Firm chosen for $40 million water filtration upgrade

Aug 10, 2022 | 4:00 PM

A consulting firm is looking forward to getting to work on what it calls a historic water project in Greater Vernon.

AECOM, based out of Dallas, Texas, has announced it has been awarded a contract by the Regional District North Okanagan (RDNO) to provide engineering services for the construction of a new filtration facility at the Mission Hill Water Treatment Plant (MHWTP).

(File photo/Vernon Matters)

AECOM will provide detailed design and recommended site upgrades for the addition of filtration at the existing treatment facility to help improve water quality, increase access to clean drinking water, and bolster the year-round resiliency of the plant which is located on Reservoir Road in Vernon.

“We are immensely honoured to continue our longstanding relationship with the RDNO, having worked on many projects for over twenty years as they have continued to plan, design, and construct a complex regional water supply system capable of meeting the growing demands of the community,” said Marc Devlin, chief executive of AECOM’s Canada region. “As the RDNO embarks on one of the largest infrastructure projects they have ever undertaken, we are thrilled to provide an experienced team with strong engineering treatment resources, extensive technical knowledge, and the ability to tailor innovative solutions to help deliver this historic project.”

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Kalamalka Lake, the water source treated by the plant, has been susceptible to water quality issues caused by turbidity events and seasonal algae, which are expected to increase with climate change.

The project includes a new water filtration system, a new building for labs and control rooms, and upgrades to waste stream handling, related piping and equipment, and control systems, which will lead to enhanced operations, reduced water quality risks, and improved redundancy in the system.

The filtration project is estimated to cost about $40 million.The B.C. and Canadian governments are providing $30 million of the funding, with RDNO supplying $10.9 million.

by Pete McIntyre

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