This Project made possible through funding by the Drinking Water State Revolving fund.  

History of The Water Treatment Plant

The Water Treatment Plant (WTP), located within the City's Corporation Yard at 31301 Cedar Street was originally built in 1958. There was a major treatment process upgrade at the plant in 1986 which made the nominal plant capacity 2.2 MGD. The upgrade replaced the old treatment process with two packaged Trident® filter treatment units (FTUs). Since then the treatment process has mostly remained unchanged. The last major improvement project at the plant was constructed in 2004 and modified the raw water storage ponds to construct backwash water storage ponds.
The current treatment process relies on two packaged Trident® FTUs, which were installed in 1986. The FTUs receive pumped raw water from the two unlined raw water storage ponds. The FTUs employ three basic treatment elements: 1) adsorption, 2) clarification, and 3) filtration, all inside the packaged unit. After raw water is treated by the FTUs the filter effluent is disinfected before it is directed to the finish water clear well. The finish water is then pumped up to storage tanks where it is stored prior to city-wide distribution.

Project Description 

Construction of this project will improve efficiencies, including water savings and some labor reduction, within the water plant. 

• Rehabilitate the Filter Treatment Units (FTUs). The existing WesTech filter treatment units and
  clarifiers will be upgraded to current standards.
• Upgrade and modify water plant piping, including flow meters and valves.
• Repair, upgrade, and construct water treatment plant buildings. This includes the addition of a
  new blower room.
• Rehabilitate Tank #2. Move the discharge/effluent piping from the tank interior to the exterior
  and upsize to 16 inches. Similarly, remove the fill pipe from the tank interior to the exterior; in
  addition, add a flow meter to this pipe. Connect the new 16-inch future use stub to the nearby
  20-inch distribution line; add a flow meter to the 16-inch portion of the pipe. Connect the existing
  16-inch pipe stub to the distribution pipe in Cedar Street.
• Demolish the old clarifier.
• The adjoining raw water and backwash ponds will be repaired to eliminate exfiltration and
  leakage. Old backwash sludge and sediment in the ponds will be removed.
• Perform miscellaneous site improvements including paving behind Tank #1.
• The Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) control system will be upgraded.
• Replace the chemical feed pumps. Relocate the laboratory. Remove out-of-date electrical
  accessories.

Phase 1- Design

On October 20, 2020, the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Water Treatment Plant Rehabilitation Project, City Project No. WTR-00017 was released and on November 20, 2020, the City received four (4) responsive bids. HDR Engineering, Inc. was selected to provide design engineering services.

HDR Scope of Work included in RFP

1. Back Wash Ponds: Install high density poly ethylene (HDPE) liner to slope of backwash ponds to eliminate exfiltration and leakage. Remove sludge and sediment in the backwash ponds. Salvage existing concrete bottom.

2. Raw Water Storage Ponds: Install HDPE liner to sides and bottom of raw storage ponds to eliminate exfiltration and leakage.

3. Water Treatment Building: Replace building roof. Rehabilitate the filter treatment units. Upgrade and modify water plant piping, including flow meters and valves. Replace ventilation system. Upgrade plant PLCs and provide backups. Designer to perform a qualitative observation of foundation issues, Replace cabinets in Laboratory Room. 

4. Blower Building: Build new blower building. Match exterior architecture of the new building with adjacent buildings.

5. Old Clarifier: Demolish old clarifier, and add paving here and behind Tank#1

6. Control Building: Replace control building with metal building, replace chemical feed pump, relocate laboratory, upgrade SCADA control system, and remove out-of-date electrical equipment. Upgrade miscellaneous piping. Add overhead beams for pump maintenance.

7. Storage Tank # 2: Move discharge/effluent piping from the tank interior to the exterior and upsize to 16 inches. Remove the fill pipe from tank interior to the exterior, and add a flow meter to this pipe. Connect the new 16- inch future use stub to the nearby 20-inch-diameter distribution line. Add a flow meter to the 16-inch portion of the pipe. Connect the existing 16-inch pipe stub on the distribution pipe in Cedar Street. Entire tank needs to be recoated (interior and exterior). Tank #2 rehabilitation will be a separate drawing package so it can be bid separately from the water treatment plant rehabilitation. 

Phase 2- Construction

On February 26, 2023 City Council awarded the construction contract to Wahlund Construction Inc. Construction is anticipated to begin Summer 2024 and completed in Spring 2026.

Grant information

At its regular meeting on June 13th, 2022 the Fort Bragg City Council approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to represent the City of Fort Bragg during the application process for funding assistance from the Drinking Water State Revolving fund for the rehabilitation of the City’s Water Treatment Plant and Finished water tank Project. Authorizing that resolution started the application process that would eventually turn into an $11,100,000 allowance to complete necessary improvements that will provide the greatest benefit to our customers.