Frank Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades

The Frank Wastewater Treatment Plant serves the Crowsnest Pass municipality and discharges treated effluent into the Crowsnest River. To increase the plant’s capacity, the project involved expanding the existing facility and adding a new secondary treatment train within the current plant footprint.

Upgrades to the facility included the installation of new spiral screen headworks equipment, a vortex grit removal system, and a new circular secondary treatment train consisting of an aerated bioreactor and clarifier. Additional improvements included a UV treatment building, sludge pumping and centrifuge dewatering equipment, a septage receiving station, and an RV dump.

The existing building was expanded to accommodate new headworks, a chemical room, electrical room, blower equipment, an influent wet well, as well as a lunchroom and office space. Extensive new and upgraded electrical and control systems were installed, including a new main power feed and standby generator, to support the enhanced treatment processes.

Graham implemented an effective phased construction strategy, dividing the project into distinct work areas for headworks, clarifiers, sludge transfer, and UV disinfection. This approach ensured that plant operations continued uninterrupted throughout construction.

A phased start-up and pre-commissioning strategy was also used to bring the new systems online without disruptions. This included biological seeding of the new bioreactor, followed by a controlled transition to full biological treatment and clarification.