Smoky River Regional
Water Management Commission
Raw Water Intake Assessment and Repair

Project Description

The Smoky River Regional Water Management Commission constructed a new raw water intake between 2005 and 2006. The intake design is a bank intake with four openings to draw in river water. The intake has deteriorated in this short period of time due to extreme flood events, mechanical damage from river debris, and freeze thaw cycles. The bar screens were falling off, slide gates were binding and seizing, concrete deterioration was significant with reinforcing exposed, and due to the slide gates not being operational, silt build-up within the cells was so significant that water could not reach the raw water pipes, and therefore could not be pumped to the raw water storage ponds.

After assessment, M2 Engineering designed repairs to the concrete and specified replacement slide gates. Construction was completed smoothly, and the repaired intake is working as intended.

Project Challenges

Visual examination noted concrete deterioration, ranging from mild to very severe, on the posts that separate the screen openings, around the slide gates and to the structure itself. Silt from the river had deposited in the intake structure and cleaning could not be completed without closing the gates.

In-stream activities were required to conduct the work and surrounding wildlife and eco system impact was of central concern. Temporary isolation from the river for dewatering needed to happen to access the intake for repairs creating the need for a cofferdam structure.

Special considerations for the project included: