Yellowknife Water Treatment Plant

The Yellowknife water supply system utilizes water from 2 sources. The primary source is from a 7km pipeline from the Yellowknife River. The secondary source is from Yellowknife Bay via a wet well.

The Yellowknife Water Treatment Plant Project consisted of a new water treatment plant constructed adjacent to and on top of the existing treated water storage reservoir.

Also included in the scope of work was the retrofit of the existing Pumphouse #1. The pumphouse infrastructure consisted of 2 diesel engine driven fire pumps and a hot water boiler system to heat the water supply system during winter months.

Yellowknife’s unique water supply system also incorporates a return line back to the pumphouse to ensure constant circulation for freeze protection.

Pumphouse facilities also included chlorination and fluoridation equipment. All these systems, along with the existing treated water storage reservoirs, were in continuous operation throughout construction.

A 20 MLD PALL membrane system was the main process feature of the new water treatment plant. The new plant included all new fire protection, water tempering, circulation and treatment systems that had been removed from the existing pumphouse facility.

The water sources remained the same, however upgraded bay water pumps and river water booster pumps along with electrical controls were installed in the pumphouse. Residual handling systems were also part of the new plant process to handle the wastewater coming from the membrane filters. The project also included generators and emergency power systems, life safety systems and building services.

A staged approach to retrofit specific systems then complete start up and system commissioning was required to bring the plant fully on line while maintaining constant water supply to the city.