Black & Veatch launches design of Calif.'s Nacimiento Water Project facilities

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA, Sept. 20, 2005) -- Black & Veatch Corp. announced today that the company has received notice to proceed with engineering design of a conveyance system that will deliver raw water from the Nacimiento Reservoir to water purveyors throughout San Luis Obispo County.

The San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District awarded the global engineering, consulting and construction company the contract for the $150-million Nacimiento Water Project -- the largest single project undertaken by the county. Four purveyors have committed to project participation, while additional purveyors continue to evaluate the opportunity.

"The Nacimiento Water Project will provide high-quality supplemental water supplies to the cities of El Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo, the Atascadero Mutual Water Company, and the Templeton Community Services District.," said District Project Manager John Hollenbeck. "Bringing Black & Veatch on board to lead the design effort will help us better manage project costs and create the momentum needed to propel the project smoothly towards completion."

The Black & Veatch-led team, which includes Boyle Engineering Corporation and other sub-consultants, will provide design and construction support services for the new water facilities. New facilities include a multi-port water intake tower and pump station approximately 45-miles of transmission pipeline ranging in diameter from 36-inches to 20-inches, four storage tanks, two intermediate pump stations, turnouts, a control center, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and other project control facilities.

The intake facility, a 170-foot-deep, 30-foot-diameter vertical shaft connected to multiple horizontal intake tunnels, will allow water to be drawn from various depths of the reservoir for optimal water quality control. In addition to providing facilities design, the Black & Veatch team will manage the geotechnical and surveying aspects of the project.

Nearly 50 years ago, San Luis Obispo County obtained entitlement to 17,500 acre-feet per year of reservoir water from what is now the Monterey County Water Resources Agency. The Nacimiento Water Project will transport much of this entitlement to cities and other entities in San Luis Obispo County with increasing need for additional water supplies. Design is scheduled for completion in the winter of 2006/07 and construction is expected to be completed in early 2010.

"We're excited about the opportunity to team with the district and other stakeholders to implement a project of this extent and importance," said Black & Veatch Project Director Steve Foellmi, a vice president in the company. "The people of San Louis Obispo County have entrusted us with their largest project to date, and we intend to surpass the county's expectations by delivering value as well as water."

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, Black & Veatch 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. The employee-owned company has more than 90 offices worldwide. Black & Veatch is ranked on the Forbes "500 Largest Private Companies in the United States" listing for 2004.

B&V Water, the water business of Black & Veatch Corp., provides innovative, technology-based solutions to utilities, governments and industries worldwide. Local project teams work in conjunction 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.

###