- Ensuring seamless integration of the water treatment plant back into the network without generating a water quality risk.
- Collaborating with different stakeholder groups within Watercare to ensure a seamless transition back to service.
Project Outcomes and Successes
Thanks to the close collaboration between the contractors, project team, operations and commissioning team the new plant was commissioned on schedule. The level of documentation and robustness of the software was also improved above what was available prior to the rain event. Key project outcomes included:
- Timely completion of the project.
- No health and safety issues on-site.
- Improvement of documentation and software resilience.
- Various improvements were made to the site without causing delays to the reinstatement.
Conclusion
The Muriwai Water Treatment Plant Reinstatement project showcases Water Treatment Engineers’ ability to collaborate effectively with clients and stakeholders to deliver high-quality outcomes. By working closely with contractors and operations throughout the project, the commissioning and handover process was seamless.
