Because raw water drawn from Floridan Aquifer wells in Belle Glade, Florida had experienced a decline, the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department needed to install energy recovery turbines with interstage boost pumps and associated equipment to four Low Pressure Reverse Osmosis (LPRO) skids at its Lake Region water treatment plant (WTP 11). The PBCWUD retained Globaltech as a design-build company to make the necessary improvements.
The following major items were furnished and installed on each of the four skids:
- Fedco HPB-350 Hydraulic Pressure Boosters with actuated trim valve
- New stainless steel piping for recovery turbines and miscellaneous LPRO skid replacement piping to accommodate pressure rating
- Four E&H conductivity meters
- E&H pressure transmitters
- New Codeline pressure vessels
- Addition of owner-supplied membrane elements
Project Achievements / Benefits
- Since the Lake Region water treatment plant is a stand-alone plant, the modifications were done sequentially one train at a time to avoid interrupting service.
- From start to finish, including pre-design, final design, health department permitting, building permitting, and installation of the energy recovery turbines and associated improvements, the project took only 18 months.
- As a result of the improvements, the four LPRO skid feed pumps remained viable, with enhanced performance to accomodate declining wellfield water quality.
- In addition, the plant saved energy and enjoyed reduced power costs.
