In an effort to improve local water quality management, the City of La Verne is working with Civiltec Engineering for the design and construction management of a Chloramination Trim Station at the City’s Wheeler Reservoir site. Civiltec has been working with the City and third party suppliers since 2019 to oversee and manage the construction from planning to completion.
In 2017, Civiltec prepared a Technical Memorandum identifying a need to improve water quality management due to a known nitrification issue present in the upper pressure zones of the City’s water system. While nitrification has no direct impact on public health, the constituent can erode disinfectant over time in water systems, increasing risk for the presence of other contaminants.
La Verne’s City Council and staff took action to prepare a nitrification monitoring and control plan, including the retention of Civiltec for design and construction management of the new Wheeler Reservoir Chloramination Trim Station. The Wheeler Reservoirs, which store six millions gallons of water, are currently equipped with PAX mixers for water quality control. The addition of a new chloramination station to the existing system will enhance disinfectant residual throughout the water system supplied from this location, greatly improving the system’s nitrification control objectives.
The Wheeler Reservoir Chloramination Trim Station, consisting of a new liquid ammonia system, on-site sodium hypochlorite system, sewer connection, power systems, chemical feed lines, water sampling lines, reservoir penetrations, and a fire sprinkler system, will be housed in a prefabricated 540 square-foot building. The building will house the new treatment systems, an office/water quality lab and restroom. The construction project includes the installation of the liquid ammonia system and on-site sodium hypochlorite system provided by D&H Water Systems, along with integration of the new building with the existing site involving landscaping improvements, erosion control and external utility systems.
W. David Byrum, P.E. serves the Principal in Charge and the Construction Manager on the project. The design phase has been completed and construction is approximately 85% completed as of early December 2020. The Station will be operational in January 2021.
