MWH approved for year seven of Clean Water Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA, Oct. 1, 2007 -- The Atlanta City Council recently reauthorized MWH, in a joint venture with Atlanta-based KHAFRA Engineering Consultants Inc., for a seventh year under its program management agreement on behalf of the Department of Watershed Management.

The Council unanimously approved the year seven option in an amount not to exceed $23 million. MWH has served as program manager for the Clean Water Atlanta $3.9 billion capital improvement program since the program's inception in 2001. The department provides water and wastewater services to over one million people in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

"The City of Atlanta is very pleased with the efforts of MWH to help us reach our goal to create the cleanest urban streams and rivers in the country within a decade. The end of the plan is within sight," said Robert Hunter, commissioner of Atlanta's Department of Watershed Management.

Mayor Shirley Franklin initiated Clean Water Atlanta early in her first term in office in response to two consent decrees requiring the completion of combined sewer overflow (CSO) and sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) capital improvements in compliance with federal and state water quality rules. The system includes 1,900 miles of separate and combined sewers, four water reclamation centers and 16 pump stations. The MWH/KHAFRA team serves as program manager for the capital improvement program and provides management consulting, regulatory compliance, planning, operations, engineering and construction administration support services.

In year seven, the team will continue to manage implementation of the SSO remedial plan, including the physical inspection of sewers, sewer rehabilitation and development of SSO capacity relief project concepts. In addition, the team will support implementation of the department's strategic plan initiatives to ensure regulatory compliance and best management practices as the department pursues its goal of "best in class" performance.

"Atlanta's Clean Water program is one of the highest-profile wet weather control programs of its kind in the nation. The success of the program is due, in large part, to the acceptance of Atlanta's citizens and State legislators, both of which provided a committed level of financial support. Voter approval of a one percent sales tax increase and $500 million in low-interest loans helped make this program a reality," said MWH Program Manager Sean Searles, P.E.

Clean Water Atlanta is a comprehensive, long-term plan to ensure clean drinking water for Atlanta and its downstream neighbors. Clean Water Atlanta recognizes that Atlanta's economic growth, jobs, affordability and quality of life all depend on clean water.

Headquartered in Broomfield, Colo., MWH is a private, employee-owned firm with approximately 6,000 employees worldwide. The company provides water, wastewater, energy, natural resource, program management, consulting and construction services to industrial, municipal and government clients in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, India, Asia and the Pacific Rim.

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