Nipissing First Nation – Garden Village Water Treatment Upgrade
The Garden Village Water Treatment Plant Upgrade in Nipissing First Nation modernized the community’s existing treatment infrastructure to improve system reliability and address disinfection by-product concerns. The upgrade strengthens the long-term performance and safety of the community’s potable water supply.
Nipissing First Nation, located on the north shore of Lake Nipissing near North Bay, Ontario, required upgrades to the existing Garden Village Water Treatment Plant to address operational challenges and strengthen the reliability of the community’s potable water system. The existing treatment system had served the community for many years, and upgrades were required to modernize the facility and address concerns related to disinfection by-products while ensuring long-term regulatory compliance and operational performance.
The Garden Village Water Treatment Plant Upgrade was undertaken to enhance and modernize the water treatment infrastructure serving the community. The project focused on improving the reliability, performance, and operational efficiency of the existing treatment system while maintaining uninterrupted water service throughout the construction process. FNESL provided Contract Administration and Field Review services, supporting the successful delivery of the upgrade and ensuring construction quality, regulatory compliance, and adherence to engineering standards throughout the project.
The project followed a structured implementation approach beginning with contractor pre-qualification and tendering. FNESL coordinated the pre-qualification process to ensure that contractors with appropriate experience in complex water treatment plant construction were selected to bid on the project. Following the tender period, FNESL completed the tender analysis and provided a recommendation for contract award, ensuring that all required documentation such as bonding, insurance, and construction scheduling was in place.
During construction, FNESL provided comprehensive contract administration services to support the project team and ensure that the work was completed in accordance with the approved design drawings, technical specifications, and regulatory requirements. Responsibilities included coordination of project meetings, review of contractor submissions and shop drawings, preparation of change orders, evaluation of contractor progress claims, and ongoing communication with the First Nation project team. Senior engineering staff oversaw the project to ensure the operational intent of the design was maintained throughout construction. Field review services were also provided by experienced FNESL inspectors who performed full-time monitoring of construction activities.
The project concluded with a comprehensive commissioning process designed to ensure that all treatment equipment, control systems, and mechanical components operated according to the design criteria. Commissioning was completed in both manual and automated stages to confirm proper operation of treatment processes and system controls prior to initiating a 14-day performance test. Following successful testing, the project advanced to substantial completion and final system acceptance.
As part of project close-out, FNESL coordinated the preparation of as-constructed drawings and developed a detailed Standard Operating Procedures manual for the facility. This documentation provides community operators with guidance on system operation, maintenance schedules, and process controls, supporting the long-term performance of the upgraded treatment plant. FNESL also provided technical support throughout the warranty period to ensure any deficiencies were addressed and the system continued to operate as intended.
The upgrade was designed to ensure Nipissing First Nation maintains a safe, reliable, and resilient potable water supply that meets and exceeds applicable Federal and Provincial regulations, standards, and guidelines while supporting the long-term sustainability of the community’s water infrastructure.
Project Highlights
- Client: Nipissing First Nation
- Year Awarded: 2021
- Services Provided: Engineering Design and Contract Administration
- Project Scope: Assessment of existing groundwater wells and source water requirements, design and construction of a significant expansion to the existing water treatment system including Axiom ion exchange filtration.
- Treatment Process: GUDI well groundwater treatment
- Project Partners:
The project was delivered through four key phases:
- Pre-Qualification of General Contractors: Evaluation and selection of qualified contractors capable of completing the specialized upgrade work.
- Tendering: Preparation and management of the tendering process to procure construction services.
- Construction: Contract administration and field reviews to monitor progress, verify compliance, and maintain project quality standards.
- Project Completion: Final inspections, documentation, and commissioning to ensure the upgraded facility was fully operational.
