CH2M Hill wins two water project awards

DENVER, Nov. 2, 2007 -- CH2M Hill, a global full-service engineering, construction and operations firm, won two awards yesterday from the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) for outstanding project work using design-build delivery. The awards were presented at the Design-Build Conference in Dallas, Texas. CH2M Hill received awards for its work with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and the Ave Maria Water Treatment Plant and Water Reclamation Facility in southwest Florida.

The SNWA intake pumping station-2-by-pass pipeline project received the Design-Build Excellence Award for water and wastewater projects under $15 million. By using a design-build delivery model, CH2M Hill and SNWA were able to fast-track completion of a bypass pipeline and rate of flow control facility that would deliver additional water to an existing water treatment facility. CH2M Hill's low-cost solution met all of SNWA's requirements, including stringent deadlines and a prescriptive design specification, at a cost savings of more than $1.7 million.

"This successful design-build project helped SNWA further its goal of maintaining a reliable and demand-responsive regional water system," said Marcus Jensen, director of SNWA engineering. "Because this forward-thinking project is among the first conveyance design-build projects in Nevada, the project will serve as a model for other fast-track solutions in the future."

CH2M Hill's work for the Ave Maria Water Treatment Plant and Water Reclamation Facility received a Merit Award for water and wastewater projects over $15 million. CH2M Hill provided permitting, design, construction and operations services for this 1.67 million-gallons-per-day membrane softening water treatment facility and designed a 160-acre cypress wetland and marsh using highly treated reclaimed water.

"As a result of the seamless integration of CH2M Hill's design and construction teams with Ave Maria Utility Company LLLP, we were able to re-phase the project to meet the extra demand while construction continued, while still remaining within our original schedule and with little impact to our overall budget," said David Genson, project manager for Ave Maria Utility Company LLLP.

Since 2003, CH2M Hill OMI has provided a range of contract operations and maintenance services for Ave Maria Utility Company, including starting up the entire water and wastewater system and subsequently providing administrative services such as developer plan reviews, billing functions, customer service functions, meter reading, and the utility's Web site at www.amuc.com .

CH2M Hill will present a case study about its successes with the Ave Maria design-build-operate project at a water workshop held today as part of the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships annual meeting.

Founded in 1993, DBIA is an association of leaders in the design and construction industry utilizing design-build and integrated project delivery methods to achieve high performance projects. Each year DBIA honors design-build projects that demonstrate successful application of design-build principles. Award winners exemplify the principles of interdisciplinary teamwork, innovation, and problem-solving that characterizes design-build delivery, often breaking new ground in their approach and accomplishments.

Headquartered in Denver, Colo., employee-owned CH2M Hill is a global leader in engineering, construction and operations for public and private clients. The firm's work is concentrated in the areas of transportation, water, energy, environment and industrial facilities.

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