Ashburton Filtration Plant, Baltimore, Maryland

Mechanical, Electrical, Piping & HVAC Systems Renovation Services

The Industrial Facility Project

The Ashburton Filtration Plant is located at 3001 Druid Park Drive in Baltimore City. This plant was placed into service in 1956 and has a capacity of 165 MGD. The plant includes four flocculators, four sedimentation basins and 20 rapid sand filters. Raw water supply for this plant is obtained from Liberty Reservoir located on the North Branch of the Patapsco River in central Maryland.

The distribution system (referred to as the Central System) delivers treated water to Baltimore area consumers throughout the metropolitan area. The Central System service area is approximately 560 square miles and provides potable water to about 1.8 million people.

The system distributes water through a network of water mains ranging in size from three inches to twelve feet in diameter. Most of these mains are constructed of cast iron, but some of the larger mains are steel or reinforced concrete. Currently, more than 4,500 miles of mains are in service in the distribution system. These mains connect a series of pumping stations, reservoirs, and elevated storage tanks, which supply water to Baltimore City and parts of Baltimore County, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties. Within the network of mains, five major pressure zones are maintained to provide adequate water pressure and supply to the consumers.

Under the present operating system, the Montebello Filtration plants supply water to the First Zone by gravity, and the Second and Third Zones by pumping. The Ashburton Filtration Plant supplies water to the Second Zone by gravity, and to the Third, Fourth and Fifth Zones by pumping. Additionally the CitectSCADA upgrade provides the local community of 8 million customers with future cost analysis in order to provide energy savings for the community.

PK furnished and installed the mechanical system components necessary to integrate the CitectSCADA high performance system allowing full industrial monitoring and control applications. This control and interface expansion will remotely monitor the drinking water chemical process of 8 million customers and collect real time data of distant water reservoir and lake levels in order to ensure round the clock reliability and compliance with regulatory authorities. Furthermore, the system is fully upgradable to monitor and implement future energy savings by comparing historical data to show trending of various systems.

Poole & Kent Mechanical Contractor Role

The Poole and Kent Corporation serves dually in the role of General Contractor and Mechanical Contractor for the $52 million rehabilitation of the Ashburton Filtration Plant in Baltimore City. The plant supplies the entire City of Baltimore and vicinities with potable water supply. We understand this project is paramount in our City's quest to sustain the highest quality of water and supply operation. It is our mission to provide an outstanding service to the City of Baltimore and its’ people. The work to be done under this contract shall consist of the following:

• Rehabilitation of the existing filter which includes, but is not limited to the rehabilitation of the concrete filter cells, troughs, floor slabs and walkways, replacing filter underdrains, surface washers, and filter media, and providing new blowers and associated piping.
• Replacement of filter control tables and instrumentation, wash water piping and valves.
• Replacement, rehabilitation or construction of chemical feed systems for potassium permanganate, alum, polymer, fluoride, dechlorination and lime. Rehabilitation and/or replacement of sluice gates, stop plates, and mud valves.
• Upgrade of the water system.
• Rehabilitation of the front and rear lobbies and second floor office space to conform to the International Building Code, and American Disabilities Act.
• Demolition of residence and construction of a new Grounds Maintenance Building.
• Renovation and/or replacement of HVAC systems throughout the facility.
• Upgrade of the electrical service, instrumentation, and controls throughout the plant.
• Installation of new fencing around the perimeter of the plant facility.
• Improvements to the paving, storm drain and site utilities

Challenges/ Achievements/ Goals

The complete rehabilitation of the Ashburton Filtration Plant will be completed in the summer of 2010. Poole and Kent's project team ensures the day-to-day operations of construction are expedited in accordance within the parameters of the contract, and that all work is performed in a safe and efficient manner.