ALBUQUERQUE, NM, Oct. 15, 2009 -- CH2M HILL's delivery of design and construction management services on the new San Juan-Chama Drinking Water Treatment Plant has been recognized by Southwest Contractor magazine as the "Best of 2009 New Mexico" project in the civil/public works category.
The state-of-the-art water treatment plant is Albuquerque's first facility for treating surface water to provide the city's drinking water supply, rather than the prior process of pumping and disinfecting water from depleting groundwater sources. Surface water is diverted from the Rio Grande and pumped to the water treatment plant, where up to 92 million gallons per day can be treated using enhanced coagulation and ozone/biofiltration technology for disinfection and taste and odor control. The plant is easily expandable to 120-mgd treatment for future demands.
"A wide array of our firm's expertise, including planning, treatment process, project management, design, construction management, and startup and operations, was brought to bear for our client's benefit," says Kurt Hellerman, CH2M HILL's project manager. "The successful completion of this project is a collective accomplishment for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority and CH2M HILL team members, and the plant is a valuable asset for the community for generations to come."
The project began with CH2M HILL planners and treatment process specialists assisting Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) with evaluating more than 20 treatment process alternatives to select the most appropriate and cost-effective technologies for the plant. The design and construction of the resulting treatment facility included a new administration building that houses offices, equipment maintenance, the water system operations center, a water quality testing laboratory, and a learning center for the public. A new state-of-the-art supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system provides Albuquerque with extensive operational flexibility to supply any part of the city's eight trunks and 12 pressure zones.
CH2M HILL and ABCWUA project personnel had no recordable safety incidents during the three-year construction phase, and the project team addressed and resolved several challenges and unique issues prior to and during construction.
About CH2M HILL
Headquartered near Denver, Colo., employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global leader in engineering, procurement, construction and operations for public and private clients. Our leadership in these areas is recognized annually by Engineering News-Record. With $6.4 billion in revenue and more than 25,000 employees, the firm delivers innovative, practical, and sustainable solutions for clients' water, transportation, environmental, energy, nuclear, industrial, healthcare, and governmental facilities and infrastructure. CH2M HILL has been long recognized as a most-admired company and leading employer, including being named by FORTUNE magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For (2009) and by Ethisphere Institute as one of 2009's World's Most Ethical Companies. Visit www.ch2m.com.
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