Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation - Water Treatment Plant

The Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation Water Treatment Plant was successfully commissioned in December 2019. SBA was retained by Georgina Island First Nation to provide engineering services for the design of a Water Treatment Plant upgrade and expansion project.

The original Water Treatment Plant was constructed in 1992 and had been exhibiting extensive deficiencies. SBA completed the initial process review which determined that the existing pressure system was non‑compliant. The treatment process at the Plant was upgraded to include pre-ozonation, slow sand filtration, UV disinfection and chlorination. The structural design included a building expansion to house the new slow sand treatment technology and also a below-grade reservoir expansion to provide required fire and emergency water storage.

The structural design for this facility was unique in that the entire roof of the existing facility was removed and replaced with a new roof oriented in the opposite direction to both accommodate the expansion and the new treatment equipment. This work was organized and completed to allow the existing facility to be maintained and operated by the community throughout the renovation period. SBA also completed all the associated civil work including an extension to the existing intake line, a new intake structure and a full assessment and improvements to the existing watermain and hydrant system.

SBA subsequently completed the design of approximately 7 km of watermain to allow residents on the east side of the Island to receive clean drinking water from the communal Water Treatment Plant. The watermain commissioning was completed in March 2024.