Successful implementation of “defined-concept” design-build approach
By Vincent Nazareth, Valera Saknenko, Laura McDowell, Martin Tourangeau and James W. Lunn
Aerial view of the new Sutton Water Pollution Control Plant, showing
SBR tanks, effluent equalization tank and process building.
The new Sutton Water Pollution
Control Plant (WPCP), a fully
automated tertiary treatment
plant with a rated plant capacity
of 3,412 m3/day, is located in the
community of Sutton, the Town of
Georgina in the Regional Municipality
of York, Ontario, servicing Sutton and
Jackson’s Point. The old Sutton WPCP
consisted of an aeration basin, a final
clarifier and an effluent polishing
lagoon providing capacity for approximately
4,500 people. The final effluent
was discharged to the Black River.
Construction of the new wastewater
treatment plant had been contemplated
by York Region since the early 1990s.
In 1997, a Secondary Plan for the
Community of Sutton was approved by
York Region for an ultimate design
population of 16,500 by the year 2016,
representing an increase of 12,000 people.
The Environmental Assessment
process, completed in 2001, included a
phased expansion approach. A preferred
option would involve a Phase 1
expansion for a serviced population of
7,500 people (average daily flow of
3,412 m3/day), and Phase 2 – for
16,500 people (average daily flow of
7,510 m3/day).
New effluent criteria were developed
through the Ministry of
Environment and summarized in the
table:
In order to shorten the project time
line, York Region, in association with
local private developers, decided to
proceed with the project on a designbuild
basis. The region retained R. V.
Anderson Associates Limited (RVA) to
prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP),
to assist the Region with the selection
of a design-build contractor.
A “Defined-Concept” design-build
approach has been selected for this
project. The RFP contained information
about capacities and performance
requirements, equipment specifications,
redundancy provisions and
process narrative, which allowed York
Region to establish minimum design
requirements, but left the selection of
the specific equipment and conceptualization
of the design to the proponents.
This RFP also included a oneyear
operation period.
Quality of the final product is one
of the principal concerns with any
project delivery method. However,
with a design-build project, obtaining
quality needs more attention through
the various stages of the project. It
must begin early in the selection
process and it should start with the
identification of bidders who are best
qualified to do the work. The Sutton
WPCP selection process took the following
steps: Pre-Qualification,
Request for Proposal, Evaluation,
Interviews (as part of evaluation),
Negotiation and Award.
Evaluation of the submissions was
carried out by four separate individuals
(two from the Region and two from the
consulting team). Technical proposals
were independently scored and subsequently
price proposals were opened,
scored and the combined scores calculated.
Azurix North America (now
AWS Engineers and Planners Corp.)
was the successful proponent.
Construction of the new facility
commenced in spring 2002 and was
completed in September 2003. After a
one-year operating period by AWS, the
new Sutton WPCP was handed over to
York Region on October 1, 2004. It
was designed for a ‘Phase 1’ average
daily flow of 3,412 m3/day and a peak
capacity of 12,212 m3/day. The major
process components of the Sutton
WPCP include the following:
Headworks with one automatic self-cleaning
fine screen with a screenings
washer/compactor, a manual screen
and two vortex type grit removal tanks
with a grit classifier;
Septage receiving;
Sequencing batch reactors, which
utilize so-called Intermittent Cycle
Extended Aeration System (ICEAS)
process that provides both nitrification
and de-nitrification;
Tertiary filtration, consisting of six continuously backwashed sand filter
modules;
UV disinfection;
Sludge handling, chemical addition,
odour control, existing storage lagoon
and outfall to the Black River. All
sludge generated at the Sutton WPCP is
hauled off site for disposal at the Duffin
Creek WPCP for further processing.
Close-up of one SBR tank at the Sutton WPCP.
All processes at the Sutton WPCP
are controlled by a computerized
Supervisory Control and Data
Acquisition System (SCADA).
During the 12-month operation
period, AWS Engineers & Planners
staff were in full control of the treatment plant. Operational parameters of
the various treatment processes were
optimized, and training provided to
York Region’s operations staff, including
a period of shadowing for about
four weeks.
This “Defined-Concept” Design-
Build approach with a one-year operating
contract has proven to be a costeffective
alternative project delivery
method if properly managed and
administered. The one-year operating
period also allows for increased integration
between the owner’s operation
staff and the contractor, allowing a
smoother transition at handover.
Building in specific owner requirements
and defining quality in the RFP
are key to a successful design-build
project.
Vincent Nazareth and Valera Saknenko
are with R.V. Anderson Associates
Limited,
Laura McDowell is with The
Regional Municipality of York, and
Martin Tourangeau and James W. Lunn
are with AWS Engineers & Planners
Corp.
Contact e-mail: vsaknenko@rvanderson.com.
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