The City of Lebanon required consulting support for conceptual and final design of a new raw water intake as a component of a larger project including a new water treatment plant. The City decided to construct its own water diversion and treatment system to supply water to its residents.
Kleinschmidt provided an alternatives analysis and conceptual and final design of the new raw water intake designed for flows up to 10 MGD. The design included a steel cofferdam layout, foundation, reinforced concrete structures, integrated fish screen and baffle panels, backwash piping layout and supports, and all ancillary features. The primary structure consists of cast-in-place concrete and uses post-tensioned rock anchors for sliding resistance. Kleinschmidt analyzed the stability of the structure for several different load combinations, including low and high-water levels and static and seismic loading conditions. Due to the vulnerable on-river location, the exposed concrete structure, screen supports, and bulkhead panels were designed for significant debris impacts. Innovative systems were designed to clean the fish screens and intake. The fish screens are cleaned with a backwash system that progresses from the upstream to the downstream end in zones to remove debris and pass it beyond the intake effectively. At the toe of the screens is a water jet manifold used to clear sediment in the river at the structure’s base. A sediment sparging system suspends sediment within the intake and allows the sediment to be transported with the water and out of the intake. The system utilizes 10 electronically actuated valves programmed to operate in sequence to automate the operation of the cleaning system.
The City of Lebanon has been pleased with the ease of operation and reliability of the intake due to automated and adjustable cleaning systems. All three cleaning systems are integrated with the control system and level sensors so they can be adjusted to meet seasonal variations in water demand and sediment loads and reduce maintenance requirements and associated costs while maintaining the reliability of the intake. This project received a Pacific Northwest Section of the American Water Works Association Excellence in Engineering Award and the 2020 Excellence in Concrete Award.

Regional Vice President
Paul Larson, P.E.
Paul Larson has 28 years of hydropower and infrastructure experience and is Kleinschmidt’s Northwest Regional Vice President. and specializes in the management of technical teams relative to engineering and utility operations. Paul has managed cross-disciplinary teams on a wide range of hydropower generation, transmission, and distribution projects and other projects for clients in the Northwest....