Power Threads
Fiber-rich mix delivers strength and labor savings at urban water plant

When you're handling tons of waste water, the last thing you want is leaks.

That's just one reason the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago chose fiber-reinforced concrete for key portions of the new Calumet Water Reclamation Plant on the city's South Side.

Ground broke this month on the facility, which will eventually process waste water from a 300-mile section of Chicago and the south suburbs.  Prairie teamed up with BASF Master Builders to create the perfect fiber-rich mix, which will deliver high tensile strength while eliminating the cost and hassle of wire mesh placement.

Saves labor, seals out weather

The mix will be used to seal tank floors and precast roof panels at the plant, says Pat Dolan, project engineer for builder F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates.  "It's much easier to place than wire mesh, especially when you're finishing tank floors," he notes. "We're using it as a 2-inch grout to tie floor sections together and as a weather-beating layer on the roof."  The job will require up to 3,000 cubic yards of the specialty mix, Dolan says.

Strength from within

The Calumet plant takes full advantage of the crack-fighting properties offered by fiber mixes, says Brad Huiner, Prairie's fiber expert. "Unlike wire mesh, the fibers are contained in every square inch of the concrete," he explains. "They provide strength in all directions. And while you can never totally eliminate cracks, the fibers hold any resulting cracks tight, boosting the long-term durability of the finished material."