Project Scale:
An 8000 square foot research facility.

Where:
Nanaimo, BC, Canada

When:
Design began in 2003 and construction was completed in late 2004.

Project Description:
The Center for Shellfish Research is a new, state-of-the-art research facility situated on the Nanaimo campus of Malaspina University-College.  The center contains four independent research laboratories, with seawater supply systems, for controlled research on various shellfish and marine invertebrate species. The seawater system design includes make-up seawater storage, distribution, four independent advanced recirculation systems, and a common effluent treatment system.

Services Provided:
PR Aqua provided detailed design, equipment supply, and installation services for all seawater supply, recirculation, and effluent treatment systems.  The storage, distribution, and effluent handling systems and one of the recirculation labs are in place and operational. Future development plans include the installation of the three remaining recirculation systems.  

Project Features:
Each of the four laboratory spaces may be configured with a range of culture vessel sizes and numbers to meet with the specific needs of each research project.  Each lab is designed to have an integrated recirculation system capable of supplying up to 85 gpm of high quality, disinfected seawater.

The integrated effluent treatment system has the ability to capture and treat all aquaculture wastes to rigid standards under potentially quarantine conditions. 

Challenges and Solutions:
The reliance of trucked-in water dictated that a very high recirculation rate and highly efficient water treatment systems were required.

The level of user control necessary for performing research on various shellfish and marine invertebrate species resulted in the recirculation systems and laboratory spaces being designed for optimum flexibility.

The level of bio-containment specified in the facility design required that a comprehensive waste management strategy be developed to cover all contingencies from low cost conventional waste disposal solutions to highly secure solids capture and effluent disinfection systems.

Results:
The Center is providing on-going research, education & training, and industry-outreach in this regionally-significant field.  For more information, visit their website at http://csr.mala.bc.ca.