Catskill-Delaware Ultraviolet Disinfection Facility
An innovative, large-scale (two billion gallons/day) UV disinfection process, coupled with a strong source water protection program, provides increased public health protection while saving New York City more than $4 billion in construction costs and $25 million/year in operation costs.
Hazen and Sawyer, in joint venture, undertook pilot testing, planning, environmental assessment, design, permitting and construction services for the innovative Catskill-Delaware Ultraviolet Disinfection Facility.
Bill Becker is a nationally respected water supply and treatment expert, and he has consulted for some of the largest utilities in the country on a variety of water quality and treatment process issues.
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Largest WTP in the World
This facility, an ACEC National Grand Award winner, has the landmark designation as the world’s largest for treating municipal drinking water.
Project Outcomes and Benefits
- We took an in-depth look at UV disinfection, and determined that coupled with a strong source water protection program, this alternative to filtration provides increased public health protection while saving New York City over $4 billion in construction costs and $25 million/year in operation costs.
- An innovative approach for evaluating large-scale UV disinfection equipment – a total of 56 units each capable of treating up to 60-mgd - was used to select the best equipment for this project and demonstrate UV could effectively treat over two billion gallons per day.
- The facility poses fewer impacts to the environment than a filtration plant, due to a shorter construction period, considerably smaller footprint, and significantly lower power requirements.
- Design was customized around selected equipment and planning for integration of the new facilities, as well as potential future filtration facilities, into the existing hydraulic grade of a completely gravity fed system, all without interruption of the water supply to NYC.
