Industrial facility interior with multiple large metal pipes, cylindrical tanks, and machinery arranged in rows. Overhead pipes run horizontally, and various gauges and control panels are visible in the background.
Nuclear, Power, Water & Wastewater

OPG Darlington Demineralized Water Treatment Plant

Bird, in partnership with EPCOR and Ontario Power Generation (OPG), successfully delivered the new Darlington Water Treatment Plant—a critical infrastructure project ensuring a reliable supply of pharmaceutical-quality demineralized water to OPG’s nuclear steam systems for the next 30 years. This 2,800 sq. m. facility, located at the secure Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, was strategically designed and built outside the protected area, allowing operations to continue uninterrupted at the existing plant.

Client:
Ontario Power Generation (OPG)

Consultant:
Stantec Consulting Ltd.

Contract Type:
Construction Management

Project Size:
2,800 m2 (30,139 ft.2)

Duration:
30 Months

Large industrial pipes and tanks inside a modern facility, surrounded by metal supports and valves, with labels and safety signs visible on the equipment. The environment is clean and well-lit.

The new facility was essential as OPG’s original water treatment plant neared the end of its service life. With advanced water purification technology, the facility converts Lake Ontario’s raw water into the highest-purity pharmaceutical-grade demineralized water. Bird’s scope included comprehensive site preparation, civil works, underground piping, structural construction, and installation of treatment systems, along with mechanical, electrical, and SCADA instrumentation to ensure redundancy, capacity, and reliability.

The new facility was essential as OPG’s original water treatment plant neared the end of its service life. With advanced water purification technology, the facility converts Lake Ontario’s raw water into the highest-purity pharmaceutical-grade demineralized water. Bird’s scope included comprehensive site preparation, civil works, underground piping, structural construction, and installation of treatment systems, along with mechanical, electrical, and SCADA instrumentation to ensure redundancy, capacity, and reliability.

To expedite the facility’s commissioning while minimizing impacts on OPG’s ongoing operations. Bird utilized Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and LEAN Construction methods to foster collaboration across all project teams, resulting in a refined design, minimized risks, reduced design changes, and optimized costs and scheduling, seamlessly integrating the new facility with existing systems.

Key features of Bird’s collaborative approach included:

  • A shared digital platform enabling comprehensive review of design intents, project sequencing, and activity planning.
  • Real-time digital progress tracking, allowing immediate updates and seamless adjustments.
  • Connected, role-based project reporting via dashboards, ensuring all team members stayed informed.
  • Integration of data across all project phases, reducing duplication and allowing contributions to a single, unified dataset.
  • Prefabrication and modularization techniques that improved cost certainty and profitability.
Large industrial water treatment tanks and pipes inside a spacious facility, with a few workers wearing safety vests and helmets inspecting the equipment. The area is well-lit with a metal structural ceiling.
Interior view of an industrial facility with large silver pipes, tubes, and metal structures. Various valves and gauges are visible, with a grated floor and elevated walkways under bright overhead lighting.
Rows of large cylindrical tanks and piping in an industrial facility, likely part of a water treatment or desalination plant, with clean concrete floors and a high ceiling with visible ductwork.
Industrial interior with metal pipes and ducts running along the ceiling and walls. The space is brightly lit, with structural beams and support frames visible. Tanks and machinery are partially seen in the background.
Rows of large, vertical cylindrical industrial filters or membranes are arranged in a spacious, well-lit factory or facility with a high ceiling and metal framework.
Industrial facility interior with large metal pipes, tanks, and machinery. The space has a high ceiling, overhead lighting, safety railings, and yellow bollards, indicating a controlled and organized environment.

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