CASE STUDY

Transforming Toronto’s Transit Future with 13 AquaPuriFi Treatment Systems in the Downtown Core

SITUATION

Aquatech was subcontracted by Ontario Transit Group (OTG) to design, manufacture, supply, install, automate, and support 13 AquaPuriFi systems; fully containerized and fully automated water treatment plants for the Ontario Line Southern Civil stations and tunnels. These AquaPuriFi units were deployed across major downtown locations, serving as both station and portal sites. Each system was engineered to manage groundwater and construction process water while meeting all discharge requirements under Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 681 (Table 1) for sanitary and combined sewer release. This standardized fleet allowed OTG to operate continuously across multiple excavation fronts while working within the project’s regulatory framework.

APPROACH AND OUTCOMES

E N G I N E E R E D  F I L T R A T I O N  &  T R E A T M E N T

Aquatech provided full end-to-end engineering and execution for all AquaPuriFi treatment plants, overseeing every stage from design to deployment. This included the complete design and site-specific configuration of 13 fully enclosed, automated AquaPuriFi treatment units, followed by in-house manufacturing and Factory Acceptance Testing.Once on-site, Aquatech completed Site Acceptance Testing, commissioning, and training for each system, while engineering winterization measures capable of maintaining +5°C internal temperatures in -30°C conditions. The systems were further integrated with depth sensors and automated discharge control to ensure safe, responsive operation.

Each unit was engineered to handle up to 10,000 mg/L TSS and discharge into sanitary or combined sewer under Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 681 (Table 1 – pH and TSS requirements), utilizing magnetic flowmeters with automated valves, chemical dosing systems, lamella clarifier, sludge and discharge pumping, and a PLC/SCADA platform with remote access and real-time data visualization. Housed within fully insulated ISO containers, these systems were built for long-term outdoor reliability.

Acting as the sole provider, Aquatech delivered all labour, materials, equipment, engineering, automation, documentation, approvals, and on-site supervision required to execute the project from inlet flowmeter to outlet flowmeter.

M O N I T O R I N G

Aquatech implemented a fully automated control architecture that enabled secure remote monitoring and operation of each AquaPuriFi treatment system. The platform provided real-time oversight and control of chemical dosing, system flows, pH, tank levels, and valve positions, while continuously logging operational data to support environmental compliance requirements. Automated shutdowns were triggered in response to system alarms or depth sensor feedback, and operators could view and manage system functions through an HMI interface displaying live P&ID graphics. This level of automation minimized manual intervention, reduced on-site labour demands, and ensured accurate, real-time documentation for regulatory reporting and permit compliance.