Potomac Water Filtration Plant Improvements

The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) operates two water treatment plants that provide drinking water for more than 1.6-million people in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, Maryland. In an effort to meet the increasing water supply needs of its customers, the WSSC embarked on an ambitious 10-year program to improve and expand the Potomac Water Filtration Plant (WFP), which first came on-line in the early 1960s, and currently produces approximately three-quarters of the water used. PBS&J was selected to develop the improvements necessary to enhance water quality, increase process reliability, and expand plant capacity to 280 million gallons per day. Total construction costs for the improvements are estimated at approximately $70 million, and include:

• New ultraviolet disinfection facilities
• New intermediate pumping station
• Improved rapid mix and flow split facilities
• Flocculation equipment upgrades
• Hydraulic improvements
• Various electrical system enhancements