Water and Wastewater Shelters serve a wide range of critical functions—from enclosing above-ground pump stations and analyzer equipment to housing polymer feed systems.
Despite their varied applications, they share essential requirements: reliable pre-engineered, out-of-the-box solutions; the durability to withstand harsh operating conditions; and exceptional resistance to corrosive, moisture-heavy environments. Openchannelflow Water and Wastewater Shelters are engineered to meet these demands, making them the trusted industry choice.
SHELTER: Fiberglass is a naturally resistant to the effect of most forms of corrosion. It is also highly resistant to dents, abrasion, cracking, and peeling – problems common in metal and stick built shelters.
HVAC: For water and wastewater shelter applications, ventilation components should be made from materials resistant to corrosion and the effects of accidental splash or washdown.
Heaters are typically fan forced and mounted high in the shelter, near the roof, to avoid splash conditions. Degreed control is accomplished by a remote, NEMA 4X thermostat, mounted near the most vulnerable equipment.
ELECTRICAL: Load centers should be rated at a minimum of NEMA 3R and the housing should be non-metallic. Ideally, the load center housing should be NEMA 4 or 4X where practical. This may require that the load center be housed in a surrounding, rated enclosure.
LIGHTING: Interior light fixtures should be gas tight and constructed of corrosion resistant materials – typically fiberglass or stainless steel. As they require no maintenance, LED fixtures are preferred. Outside light fixtures are common on water / wastewater shelters and can be either photocell or motion detector controlled.
DOORS: Stainless steel door hardware should be used throughout the shelter: from hinges, to lock mechanism, to door closers.
If there is a need to move totes, large cylinders, or piece of equipment on a regular basis, roll-up doors may be useful. Keep in mind that roll-up doors typically need 18-24 inches of head room for the door coil, so extended height sidewalls may be necessary. Depending upon the water / wastewater shelter application requirements, roll-up doors can be wind rated and even insulated. Smaller roll-up doors typically use a chain hoist to open / close the door, although electrically actuated doors are also available.
As locations can be remote, it is not common to see door or sidewall observation windows installed on water / wastewater shelters.
Often overlooked, exterior shelter colors can help operators know the function of a water / wastewater shelter without the need to ever enter it. Yellow is commonly used for safety showers, red for fire protection equipment, purple for reuse water, and so on.
