Southport Aerospace Fire Pump and Pumphouse Upgrade – Southport, MB

The Southport Fire Pump and Water Pumphouse Upgrade project was a critical infrastructure upgrade designed to protect the safety and economic viability of the Southport community. The project focused on replacing an aging diesel-driven fire pump located within the community’s potable water pumphouse.

The legacy system presented two primary risks: a steady deterioration in output capacity observed during annual testing and a significant environmental hazard posed by housing a diesel engine and fuel source directly above below-grade potable water reservoirs. Following a 2021 infrastructure condition assessment, Dillon identified the fire pump replacement as a top priority to restore system reliability and eliminate the risk of hydrocarbon contamination in the community’s drinking water.

The decision was made to upgrade the existing diesel-driven fire pump to a modern, NFPA 20-compliant electric vertical turbine pump system, supported by a standalone outdoor backup generator. This solution was engineered to meet the increased fire flow demands of a growing community, which includes new commercial developments such as aircraft hangars, light industrial zones, and residential expansions. The project not only restored the reliability of the fire protection system—essential for maintaining occupancy permits and insurance for commercial tenants—but also aligned the facility with best practices for drinking water safety by eliminating the risk of hydrocarbon contamination in the reservoir.

Treated water is delivered to the Southport water pumphouse by a 150 mm waterline from the Portage la Prairie Water Treatment Plant (WTP), where the water is rechlorinated at the pumphouse achieves the required contact time for disinfection in a series of three reservoir chambers. The water then enters the pumping well where two distribution pumps send water to the community under typical average day demands. During a fire flow event, or a significant pressure drop in the distribution network, the fire pump will turn on to provide fire suppression to the distribution network.

Balancing NFPA 20 Fire Standards with NSF 61 Potable Water Safety

The fire pump is required to meet Southport’s insurance requirements, providing fire suppression to airport hangers and commercial buildings within the community. To address the variety of regulatory requirements for the project, the team balanced the mandates of NFPA 20 fire standards and NSF 61 drinking water guidelines. Because the fire pump and the associated piping and valves were in direct contact with the potable water supply, sourcing equipment that satisfied both FM/ULC fire ratings and NSF 61 safety standards proved challenging. Since few process equipment components held dual certifications, the team conducted a rigorous market review and prioritized potable water safety (NSF 61) in instances where a valve or piping was only rated for either fire service or potable water. Unlike the valves and piping, the fire pump itself was rated for both FM/ULC and NSF 61. 

The project further modernized the facility with a central PLC and dedicated fire pump controller to synchronize domestic water demands and fire flows. The HVAC system was upgraded to regulate humidity and temperature within the pumphouse, protecting the new process and electrical equipment from premature wear.

Project Details

Project Partners: Southport Aerospace Centre Inc.
Business Unit: Facilities
Service Offering: Facilities Design: Commercial, Institutional & Healthcare