Apr. 26, 2011 -- ACEC of Kansas will present its 2011 Engineering Excellence Award in the water resources category to WaterOne and Black & Veatch for the Wolcott Water Treatment Plant in Johnson County, Kansas.
Water District No. 1 of Johnson County, or WaterOne, worked closely with Black & Veatch to develop the new water treatment plant in a manner that would be welcomed by area residents. The operations building is styled to look like a horse barn. Native grasses have been planted in the unused portion of the site, which WaterOne plans to lease to neighbors for grazing cattle and horses.
The water treatment plant uses microfiltration membrane technology as part of the treatment process. The facility also uses energy-efficient equipment and advanced controls to reduce overall operations costs and the plant's carbon footprint.
Project Background
In its 2003 Master Plan, WaterOne identified the need for an additional 150 million gallons per day (mgd) of capacity over the next 40 years to meet the needs of Johnson County's growing population.
Because of concerns regarding potential impacts of drought and degradation, the utility chose the most reliable supply option of tapping into an aquifer along the river. Aquifer water is extracted through horizontal collector wells to provide a large and consistent supply and limit the effects of low water levels the river may experience in the future.
Treated water is conveyed through 16 miles of pipeline, including a tunnel beneath the Kansas River. Black & Veatch provided complete master planning, design, construction administration and resident engineering services for all of the projects for the Wolcott supply and treatment facilities.
The Wolcott Water Treatment Plant was commissioned in May 2010 and currently provides 30 million gallons per day of additional capacity. Future incremental expansions of the facility are planned to reach the 150 mgd target.
Black & Veatch and WaterOne will accept the award at the ACEC of Kansas' Annual Meeting in June.
###
