Thames Water alerts contractors to £400M pumping station construction opportunity

Thames Water has released details of a £400M opportunity for a contractor to construct a replacement high lift pumping station (HLPS) at the Coppermills Advanced Water Treatment Works.The package includes the design, construction and commissioning of the new HLPS as well as the decommissioning of the existing one at Coppermills.The main elements of the package will be the construction of a new circa 700M.l/day HLPS and a new circa 260M.l/day slow sand filter (SSF) recirculation and run-to-waste system.Potential future works, which are included in the £400M contract valuation, could include a new ultraviolet irradiation system to treat SSF filtrate for cryptosporidium inactivation and a new circa 50M.l/day contact tank draindown pumping station and dechlorination system.High Level Pumping StationThe utility company says: “The existing HLPS is the primary means of distributing ‘life’s essential service’ to customers in Northeast London and is being replaced to enhance supply resilience and future proof London’s water supply system and will be funded via a conditional allowance programme.”The new HLPS will be “modern, energy efficient and resilient” according to Thames Water. It will be in the footprint of an existing SSF at the centre of the operational Coppermills site. The HLPS will also feature a “meticulously designed basement and superstructure” to house the new variable speed drive (VSD) controlled high lift pumps, surge suppression equipment, electrical systems and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) plant.The contract also includes “logistically and technically complicated” connections and modifications to the existing contact tanks and the existing HLPS outlet and inlet manifolds, as well as connection to the Thames Water Ring Main.Additionally, Thames Water requires the supplier to develop and implement a comprehensive supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) upgrade along with a new instrumentation and control system to optimise the operational efficiency of the new HLPS and protect customers.Slow sand filter recirculation and run-to-waste systemThe supplier will design, construct and commission a new recirculation and run-to-waste system for 32 existing SSFs at Coppermills to enhance supply resilience and overall efficiency, resilience and adaptability of the advanced water treatment works.The package also includes the construction of 16 below ground SSF recirculation/run-to-waste pumping stations with submersible pumps, associated pipework, valves, instruments and fittings.A “sophisticated” flow control and monitoring system will need to be implemented. This will feature 32 flow control valves, flowmeters and sampling points on each SSF outlet. The electrical infrastructure will include a low voltage (LV) substation, east and west LV switchboards and motor control centres (MCCs) for each pumping station.E Flows from the individual pumping stations will be transferred to a central distribution point. The distribution point will incorporate flowmeters, control valves, sampling points and instruments to enable flows to be sent to waste and/or recirculated depending on water quality and operational requirements.This package will also include the construction of new connections and a discharge pipework to the head of the works and Walthamstow Reservoir No. 3 via Tunnel C culvert. Thames Water says “this forward-looking initiative aims to enhance overall efficiency, resilience, and adaptability to future water treatment demands.”Ultraviolet irradiation systemThe supplier will design, construct and commission a new ultraviolet irradiation system to treat SSF filtrate at Coppermills. The requirements are still being developed by Thames Water and the selected supplier will need to collaborate with the utility company to develop them.Thames Water adds that its “key driver for including this package in this contract is to ensure an integrated and systematic approach to delivery of all works at Coppermills Advanced Water Treatment Works and to support early benefit realisation and cost savings where possible”.Contact Tank Draindown SystemSimilar to the UV system, the requirements for the tank draindown system are still being developed, but Thames Water says there are “considerable linkages between this future package and the HLPS and SSF recirculation and run-to-waste packages and therefore it is essential that requirements and solutions are developed in parallel”.General requirementsThames Water says this project will require “a high level of civil, mechanical, electrical, process, operational, and construction planning and management expertise to ensure successful delivery”.Specific requirements are listed below.At this point the indicative contract value is in the range of £300M to £400M. There will be a launch events held on MS Teams on Tuesday 16 January at 2pm.The official start of the procurement process will be with the publication of the contract notice, which is expected to be around 19 January.Design, procurement, construction, and cost managementSite establishment and enabling worksSCADA and electrical works:Civil works:MEICA works:Commissioning and handover:Decommissioning and reinstatement:Like what you’ve read?