Overland Park, Kan., March 27, 2003 -- Black & Veatch, a global engineering, construction and consulting company, announced that it is under contract with the Rialto-based West Valley Water District (formerly West San Bernardino County Water District) to provide pretreatment design in addition to design and implementation of what is believed to be the first application of ultraviolet light for potable water disinfection in Southern California.
Black & Veatch is providing comprehensive design, regulatory validation and construction-related services for the expansion and upgrade of the Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility (WFF).
The plant expansion and addition of UV disinfection will increase treatment capacity of the Roemer WFF from 9.6 to 14.4 million gallons per day, enhance the District's ability to effectively treat a full range of blends from two surface sources of raw water, and yield treated water in compliance with all current and foreseeable future drinking water standards. The pretreatment facilities will include coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation along with associated chemical storage and feed facilities.
The Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, scheduled for promulgation in November 2003, is expected to include Cryptosporidium inactivation/removal requirements for surface water supplies.
According to Bob Hulsey, a disinfection technology specialist with Black & Veatch who is currently involved in two UV-related research projects for the American Water Works Association Research Foundation, anticipation of that rule has spurred increased interest in UV disinfection.
The application of UV technology for disinfection of surface water is relatively new, and federal regulatory standards for the use of UV for potable water disinfection have not been established.
"The project presents special challenges, not only in designing and implementing a system that features an emerging technology, but also in helping the District validate that system with the California Department of Health Services," said Black & Veatch Vice President and Irvine-based Project Manager Steve Foellmi. "Careful coordination and timing of the entire UV validation process is critical to obtain DHS approval and achieve District objectives."
In addition to designing expansion and disinfection facilities, Black & Veatch is studying the requirements for a future 6-mgd membrane filtration plant. Membrane technologies, which provide multiple-barrier protection against pathogens, are also eliciting increased interest among utilities seeking to meet more stringent requirements and cost-effectively produce the safest possible drinking water.
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch Corporation is a global engineering, construction and consulting company specializing in infrastructure development in the fields of energy, water and information. Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch serves its clients with conceptual and preliminary engineering services, engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management, asset management, information technology, environmental, security design and consulting, and management consulting services.
The Water Sector provides innovative, technology-based solutions to utilities, governments and industries worldwide. Local project managers work with a global team of water and wastewater treatment process experts to address site-specific challenges through a broad range of consulting, study, planning, design, design-build and construction management services.
The employee-owned company has more than 90 offices worldwide and is ranked 78th on the Forbes "500 Largest Private Companies in the U.S." listing for 2002. The company's Web site address is www.bv.com.
