Cloward H2O, an expert in aquatic design, has shared its approach to the design of very large lagoons to ensure effective water treatment.
The firm has been designing lagoons since its inception in 1985. One of its first major projects was a saltwater lagoon at Hilton Waikoloa Village, which opened in 1988.
Earlier this month, Cloward H2O discussed the key water quality management considerations for very large lagoons. Now, diving deeper into the topic, Damon Roberts, project manager at Cloward H2O, has explored design approaches for such projects.
“Effective water treatment, indeed, systematic hygiene of any kind, relies on the implementation of multiple methods and barriers to contamination,” comments Roberts. “As technology and understanding improve, these methods increase both the ability of engineers to design effective systems and the capacity of operators to run them efficiently.”
Tailored approach
There are numerous water treatment methods and products available, and these technologies need to be assessed for their applicability in each specific very large lagoon application.
Although many approaches can be deployed, the primary design approach usually follows well-established parameters in the disciplines of water treatment and standards.
“At the outset of a project involving a very large lagoon, it is important to assemble a few key team members. Depending upon the type of development, many of these roles can be filled by professionals who are already providing services,” says Roberts.
The team might include an architect; landscape architect; aquatic engineer; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineer, site civil engineer; and specialists such as a geotechnical engineer, structural engineer, wave generator manufacturer, whitewater rafting course engineer, interior design architect, kitchen consultant, or audio-visual specialist.
The owner may also wish to hire construction or project management experts. However, in many situations, these services can be provided by the architect or engineering company that is already on the team.
When the project team is in place, they can assess the site conditions and available resources.
“Understanding the regulations from the local jurisdictions is a key part of this evaluation
process,” explains Roberts. “Once the team has completed their evaluations, they report their findings and recommendations and then work together to develop a site master plan, taking into consideration the operational characteristics of the project.”
Specialised services
The project can then progress to the engineering and planning stage, Cloward H2O advises. In this phase, different project team disciplines create construction documentation. Each discipline coordinates its specialised services, producing documents used to determine construction budgets and plans for the contractor.
A typical scope for this stage, from the viewpoint of the aquatic engineer, might include:
- Lagoon site layout, including lagoon grading, elevations, sections and detail annotations, liner restrictions and protection, and more.
- Lagoon site piping, including inlet returns and surface skimmers, drain sites, piping network routing to and from the filtration equipment room, and details and annotations.
- Cross-sections of the lagoon identifying the various edge conditions.
- The design and engineering of circulation and filtration system components, including the determination of turnover flow rates and the sizing of water treatment components.
- Developing process and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) to indicate the equipment sizing, control, and instrumentation components for water treatment, as well as the process flow.
- Creating plans and sections illustrating the location of equipment and pipe routing in a mechanical room is essential for determining the accessibility and clearances required for equipment repair.
- Designing the shell and liner systems, including structural components, and detailing the installation of piping and equipment for various edge conditions.
- Designing electrical and control systems, including power diagrams and operation details. Power distribution for water treatment equipment covers circulation, filtration, system monitoring, data logging, ozone production monitoring, control, flow instrumentation, and more.
- Development of written technical specifications for all work within the specialism’s scope.
- Collaborating with the project group to create a comprehensive design package.
During implementation, the team serves as a watchdog, reviewing contractor submittals, responding to requests for information or clarification, and performing engineering coordination and minor design changes to accommodate the contractor’s means and methods, construction plan, or unexpected site conditions.
“Site observation visits are conducted on an as-needed basis at key points to review the installation for conformance, to coordinate with the contractor to resolve questions or concerns, to assist with the assessment of completion, to review materials and products data, and to generally assist however possible,” says Roberts.
At substantial completion, the team creates punch lists for the contractor to finish before handover. The team also assists with final system tuning and operator training on the installed equipment.
Roberts adds: “The evolving nature of very large lagoons provides an interesting set of challenges. From a design and engineering standpoint, the main challenge is to provide a circulation and treatment system that delivers a safe level of water quality and that can be operated efficiently and sustainably. An additional challenge lies in working with regulatory agencies concerning the best ways to meet public safety requirements.”
Customised engineering
Cloward H2O is renowned for its wide-ranging aquatic experience and its commitment to designing safe, clean, and clear water for everyone to enjoy.
As a full-service engineering firm specializing in aquatic attractions and recreational water projects, Cloward H2O’s mission is to bring industry-leading technology to the design and engineering of unique water features. The firm has contributed to some of the world’s leading resorts and aquatic attractions, providing customized engineering designs to meet each project’s unique requirements.
Cloward H2O specialises in creating unique water features by offering customised engineering designs that align with the client’s vision and objectives. Its critical approach involves assessing and incorporating client goals, constraints, project opportunities, cultural aspects, and productivity considerations.
The team includes experienced civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers and designers. Each project is led by a dedicated principal and project manager, with a skilled and creative project team tailored to the specific needs of the project.
Recently, Cloward H2O shared insights into approaches to secondary disinfection systems (SDSs) and reflected on the benefits of ozone SDS technologies with examples from the aquarium industry.
