Water is one of the most powerful and important compounds on the planet. As vital as water is, it can also be very destructive. Controlling water is imperative and is often a complicated task.
Whether a developer needs a storm water system for a new parking lot, or a community requires solutions to flooding problems, storm water design can not only be a requirement but can also be a cost efficient way to reduce risk and solve reoccurring issues.
BMJ Engineers & Surveyors, Inc. has designed many different types of storm water solutions. One unique project was developed for DTE Energy for water conservation and control.
DTE SPILLWAY AND STORM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 2011 – DTE Greenwood Plant, Greenwood Township, MI
The DTE Energy Greenwood Plant in Greenwood Township, Michigan utilizes cooling canals in its process of creating energy. The cooling canals are recharged in one of two ways: by collecting rainwater that falls on the surface, or being replenished using purchased water. Due to costs, the plant was in need of a solution to conserve as much water from its cooling canals as possible. BMJ took an initial assessment of the canals and uncovered a few key areas where water is lost from the system.
The site had impoundment areas to prevent flooding during high precipitation events but marginal ways to conserve this additional water and pump it back into the cooling canals during dry periods. BMJ focused on controlling the water level within canals in order to keep the amount of water equalized and the plant running more efficiently.
Knife valves and pipes were constructed from the canal to an impoundment area, and from the impoundment area to one emergency overflow channel that outlets to a drain. DTE employees could open the valve when the canal water level was above optimum. From there, the water could be pumped back into the canal from an existing structure or exit through the emergency channel if needed. At another location a spillway using cellular block was designed to prevent flooding when circumstances may prevent an employee from opening the valve or when rains were too heavy for flow into the impoundment area to mitigate surface rise. The top of the spillway was constructed just above optimum water level. The spillway exits to an existing drainage channel. Low lying portions of the canal berms were raised to provide adequate freeboard above the maintained surface level. Various locations of the berms subjected to wind and wave energy were armored with rock to repair existing problems and prevent future wave induced erosion.