Black & Veatch-designed Minneapolis water treatment facility wins global water award
KANSAS CITY, MO, April 7, 2006 -- Black & Veatch, a leading global engineering, consulting and construction company, won the prestigious Water Project of the Year award at the 2006 Global Water Awards for the Columbia Heights Membrane Ultrafiltration (UF) Plant, located near Minneapolis, MN. With a current capacity of 70 million gallons per day (mgd) -- 264,979 cubic meters per day (m3/day) and an ultimate capacity of 78 mgd (295,262 m3/day), the Columbia Heights membrane filtration plant is the largest facility of its kind in the Western Hemisphere and represents the leading edge in membrane filtration technology for potable water.
The Minneapolis Water Works contracted with Black & Veatch to provide study, design, construction, training and startup services for the facility to meet the challenge of more rigorous regulatory standards. The project is already influencing emerging trends in water treatment facility design and pointing the way to increased effectiveness, economy, size and sophistication of membrane filtration facilities around the world.
The Columbia Heights plant has further established membrane ultrafiltration as an economically viable technology for microbial pathogen removal and multiple-barrier protection at a reasonable cost," said Chad Hill, Black & Veatch project director.
Source water drawn directly from the Mississippi River receives numerous discharges in the watershed including agricultural runoff, power plant cooling water and effluent from sewage treatment plants. Columbia Height's ultrafiltration fiber pores are 10 times smaller than conventional microfiltration pores, and they provide a physical barrier against developing risks to water quality including viruses and the smallest pathogens. The fiber pores have the capability to remove viruses 3% the size of Cryptosporidium.
"We're delighted to receive a Global Water Award for this pace-setting facility," said Dan McCarthy, president and CEO of B&V Water. "The project sets new benchmarks for the innovative and economical application of ultrafiltration in water treatment."
This year's awards ceremony was held March 6 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The award winners are chosen from votes cast by subscribers to Water Desalination Report and Global Water Intelligence and members of the International Desalination Association.
Global Water Intelligence (GWI) is a monthly publication providing analysis and strategic data on the international water market. GWI has established itself as a market-leading publication for developers, suppliers, financiers, governments, utilities and municipalities seeking information and analysis on water projects with an element of private sector participation. GWI and its sister publication, Water Desalination Report, spearhead the annual Global Water Awards which are widely recognized as the most prestigious symbol of achievement in the global water industry.
Black & Veatch Corp. (www.bv.com) is a leading global engineering, consulting and construction company specializing in infrastructure development in energy, water, information and government markets. Founded in 1915, it develops tailored infrastructure solutions that meet clients' needs and provide sustainable benefits. Solutions include conceptual and preliminary engineering services, engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management, asset management, information technology, environmental, security design and consulting, and management consulting services. B&V Water, the company's water business, 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. It's ranked on the Forbes 500 Largest Private U.S. Companies listing.
Also see: "Black & Veatch-designed desalination plant in Singapore wins global water distinction"
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