WCW26

Dynamic Single-Stage Reverse Osmosis (DSSRO) technology offers a transformative approach to the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water treatment. PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals that present significant public health risks due to their resistance to conventional treatment methods and their tendency to accumulate in the environment. As regulatory standards for PFAS in drinking water become increasingly stringent, utilities require advanced, reliable, and sustainable solutions.
Traditional reverse osmosis (RO) systems, while effective at removing a broad spectrum of contaminants, are often constrained by membrane fouling, high energy consumption, and the generation of large volumes of concentrated waste streams. DSSRO addresses these limitations through an innovative single-stage, semi-batch membrane array and a unique two-pump configuration. This design enables high recovery rates, often exceeding 85%, while minimizing the volume of PFAS-laden concentrate. By maintaining high crossflow and regulating flux, DSSRO reduces fouling and scaling, which in turn decreases the frequency and intensity of chemical cleaning required. This not only lowers operational costs but also extends membrane life and reduces environmental impact.
Pilot studies at multiple drinking water facilities have demonstrated DSSRO’s technical feasibility and sustainability, consistently achieving permeate PFAS levels below detection limits. The system’s high recovery rates significantly reduce concentrate output and source water demands, making it particularly attractive for utilities operating under water scarcity or strict discharge regulations. By minimizing the volume of PFAS-laden concentrate that requires disposal, DSSRO helps utilities address one of the most challenging and costly aspects of PFAS treatment, safe and responsible concentrate management. DSSRO’s adaptability allows it to be integrated into existing treatment trains, complementing other processes such as enhanced coagulation, oxidation, and ultrafiltration.
Operational data from these pilots highlight the system’s robust performance under varying water qualities and operational conditions. Automated controls, real-time monitoring, and remote data logging further enhance reliability and facilitate rapid response to changing influent characteristics. These features support utilities in meeting evolving regulatory requirements and public health goals.
This presentation will explore the technical and operational advantages of DSSRO, share pilot results, and discuss practical considerations for implementation. By advancing the application of DSSRO technology, this work aims to inspire new standards for PFAS removal and support the delivery of safe, sustainable drinking water for communities.

This presentation explores best practices for maintaining Industrial Control Systems (ICS) in the water and wastewater sector. We will examine lifecycle considerations for PLCs, SCADA platforms, wireless communication options, and supporting components, providing practical recommendations for sustaining these critical assets. Key topics include strategies for backups, firmware management, system health checks, and determining appropriate spare hardware levels to ensure reliability. Emphasis will be placed on cybersecurity and how proactive maintenance strengthens facility security. To ground these concepts, we will review a real-world ICS maintenance plan for a the new Town of Esterhazy Regional Water Treatment Plant, highlighting architecture and upgrade planning. Modern trends such as remote access, cloud integration, and AI driven tools will also be discussed, equipping attendees with actionable insights to improve resilience and performance in their own operations.

Prince Albert’s Raw Water Pump House is situated on the south bank of the North Saskatchewan River and draws river water through an existing open‑orifice intake structure to supply the City’s water treatment, storage, and distribution systems. Designed in 2019 and substantially completed in 2022, the facility required the design of multiple process systems beyond conventional raw water pumping to support reliable year‑round operation. 


Because the intake lacks end‑of‑pipe screening, multiple resident fish species are drawn into the facility. To comply with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish‑protection requirements, the design team evaluated and integrated systems capable of low‑shear handling, separation, and safe return of live fish to the river. These evaluations included assessment of hydraulic conveyance velocities, physical barriers, behavioral barriers, bypass routing, fish‑handling equipment, and operational controls to avoid impingement and entrainment hazards.


The River also transports significant quantities of organic debris (branches, leaves, vegetation) along with suspended solids including sand, silt, and fine sediments. The facility therefore required both primary sedimentation capacity and an automated solids‑handling process that minimized operator intervention while providing an environmentally compliant means of solids removal and disposal. 


A major seasonal risk factor is frazil ice formation. During early winter, supercooled flow conditions in the North Saskatchewan River leads to the generation of frazil ice crystals, which can accumulate within the intake pipeline and form bridging blockages that restrict or entirely obstruct raw water flow. The design incorporated a frazil‑ice mitigation and management system capable of maintaining hydraulic capacity during high‑risk periods.


In 2023, the Raw Water Pump House was recognized by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Saskatchewan for its innovative integration of fish‑protection systems and its robust design approach to managing frazil ice, high sediment loads, organic debris, and river flooding events.

Description:
 
This presentation compares ultrafiltration/reverse osmosis (UF/RO) and hollow fiber nanofiltration (HFN) systems through a detailed case study using real-world performance data. Key factors such as recovery, water stability, chemical use, footprint, and capital and O&M costs are evaluated against modeled projections. Results highlight each technology’s strengths and limitations in meeting Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines while identifying potential savings in energy, chemical demand, and overall system costs. Attendees will gain practical insights into technology selection, process optimization, and design considerations for future water treatment applications.


Abstract:


Membrane treatment systems play a critical role in ensuring reliable, high-quality drinking water for communities. Selecting the appropriate technology requires careful evaluation of system performance, capital and O&M costs, and operational considerations. With both ultrafiltration/reverse osmosis (UF/RO) and hollow fiber nanofiltration (HFN) technologies available, understanding how each performs under comparable conditions is essential to optimizing plant design and operational performance. 


A detailed case study is provided comparing a full-scale UF/RO system with a hollow fiber nanofiltration installation treating similar water sources. The comparison evaluates key parameters including recovery rates, treated water stability, chemical consumption, operations and maintenance (O&M) costs, capital costs, and system footprint. 
Real performance data is analyzed and compared to modeled projections to evaluate how theoretical expectations align with field results. Findings illustrate the strengths and limitations of each approach in achieving treated water that meets Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines. The results demonstrate a potential of savings in energy and water efficiencies, chemical demand, plant footprint and capital and O&M costs between the two systems. 
This analysis provides operators and engineers with practical insights into technology selection, process optimization, and total cost-of-ownership considerations for future water treatment projects. Insights are provided through comparison of real-world applications of UF/RO and hollow fiber nanofiltration systems, identifying capital and operational considerations and applying field data and modeling to improve future systems design and technology selection. 

The historical water treatment plant (WTP) at the Town of Moosomin produced finished water that was generally in compliance with Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) parameters such as arsenic, iron, and manganese. However, the plant had no process to improve the aesthetics of the finished water which were elevated TDS and hardness. The existing graver style filters had also far exceeded their design life and required increasing operator attention to maintain compliant effluent qualities.
To achieve improvement to water aesthetics, KGS Group proposed the implementation of biological filtration followed by membrane filtration technology. The biological filtration system termed Mangazur offered by Veolia was piloted with very favorable results reducing manganese from 1.2 mg/L to less than 0.05 mg/L and filtration rates as high as 19.5 m/hr (8 gpm/ft²). Given the mature state of membrane technology, the membranes were not piloted.
Based on the success of the pilot, the decision was made to utilize Mangazur for full-scale implementation. Two 2.14 m diameter filter vessels were selected each with filtration areas of 3.57 m² for a total of 7.14 m². At a rate of 19.5 m/hr, the two filters could each produce treatment rates up to 70 m³/hr for a total pre-treatment rate of 140 m³/hr.
The membrane filtration system that followed the Mangazur consisted of two primary Reverse Osmosis (RO) skids that operated at 75% recovery and a third brine skid that treated the reject water from the two primary units operating at 50% recovery. The purpose of the brine skid was to increase overall recovery which was estimated at 88% for the complete membrane system. This 13% reduction in rejected wastewater took significant pressure off the existing sanitary infrastructure.
The primary skids were each sized to produce 39 m³/hr for a total of 78 m³/hr. The brine skid was sized to produce 13 m³/hr and the overall total membrane production was 90 m³/hr; total feed rate with both primary skids running was 103 m³/hr.
To produce a stable finished water, the design blended 25% of the Mangazur effluent with the membrane permeate. With both membrane skids running the blend rate was 22 m³/hr.
Although the raw water supply wells had been MPA tested confirming groundwater, the proximity to the lake presented the possibility that the supply wells could be declared GUDI in the future. Given this possibility additional measures were taken during the design to help accommodate a potential well designation change. This included the installation of UV disinfection and a cartridge filter rated for 3-log Crypto/Giardia on the blend line. Virus inactivation will still be provided through chlorination with CT provided by the treated water reservoir.
The historical WTP utilized chlorine gas for primary and secondary disinfection. Given the proposed treatment changes significantly reduce the total chlorine demand, the upgraded design moved to use sodium hypochlorite. The chlorine gas feed and associated equipment were abandoned.
The full scale WTP was commissioned in late 2025 and is currently producing high quality finished water for the community.

The Saskatoon Waterworks Program is a group of Saskatoon Water capital projects including several upgrades at the existing Avenue H Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and the addition of a second Water Treatment Plant.  The challenge for the Waterworks Program is taking the conceptual level master planning work, existing capital plans, and the decision to build a second WTP, to develop an actionable 500 million dollar capital program that is expected to span over a decade. Starting in 2023 the team worked through their Program Definition phase; a more detailed set of plans to determine and document the program’s governance, scope, funding, sequencing, delivery model, and overall philosophy.    
One of the pillars of the Program was the use of decision science methods to make decisions in a systematic way.  Several different methods were used in order for the tool to fit the decision and not the other way around.  Decision Quality (DQ) is a framework which ties together not just decision tools but also an overall philosophy of what makes a good decision and how to integrate uncertainty and risk into making long term decisions.  DQ was developed out of Ron Howard’s research at Stanford University and has been the benchmark for making good decisions since the 1960s.   Companies such as Eli Lilly and Exxon Mobil have integrated DQ into their standard business practices.   Saskatoon Water has utilized DQ for several years including for the decision to build a second WTP.  Tools such as Choosing by Advantages, monetary equivalents, multi-criteria analysis, and decision tree analysis were used to examine project delivery methodology, process improvements, technology selection, site planning, and forecasting scenarios.  Each of these decisions were unique and required the correct tool for the situation.  
An important early component of the Program Definition phase was the identification of key decisions that needed to be made and the order in which they needed to be made.  After finalizing major decisions, the Program Definition Phase progressed to producing Design Intent Documents; a combination of design philosophy, conceptual level design, and project requirement documents for the future projects.  These documents gave a technical foundation for moving to the execution phase of the Program.  Collaborative delivery was identified as being important to Saskatoon Water to get the best project outcomes possible from the Waterworks Program.   Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) was chosen as the delivery model because it was found to fit best with the expectations of the City of Saskatoon.  The Program has progressed to the design phase for the first set of projects with construction anticipated to begin in 2027.
The presentation will explore the journey of the Waterworks Program from choosing a direction to creating a coherent vision of what the Program hopes to accomplish over a ten year period.  There will be a focus specifically on lessons learned related to applying decision science, governance items, and organizational change management as it relates to selecting and implementing a new project delivery framework.

The Stoney Nakoda Nations is undergoing population and development growth associated with expanded resort operations, increased staff-accommodation demand, and new residential areas. This growth has created additional loading on the existing water and wastewater treatment systems, necessitating upgrades to increase treatment capacity and improve system resilience. This abstract summarizes the engineering assessment, design approach, Indigenous partnership, and construction methods used to advance the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), with particular emphasis on cold-weather construction challenges, mitigation strategies, and adaptive planning required to meet revised design horizons under extreme winter conditions.
A detailed evaluation by MPE, a division of Englobe, confirmed that both facilities were operating at or near their original design capacities. This finding initiated a multidisciplinary upgrade program. Initial tender pricing exceeded the pre-tender estimate by approximately 70%; however, a structured value-engineering process, combined with design optimization and early contractor involvement by Everest Construction Ltd., enabled the project team to align scope and budget without reducing required performance criteria.
Construction commenced in late fall 2025 and was executed under challenging winter conditions that required specialized mitigation measures. Glycol heating lines and insulated tarps were installed and continuously maintained to thaw frozen ground and enable earthworks and concrete placement. Despite these controls, moisture intrusion beneath tarps and thaw systems occurred, resulting in excessive moisture content within fill materials and subsequent failure to meet compaction requirements in affected areas. Unsuitable material was therefore removed and replaced to achieve design specifications. Additional challenges included temporary delays caused by a thaw unit tripping offline and intermittent suspension of construction activities during periods of extreme weather. High wind events posed safety risks and resulted in a tree falling within the active construction zone, requiring immediate site control measures. Collectively, these conditions highlighted the importance of robust cold-weather construction planning, real-time field adaptability, and proactive risk management to maintain quality, safety, and project continuity. The project demonstrates how treatment-facility upgrades can be implemented under winter constraints while maintaining quality control and operational continuity.
Operational continuity was a key driver throughout design and construction, as both facilities were required to remain online during the majority of the upgrade works. Temporary bypass systems, phased commissioning, and enhanced monitoring were incorporated to minimize service disruptions and protect treated water and effluent quality during construction activities. These measures reduced risk to the community while allowing upgrades to be implemented efficiently.
Beyond its technical achievements, the project provides meaningful socioeconomic benefits to the Stoney Nakoda Nations. Construction activities prioritized employment of local Nation members and engagement of Indigenous businesses, contributing to skills development, economic participation, and community self-reliance. The upgraded infrastructure directly supports future residential and economic development while safeguarding public health and environmental stewardship in a challenging mountainous setting. Collectively, the project illustrates how value engineering, winter-condition construction, and Indigenous partnership can converge to deliver resilient and sustainable water infrastructure.
 

This paper will present the vision of the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation in providing sustainable, high quality potable water, and the steps taken for the renewal of the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant. Owners seeking cost certainty, schedule acceleration, and risk mitigation are looking at alternative delivery methods for critical infrastructure.  The Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation explored various alternative delivery methods and found that for the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant Renewal Project, progressive design build was the method of choice in delivering their vision.  The Renewal Project was one of the first to utilize progressive design build in the water sector. The Corporation will share their experiences and lessons learned so that others water utilities may benefit should they elect to proceed with alternative delivery methods. 


The paper will walk through:


1. the various procurement models that were evaluated and the one that was selected (progressive design build), 
2. the complexity of brownfield construction within an active water treatment plant,
3. the collaborative approach during the engineering phase, and,
4. the challenges encountered by the Corporation during the construction phase.

Safe drinking water is essential for the protection of public health and disease prevention and therefore is necessary for the health and well-being of Saskatchewan’s citizens. Drinking water management in Saskatchewan is legislated under The Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010, The Waterworks and Sewage Works Regulations, The Public Health Act, 1994 and The Health Hazard Regulations. Water Security Agency (WSA) in Saskatchewan has the legislative authority to regulate water and wastewater treatment systems and enforce standards with respect to drinking water and wastewater quality in the province. WSA regulates municipal waterworks, private waterworks with greater than 18 m³ per day design flow, water pipelines connected to municipal waterworks, and water pipelines with 15 or more service connections. In addition, water sampling requirements for limited-scope water pipelines, as defined in The Health Hazard Regulations, are regulated by WSA. Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) regulates non-municipal public water systems and private semi-public water systems. Private non-public water systems used for domestic purposes (e.g., private household systems) are not regulated. This paper outlines the regulatory framework, water management activities including developing drinking water quality standards, source water protection measures, treatment, public perception and trust, monitoring and compliance undertaken by the WSA to implement the Safe Drinking Water Strategy in the province

Delivering safe and reliable drinking water infrastructure to remote communities often requires innovative approaches that balance schedule, budget, technical complexity, and community priorities. In August 2025, Flowpoint Systems and Associated Engineering partnered with Sunchild First Nation in Alberta to deliver a fully integrated, turnkey modular water treatment system that was successfully commissioned in February 2026. This presentation, co-authored by Shane Beston (Sunchild First Nation), Hashanth Sasitharan (Associated Engineering, Calgary), and Jay Morrison (Flowpoint Systems), examines how a holistic team model between owner, consultant, and manufacturer enabled the successful execution of this fast-tracked project.
 
The session will explore the advantages and challenges of deploying a modular water treatment solution under an expedited timeline from multiple perspectives — including the owner’s experience navigating funding, risk allocation, governance, long-term operations, and community expectations. A key focus will be on the critical design considerations that enabled swift fabrication and installation, including strategic equipment selection, thoughtful site layout and area selection, and optimized equipment configuration tailored to modular construction constraints. The presentation will demonstrate how early alignment on these technical elements minimized rework, streamlined fabrication, and supported schedule certainty within a six-month delivery window.
 
In addition, the team will discuss the chosen contract structure and project delivery methodology, including why this approach was selected and how it supported collaboration, clarity of responsibility, and accelerated execution. The session will highlight how procurement strategy, clearly defined interfaces, and shared accountability between owner, consultant, and manufacturer contributed directly to project success.
 
The presentation will further address the broader benefits and limitations of modular systems, including reduced on-site construction requirements, improved quality control through off-site fabrication, footprint constraints, staging logistics, integration with existing infrastructure, lifecycle planning, and flexibility for future expansion.
 
By engaging the owner, consultant, and manufacturer from concept through commissioning, the team was able to streamline decision-making, align expectations, and resolve design-build interfaces quickly. The inclusion of the owner’s voice provides valuable insight into stakeholder engagement, operational readiness, and how early collaboration reduced project risk while strengthening long-term confidence in the system.
 
Attendees will gain practical lessons learned from all three perspectives, strategies for successful owner–consultant–manufacturer collaboration, and guidance on determining when modular construction and alternative delivery methods are the best fit for water treatment applications. This case study provides a replicable model for consulting engineers, manufacturers, and community leaders seeking innovative, efficient approaches to water system delivery across Western and Northern Canada.