Newburyport Wastewater Treatment Facility

Background

The Newburyport Wastewater Treatment Facility (NWTF) in Newburyport, Massachusetts is a sludge treatment facility that provides biological treatment of wastewater prior to discharge into the Merrimack River.

It can handle up to 3.4 Million Gallons Per Day (MGD) of wastewater. Originally constructed in 1984, improvements were recommended in 2012 to modernize and improve the facility's ability to handle current and future water flows.

Part of the upgrade included the building of a new Operations, Control and Laboratory (OCL) building on a lot adjacent to the existing facility. Apart from designing a building that was permanently protected from water, the architects also wanted to incorporate LEED principles into the design.

Solution

Krystol Internal Membrane admixture was recommended, both for its permanent waterproofing and self-sealing capability, and because the admixture is LEED eligible. When added to concrete, the Krystol technology in KIM reacts with water to form interlocking needle-shaped crystals that fill capillary pores and block the pathways of water. If water is introduced through a rise in hydrostatic pressure, KIM crystals continue to grow, initialling crystallization and ensuring permanent waterproofing.

The tank was tested for leaks after the concrete was poured. After a week, a significant amount of leakage had stopped. Concerned about the overrun of the final completion date, the contractor was immediately poised and ready to inject the cracks to stop the leaks. Kryton consultants on site advised him to wait. They assured him that if by two more weeks, injection was still necessary, the completion date would be extended accordingly.

Thanks to the crystalline self-sealing properties of KIM's proprietary Krystol technology, the walls were completely healed before the end of the two-week period, and no injection was necessary. The contractor who was initially skeptical about the added cost to concrete because of the KIM admixture requirement was delighted with the final savings of time and the additional expenses of the epoxy injection.

Initial leaks in concrete during leak test a week after KIM concrete was poured. Although there was initial leakage, KIM crystals are selfsealing and reduce permeability over time. None of the leaks were significant enough to require epoxy injections or cause permanent damage to the structure.

Even the worst leaks self-seal with Kryton's Krystol technology. In less than two weeks, all these leaks disappeared, leaving behind a smooth concrete surface.

In less than two weeks after the leakage test, KIM crystals self-sealed, leaving zero leaks. The Krystol Technology in KIM consists of hydrophilic particles that react with unhydrated cement in concrete to form interlocking needle-shaped crystals. The crystals fill micro-cracks and pores and block the pathways of water. KIM is especially ideal for wastewater facilities and conditions where concrete is exposed to constant hydrostatic pressure. KIM replaces the need for surface-applied membranes by integrally waterproofing concrete.