Water Supply Evaluation Project

Burns & McDonnell provided permitting and environmental studies services for a coal-fired facility in West Virginia. The project will consist of a 450-MW circulating fluidized bed power plant at an existing coal-mining facility, which will provide fuel to the facility. Because the previously mined areas are experiencing acid mine drainage problems, the project will provide ash waste to raise pH levels in the areas of concern. A reliable water supply is needed to provide operating water to the power plant.

• Agency coordination
• Air permitting
• National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting
• Wetlands study
• Cultural resource study
• Threatened and endangered species survey
• FAA approval
• Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments

Burns & McDonnell performed a water supply evaluation to identify potential sources for plant operations. Only water resources that contained an adequate quantity of water for operation and maintenance of the water source within a reasonable distance of the plant facilities were selected.

Sufficient water supplies were then profiled to determine if any contingencies would arise based on ownership of the resource, water rights issues or restrictions associated with water quality. Water quality issues were evaluated based on impacts to the water resource as well as impacts on water requirements during use at the power plant. Water sources meeting available quantity and quality requirements were then assessed based on the cost of obtaining and transporting water to the plant site.

Several viable water resources were identified. One of two lakes was eliminated because of private ownership. The other lake was determined to be an unreliable resource in the event of severe drought conditions. Two waterways in the area had sufficient flow and quality; however, constructing a pipeline through a mountainous area would be costly.

The third option included using water retention basins located on the plant site property; it was the most appealing option for the client. After calculating the viability of this source to ensure its potential as a reliable long-term water resource and after acquiring access to a retired water basin in the northern section of the property, a more than sufficient water supply was identified.

Use of the on-site water retention basins also addressed the discharge of plant wastewater, allowing maintenance of water quality in the local stream used to discharge excess water from the plant property.

Criteria of water supply evaluation:

• Water quantity
• Water quality
• Water rights
• Purchase price
• Accessibility and cost of transporting water