Climate Resilience Hurricane Hardening Assessments

WGI’s Structures Systems Division provided site observations and structural assessments at various facilities for Palm Beach County Water Utilities including the Southern Region Water Reclamation Facility, Water Treatment Plants and SROC; Regional Pump Stations; NROC; Central Region Operations Center; Pahokee and Belle Glade Wastewater Treatment Facilities and South Bay/Belle Glade Water Storage Tanks. The assessment effort represents over 120 buildings county-wide for the Water Utility Department.

The hurricane-hardening assessment reports were developed to identify deficiencies and provide hurricane-hardening recommendations for building, tanks or other miscellaneous structures on each site. The assessment examined the existing facilities for compliance with the Florida Building Code (2010) wind load criteria, and was based on the available plans, shop drawings and site observations.

In addition, WGI assessed structures such as silos, tanks, canopies and miscellaneous small buildings on the sites for hurricane vulnerability. As part of the assessment, WGI recommended remedial repairs at each site, including replacement of damaged or non-compliant hurricane protection, and identified any potential hazards or recommended new hardening.

The assessment reports were used by the Water Utilities Department to program future upgrades and/ or replacements to its WTP/WWTP facilities. The Water Utility Department has engaged WGI to provide hardening on priority-identified buildings within the utility system.