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Project Updates
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NEWS Keep informed about the latest project news, construction
updates, and community event information by checking back regularly
for updates to this page. PWP Pipeline Complete, Pumps Energized Two more project milestones were completed this summer for the Aurora Water Prairie Waters Project as the system now prepares for final completion and startup tests through the remainder of the year. In early June, the three pumping station facilities passed a rigorous performance test where water was run at various pumping speeds and operating conditions to test each facility's components. Meanwhile, the end of June marked the formal completion of the last segment of pipeline for the project as all inspections and testing has successfully concluded. These activities mark the completion of the conveyance system to deliver water to the city. Three segments of pipeline totaling 34 miles and three pumping stations are now ready for operation. With work on the conveyance system coming to a close, startup activities will begin to shift to the Peter D. Binney Water Purification Facility, under construction near the Aurora Reservoir. Through the summer and fall, contractors will finalize construction and operators will perform a variety of tests and system checks as they begin to commission the facility. Landscaping at the three pumping station facilities and final paving at the new Peter D. Binney Water Purification facility (PBWPF) are among some of the recent activities as contractors push for final completion. Through July, the pumping stations are approximately 97 percent complete, and the PBWPF is approximately 98 percent complete. Water for testing is periodically moving through the well field at the North Campus and being delivered through the recently completed 34-mile pipeline to Binney. Overall, the Prairie Waters Project is about 94 percent complete. |
PWP Opens Control Building
April 12th was move in day for Aurora Water as workers began transitioning into the new Control Building at the Peter D. Binney Water Purification Facility. Work on the new facility is about 95 percent complete, but construction on the Control Building was accelerated, allowing operators of Aurora's new water system to move in early and begin preparing to bring the water system online by 2011. The facility is part of the Prairie Waters Project, the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly and immediate way to meet the city's water needs. Aurora personnel held a brief, informal ribbon-cutting ceremony then began moving into their new offices and operating the state-of-the art control room inside the building. The building will be used extensively during startup testing of the Binney facility, and will be instrumental in the startup testing of the rest of the Prairie Waters Project planned through the summer and fall of 2010.
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PWP Pushing Water
The end of March marked another milestone for the Prairie Waters Project as water began flowing from the North Campus and into the Peter D. Binney Water Purification Facility (PBWPF) for the first time. The activity was part of the planned testing for the three pump stations along the 34 mile pipeline. The facilities serve to push water through the pipeline to the new purification facility. To test the recently installed pumps, workers operated the motors for brief periods at each facility, pushing water through the pipeline and on to the PBWPF. The past month, operators at the North Campus have been coordinating with other components of the project to slowly fill the pipeline and supply sufficient water through the Riverbank Filtration area to support the testing. The testing is a precursor to larger system tests that will be occurring periodically throughout the year. Overall, the Prairie Waters Project is more than 92 percent complete and on schedule to deliver 10,000 acre feet of water to Aurora by the end of 2010.
Aurora Water sets last piece of pipe for Prairie Waters Project
Workers placed the last piece of Aurora's Prairie Water Project supply pipe on Thursday, February 11, 2010, nearly 2 years after pipeline construction began. The Prairie Waters Project will help drought-harden the city beginning in 2011.
Workers lowered the final piece of 60 inch concrete-lined steel pipe with a crane into a 10-foot deep trench near the Aurora Reservoir and welded it into place. In total, workers installed 34 miles of 60-inch pipe from Weld County to the Aurora Reservoir.
"This moment is more than the end of major activities for the conveyance pipeline," said Darrell Hogan, Prairie Waters Project Program Director. "This marks a beginning for our final push to conclude construction activities by the end of the year. The project is on schedule and projected to be under budget."
The project broke ground in July of 2007 as work began on the Peter D. Binney Water Purification Facility, located north of the Aurora Reservoir. Pipeline activities began in March of 2008 to connect the North Campus, a natural purification area located along the South Platte River north of Brighton, to the new water purification facility. The completed pipeline will initially allow for 10,000 acre-feet of water to be delivered to Aurora.
Overall, the Prairie Waters Project is 88 percent complete. By May, work is scheduled to conclude on the projects three pumping stations. Workers will then begin testing the conveyance system and delivering water to the new treatment facility.
The Prairie Waters Project is the fastest, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable way to enhance Aurora's water supply. During 2003, the city had less than a 9 month supply of water due to a prolonged drought. To protect Aurora from future drought impacts, the Prairie Waters Project was developed to utilize existing return flows from its transbasin diversions and transferred agriculture rights.
Purification Facility Progress Shining Bright
A new light is shining on the outstanding progress at the Prairie Waters Project Peter D. Binney Water Purification Facility and its powered by UV.
January marked the end of installation of high intensity ultraviolet lamps and associated components into the nearly 4,000 pound ultraviolet generators for the facility’s advanced ultraviolet oxidation system. The system is a key component of the multiple-step water purification process for Aurora Water’s project to help drought harden the water system through bringing the city’s existing South Platte River water resources online by late 2010.
Crews spent the past two months installing each of the approximately 4-foot-long UV lamps, specially designed quartz sleeves, and electrical components into the UV generators. In total, 6,912 lamps and associated components were installed at the UV building. Now that the generators are equipped, workers will continue with tying the UV system into the rest the water purification facility and begin testing equipment.
Once operational, high intensity ultraviolet rays will destroy unwanted contaminants, including trace amounts of chemical, viruses and other compounds.
Ultraviolet Equipment Delivered to PBWPF
Workers at the Peter D. Binney Water Purification Facility (PBWPF) received a special delivery in January of 2009 as a convoy of semis began arriving at the site with ultraviolet generators and associated equipment for the new treatment plant.
