DENVER, CO, May 20, 2015 -- On Tuesday, April 21, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) held its 49th annual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala in Washington, D.C., where it announced the recipients of its 2015 Engineering Excellence Awards. The organization recognized 170 engineering projects throughout the nation and around the world, which were selected based on criteria for uniqueness and originality, and technical, economic and social value.
Of the several projects, CH2M, a global engineering firm specializing in government, industrial, infrastructure, and energy programs, received recognition for major developments at the Agua Nueva Water Reclamation Facility (ANWRF) in Pima County, Ariz., and the Wilson Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (WCWTP) in Collin County, Texas.
Recognized with an Honor Award, the ANWRF is one of the world's most advanced wastewater treatment facilities. On behalf of Arizona's Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department, CH2M delivered the project $77 million below budget, eight months early, and one year ahead of the county's compliance schedule -- ultimately saving $2 million in annual operating costs using the design-build-operate (DBO) delivery model.
CH2M, as the single-entity DBO firm, was responsible for project delivery and construction and now operates and maintains the 32-million-gallon-per-day, $172-million facility, which produces high-quality effluent that exceeds expectations -- keeping the Santa Cruz River clean and protecting Pima County's reclaimed water system.
Additionally, CH2M earned a Merit Award for designing improvements to the WCWTP. The design considered the utility's need to expand capacity and increase efficiency of the treatment plant's operations during extreme weather events, as well as protect a vital drinking water supply reservoir -- Lavon Lake -- which provides drinking water to more than 1.6 million people.
Rather than designing separate systems to manage treatment capacity during wet weather and remove harmful nutrients in dry weather, CH2M designed an innovative system to perform both functions -- ensuring high-water quality for the region's water supply under all weather conditions. The expansion project, which is projected to save Wilson Creek more than $100 million over the plant's life, significantly reduced the per-gallon process cost compared to conventional technologies, as well as maintenance requirements.
See also:
"CH2M receives prestigious Global Water Awards for innovative water projects"
"CH2M announces first global rebrand in two decades"
About CH2M
CH2M is a global engineering company partnering with public and private clients to tackle the world's most complex infrastructure and natural resource challenges. The firm's work is concentrated in the water, transportation, energy, environment, and industrial markets. CH2M has produced $6.1 billion in revenue and consists of 25,000 employees and is a specialist in program, construction and operations management and design. For more information, visit www.ch2m.com.
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