PBCWUD Hurricane Resiliency

WGI performed site observations, including a review of available design plans for all structures of the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department (PBCWUD) to determine their hurricane resiliency. Reports were provided for each PBCWUD site, including Southern Region Reclamation Facility; Water Treatment Plants 2, 3, SROC, 8 and 9; Regional Pump Stations 9n, 5236 and 5229; Mecca; NROC; Century Village; Morikami; Customer Service & Pump Station 5; Administration & Central Region Operations Center; Western Region Wastewater Treatment Facility North; Western Region Wastewater Treatment Facility; Water Treatment Plant 11; and South Bay & Belle Glade Water Storage Tanks, in order to provide findings of the structures’ existing hurricane resiliency and to provide recommendations for any repair, upgrade, or replacements that were deemed appropriate for each site.

WGI prepared plans after consultation with PBCWUD for each building, tank, and structure, identifying areas that needed repair, replacement, or upgrade. The plans included repair procedures and details for each type of work and allowed PBCWUD to identify areas of higher concern so they could prioritize the hardening recommendations. A partial list of identified recommendations includes door and window replacements, wall strengthening, roof anchorages, the addition of impact-resistant walls and temporary protection, tank and equipment tiedowns, wall replacement, temporary door bracing, and recommendations for pre-hurricane site preparation. Hurricane hardening recommendations were designed in compliance with the Florida Building Code wind load criteria and were based upon WGI’s experience in hurricane conditions and areas prone to hurricane damage and the American Red Cross Standards for Hurricane Evaluation Shelter Selection Criteria.