Hillview Water Treatment Facilities

Bocci Spearheaded Project to Enhance the Resilience and Efficiency of the Hillview Water Treatment Facilities in Madera County, California.

Addressing challenges ranging from uneven operational loads to spatial constraints, Bocci developed tailored battery solutions to ensure continuous water treatment during power outages, securing the water supply for the local community.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Hillview Water Treatment Facilities include two interconnected plants, Sierra Lakes and Forest Ridge, tasked with critical water treatment operations. Despite being connected in the same district, the plants serve specific roles: Sierra Lakes handles higher operational loads, while Forest Ridge focuses on specialized treatment for contaminants like iron and manganese. These differences required unique approaches to their upgrades, including tailored battery solutions and operations.

Given the remote location and increased risk of power outages, California American Water sought Bocci’s expertise to design a battery system capable of sustaining operations during emergencies. These efforts were crucial to ensuring water quality and supply reliability for the region.

CHALLENGES

• Energy Use Disparities: Sierra Lakes required a robust solution to support its frequent operations, while Forest Ridge’s intermittent use demanded a more cost-effective design. Balancing these requirements posed a significant engineering challenge.

• Interconnected Systems: The reliance of Forest Ridge on supplemental water from Sierra Lakes further complicated the design, necessitating advanced modeling and synchronization of operations.

• Limited Space: Both sites are constrained by compact layouts, which required innovative placement approaches for new equipment.

• Emergency Preparedness: Batteries needed to provide reliable 24-hour backup power during grid outages, requiring precise energy modeling and robust design.

• Environmental and Fire Risks: The facilities are in a region prone to forest fires, which threaten not only the physical infrastructure but also the surrounding ecosystems and communities. This added an imperative to ensure resilience against fire-related disruptions.

SOLUTIONS

• Detailed Energy Analysis: Bocci conducted interval data analysis to map out energy usage patterns, enabling accurate battery sizing for each site.

• Custom Battery Design: Using proprietary tools, Bocci proposed battery systems tailored to each plant’s needs, ensuring 24-hour operational capacity. The design for Sierra Lakes featured larger capacity for frequent use, while Forest Ridge utilized a smaller, cost-efficient system for its intermittent operations.

• Site Optimization: Collaborated with stakeholders to identify optimal equipment placement within space-constrained facilities, ensuring seamless integration with existing infrastructure.

• Collaborative Vendor Engagement: Partnered with leading battery manufacturers to refine specifications and meet performance standards for both sites.

• Ecosystem and Safety Considerations: Conducted a thorough analysis of forest fire risks and their potential impact on water infrastructure. The project integrated fire-resilient design features to safeguard the facilities and surrounding communities, ensuring continuity of water services during emergencies.

BENEFITS

• Enhanced Resilience: Designed systems capable of maintaining uninterrupted water treatment during emergencies, ensuring public safety.

• Optimized Operations: Balanced energy demands across interconnected plants, improving overall efficiency and system reliability.

• Sustainability: Solutions aligned with environmental standards, minimizing long-term maintenance and energy costs.

• Improved Public Safety: Ensured reliable water supply for the local community, even during grid disruptions.

• Ecosystem Protection: The project’s fire-resilient measures reduced the risk of water service interruptions due to wildfires, contributing to the safety and sustainability of nearby forests and habitats.

Conclusion

The Hillview Water Treatment Facilities project exemplifies Bocci Engineering’s ability to deliver cutting-edge energy solutions in complex, resource-constrained environments. By addressing the unique challenges of each site and integrating advanced battery systems, Bocci has reinforced the resilience of California American Water’s infrastructure. The inclusion of fire-resilient designs demonstrates a commitment to protecting both human communities and the surrounding ecosystem. This comprehensive approach ensures reliable, sustainable water treatment services for Madera County residents.