Pratte Pumping Station
Pratte Pumping Station
2023
The gbi team successfully completed the full upgrade of the Pratte pumping station, the most important station in the City of Saint-Hyacinthe. Built in 1985, this station handles 70 % of the city’s wastewater, which it pumps to the treatment plant through a 900 mm, 1,700-meter-long pipeline.
Given the age of the equipment and the need to ensure system reliability, gbi carried out a comprehensive modernization project from 2020 to 2023, combining multidisciplinary expertise, innovation, and consideration for the surrounding community.
The project incorporated innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency and safety. FRP platforms were installed around the transmission shafts, making pump maintenance easier and safer, while an activated carbon odor treatment system and optimized ventilation help improve the quality of life for nearby residents.
A multidisciplinary project
The execution of this project involved all engineering disciplines, including urban hydraulics, process and building mechanics, civil, structural, electrical, as well as automation and control.
The services provided by gbi covered the entire process, from the preliminary study and conceptual design to the preparation of preliminary and final plans and specifications, from permit applications to monitoring for the acquisition of financial assistance under the FIMEAU program, including bid analysis, construction supervision, and the production of final plans.
The complexity of the project lay in several constraints: maintaining pumping for most of the work required temporary pumping and careful planning. The replacement of the 15-meter-long transmission shafts demanded a safety-focused design for maintenance, while certain phases required a full shutdown and authorization for temporary discharge into the Yamaska River. In addition, the installation of the odor treatment system required regulatory approval.
The solutions proposed by gbi successfully addressed these challenges while enhancing the reliability of the station and improving the comfort of nearby residents.
