DENVER, Sept. 16, 2009 – Linda Macpherson of CH2M Hill has been named a WateReuse Person of the Year by the WateReuse Association and the Clovis Water Reuse Facility, designed, built and operated by the firm received the WateReuse Award of Merit.
The awards were presented during the 24th WateReuse Annual Symposium in Seattle, Sept. 13 – 16. The WateReuse Association is a nonprofit organization that advances the beneficial and efficient use of water resources through education, sound science, and technology. Macpherson and Eric Rosenblum with the City of San Jose were each named WateReuse Person of the Year. The Clovis Water Reuse Facility was among five other reuse projects receiving the Award of Merit.Macpherson has long been at the forefront of bridging the gap between engineering technology, scientific research and the public. She has promoted a global understanding that all water is reused and that reuse does and will play a vital role in maintaining sustainable supplies of water.
“Linda helps communities realize the potential of their once-wasted water, and helps the scientific and engineering communities to communicate about reclaimed water without stigmatization,” said City of AlbanyOregon’s Public Works Director Diane Taniguchi-Dennis who nominated Macpherson for the award.
John Dymke, Chief Engineer of the ACTEW Water Security Major Projects from Canberra, Australia noted that “Linda has been an international thought leader in the water reuse arena and has progressed the complex issue of effective communication of water use at both the governmental and community level.”
Macpherson has helped many communities make informed decisions inspiring a new vision and appreciation for integrated water solutions. Her 30 years of experience as an advocate and strategist for sustainable water management have brought her recognition as a leader and expert in conceptualizing and managing the development of environmental educational exhibits.
The Clovis facility is an innovative design-build-operate water reuse project developed by CH2M HILL and commissioned by Clovis, Calif., to relieve the demand on underground and surface water supplies. It will provide recycled water for irrigation, especially as the region’s population continues to grow. The nearly $40 million facility was completed in February. The 2.8 million gallons per day plant uses low-pressure, high-output ultraviolet lamps for disinfection that require one-third the amount of energy compared to other ultraviolet options. Use of the membrane bioreactor process provides the opportunity for enhanced automation, reduced facility size and superior treatment performance.
Additionally, the Cannibal™ sludge reduction system will reduce the amount of biosolids significantly, and this is the largest application of the technology to date in California. CH2M HILL OMI will operate the facility for 10 years.
Also this year, the Clovis facility has been recognized with the Environmental Business Journal Business Achievement Award, a Global Water Award from the International Desalination Association and Global Water Intelligence and an Excellence in Environmental Engineering Award from the AmericanAcademy of Environmental Engineers.
Headquartered near Denver, Colo., employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global leader in engineering, procurement, construction, management and operations for government, civil, industrial and energy clients. With $6.4 billion in revenue and more than 25,000 employees, CH2M HILL is an industry-leading program management, construction management and design firm, as ranked by Engineering News-Record (2009). The firm’s work is concentrated in the areas of energy, water, transportation, environmental, nuclear and industrial facilities. The firm has long been recognized as a most-admired company and leading employer, including being named by FORTUNE as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For (2009). Visit www.ch2mhill.com.
