Fort Detrick Water Treatment Plant Underdrain Filter Replacement

Key Accomplishments

Johnston Construction Company

• JCC’s scope included development of the design required for replacement of the existing underdrain systems, field verification of dimensions and conditions, construction planning, demolition, installation, testing, and closeout.
• The work included removal of the existing underdrain systems while carefully removing and storing the existing filter media for reuse during installation of the new systems.
• JCC removed existing air-supply connections in a controlled manner to protect the existing air-distribution infrastructure and facilitate reconnection to the replacement underdrains.
• Following demolition, JCC prepared the existing filter-cell floors for installation of the new systems, including debris removal, cleaning, leveling, localized repairs, and verification of suitable installation conditions.
• Installation work included underdrain components, flume plates, filter laterals, anchors, grout, gaskets, splice plates, and related materials in accordance with approved design and manufacturer requirements.
• JCC coordinated testing of anchor points and preparation of anchor holes to provide suitable installation conditions within the existing filter-cell floors.
• The project required phased and sequenced construction so the water treatment plant could continue operating while individual filter cells were taken out of service.
• JCC coordinated its activities with the Owner, Iscani Industries, equipment manufacturers, facility personnel, other trades, safety representatives, inspectors, and project stakeholders.
• Work was performed within an active and secure military facility requiring compliance with Fort Detrick access, badging, safety, environmental, security, and reporting requirements.
• JCC supported system startup and operational readiness through controls coordination, filter backwash sequencing support, testing, documentation, as-built drawings, warranties, and closeout activities.
• Johnston Construction Company performed design-build construction services for the Fort Detrick Water Treatment Plant Underdrain Filter Replacement project at Building 1125 in Frederick, Maryland. The project involved replacement of five underdrain filter systems serving Filter Cells 1A, 1B, 2, 3, and 4.
• The project was located within the Fort Detrick Water Treatment Plant, an active facility responsible for treating potable water for the installation. The replacement work was required to address deteriorated and failing underdrain systems and restore reliable filtration performance.

Concrete Services Division

• Concrete Services Division, LLC performed concrete, demolition, underdrain, and filter-media work for the replacement of five underdrain filter systems at the Fort Detrick Water Treatment Plant in Frederick, Maryland.
• The project involved Filter Cells 1A, 1B, 2, 3, and 4 within Building 1125 and supported the continued operation of an active potable-water treatment facility.
• CSD’s scope included concrete work, concrete demolition, concrete sawcutting, handling and disposal, Leopold underdrain-bottom work, filter-media installation, and filter-media removal through an eduction process.
• The work included demolition, removal, and reinstallation of the existing filter underdrain systems in accordance with the approved project drawings, specifications, and manufacturer requirements.
• CSD removed the existing filter media and supported its protected handling and storage so that the media could be reinstalled following completion of the underdrain work.
• CSD performed concrete cutting, sawcutting, demolition, surface preparation, and related work required to prepare each filter cell for installation of the replacement underdrain system.
• CSD installed and reinstalled underdrain components, including Leopold bottoms, while coordinating work around the existing filter-cell structures, air-supply system, anchors, grout, and related materials furnished through Johnston Construction Company.
• CSD coordinated the project testing laboratory and provided field assistance for anchor testing with the underdrain manufacturer.
• CSD operated Johnston Construction Company-provided equipment, including material-handling equipment, skid-steer equipment, boom-truck equipment, and other project equipment required to support the work.
• CSD coordinated its work with Johnston Construction Company, Iscani Industries, Fort Detrick personnel, the underdrain manufacturer, testing representatives, equipment operators, safety personnel, and other project stakeholders.
• All personnel working on-site were required to comply with Fort Detrick security procedures and complete applicable Antiterrorism Level I Awareness and Operational Security Awareness training.
• CSD’s work supported the safe removal of deteriorated filter components and installation of replacement underdrain systems required to restore reliable water-filtration performance.
• Concrete Services Division, LLC performed concrete, demolition, filter-underdrain, and filter-media work for the Fort Detrick Water Treatment Plant Underdrain Filter Replacement project at Building 1125 in Frederick, Maryland.
• The overall project involved replacement of five underdrain filter systems serving Filter Cells 1A, 1B, 2, 3, and 4. The filter systems are part of the active Fort Detrick potable-water treatment process and required carefully sequenced replacement to maintain facility operations.

Additional project details

• The design-build package replaced the underdrain systems in Filter Cells 1A, 1B, 2, 3, and 4 at Fort Detrick’s active water treatment plant.
• The replacement addressed deteriorated underdrains while preserving potable-water production at the installation.